Didcot estate residents hold new footpath opening ceremony

Residents on a new housing estate have held an opening ceremony for a new footpath, following a long campaign.

People living on Dida Gardens in Didcot, Oxfordshire, previously said they were "cut off" from community facilities because footpaths had not been completed.

Developer Taylor Wimpey said it was "pleased" to be providing better links.

The path has been named Ian Snowdon Way, after the councillor who spearheaded the campaign.

A few weeks ago, the residents of Dida Gardens had to either get across a muddy bank or take a lengthy detour to get to key facilities like shops, schools and bus stops.

One disabled woman living there described how she felt "cut off" because promised footpaths had not been built, despite years of requests.

Shortly after BBC South reported on the residents' complaints, Taylor Wimpey started work on a path.

A spokesperson for the company said it had "listened to the feedback from local residents" and was now "pleased to be providing better links to facilitate access to the community facilities at the development".

Mr Snowdon said he was "immensely proud" and "very honoured" that the path was named after him.

"Slightly embarrassed because I'm just doing what councillors should do," he added.

Craig Rouse, chair of the Dida Gardens Residents Association, said the path was making "a big difference".

"It's been very well used from the moment it was completed," he said.

"For what was really only a few hours of work, it's been a huge transformation for everybody."

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