CONTROVERSY surrounds a large mound of gravel which is blocking a regularly used footpath in Westbury.

The footpath has been used for around 40 years as a shortcut to Westbury train station from Dilton Marsh, but people are now being forced to walk through a field instead since the mound appeared.

Pauline Medhurst, from Dilton Marsh, was surprised to find it obstructing her way when she tried to walk to the train station at the end of July and wants it removed.

She said: “The best way for people in Dilton Marsh to catch trains from Westbury is by walking that route. One morning I found that a mound had suddenly been placed there and I had to climb over it to catch my train in time.

“It was placed there all of a sudden and is quite an inconvenience. Several signs were stuck up before the mound appeared but that was about it.

“That path has been used for around 40 years so it seems bizarre that they have suddenly decided to put the mound there now.

“I have never heard of an accident take place down that lane so it’s odd that they are suddenly saying that it’s potentially dangerous.

“I have been having to walk a long way to the station since the mound appeared which is frustrating."

The land is owned by DB Cargo UK, a logistics company which operates globally.

A spokesman for DB Cargo UK said: “The access road at Westbury is privately owned by DB Cargo UK and is not a public right of way.

“We recently monitored use of the road to find that it is used by vehicles including HGVs.

“As any responsible company would do, we have taken measures to ensure our site is secure and does not pose a risk to members of the public.

“We have therefore prevented any unauthorised access to the road and plan to add permanent fencing.”

Cllr Russell Hawker is working towards making the footpath an official public right of way in the hope DB Cargo UK will have to clear it away.

Cllr Hawker said: “It’s a good shortcut used by a lot of people, which nobody has been stopped to use until only recently.

“To claim the path as a right of way, anyone can apply to the Definitive Map Team at Wiltshire Council using the appropriate forms and supplying as much relevant evidence of previous use as necessary.”