Help is on the way for residents fed up with using a muddy footpath to reach the shops.

Pedestrians walking from Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey must navigate an unsurfaced section to get to stores like Morrisons, Sports Direct and B&M on the Neats Court retail park.

Mum-of-six Shirley Young from Dumergue Avenue, Queenborough, said: "It has been like this since the shops were first built almost 10 years ago. It's about time something was done. When it rains we have to walk through a great big puddle.

"I know many elderly people who are afraid to use it in case they slip over. It's even worse if you have a buggy or a trolley. Once you get home you have to clean off all the mud. I've broken at least two trolleys."

She added: "This is the only way to get to the shops if you don't have a car. People from Sheerness using a bus get dropped off at Stanley Avenue and have to walk the rest of the way.

"Someone has put an old wooden pallet on the ground to try to make it easier to walk over but the path really needs finishing off properly so walkers and cyclists can take advantage of it.

"I think Morrisons should pay for it. It is mainly their customers using it."

But Cllr Cameron Beart (Con, Queenborough and Halfway) said: "I am pleased to provide an update on the Neats Court footpath which has been a contentious issue for a number of years.

"I have successfully negotiated with the owners of Neats Court and their property management company to provide a new surface to the most used and most complained about part of the footpath on their land.

"They have confirmed a contractor has been employed to surface the path and work should begin on Tuesday, March 30."

The rest of the path is owned by Swale council. Cllr Beart has submitted an application to the Sheppey Area Committee, which is meeting on Tuesday (March 16), for money to resurface and improve it.

He said: "I am hopeful this will be approved."

Queenborough Town Council has also agreed to stump up money from its environment budget towards the project and is said to be considering other improvements.

Cllr Beart added: "This is welcome news and will provide a safe and clean pedestrian access to Neats Court from Queenborough which was something myself and councillors Peter Marchington and Simon Fowle had been committed to delivering."

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