Ref. 25855-44A WOMAN living in a new estate is calling on Swindon Council to build a new path after a construction road linking two streets was demolished.

Claire Dixon of Waggoner Close in Abbey Meads says that her journey to work has been doubled from 20 minutes to 40 minutes because the route, which links Waggoner Close with Thresher Drive, has been closed.

Mrs Dixon, 22, works at the Leap-frog Day Nursery in St Andrew's Ridge, and walks from Thresher Drive to a bridge across Thames-down Drive towards the nursery.

The closure of the link means she must walk through Penhill, along Cricklade Road and down Thames-down Drive to continue her route to St Andrews Ridge.

Mrs Dixon is married to Steve, 22. They have a son, Liam, three.

She says that it is as if the estate has been cut in two.

She said: "There is a cycle path going all of the way from our house to the park and ride station in Cricklade Road, but it stops right at the bottom of the hill.

"I know the path cost tens of thousands to build and I don't know why they couldn't spend just a little extra and put the path all of the way up the hill.

"It is bad enough in summer but it will be even worse in the winter when the land becomes churned up with the bad weather.

"Already the builders closing the road have left a muddy two feet deep trench where it was.

"Overnight my journey to work has doubled and I cannot be the only person affected."

The work to close the road was completed this week.

It has a controversial history. In May Peter Stevens, who lives in Thresher Drive, complained that the road was being used as a short cut between Groundwell East and Abbey Meads.

The road is not a permanent route. It was built for the use of construction traffic while the development was being built and was always marked for demolition once building was complete.

Gavin Calthrop of Swindon Council explained that the land the road was on was not yet owned by the council because it still belonged to the developers.

He said: "If the residents would like a path there they can write to the council and ask them to consider adopting the land and creating a footpath.

"If enough residents get in touch then an inspector will be sent out to look at the area and consider the matter.

"Each case will be judged on its merits, so I cannot comment on what such a proposal's chances of success may be."

Developer George Wimpey was contacted but did not wish to comment.