An e-petition set up by a Great Dunmow dog walker has forced developers to retain the original route of a public footpath.

The footpath - Public Right of Way 23 - is located on the eastern edge of Dunmow off St Edmund's Lane, leading to Merks Hill woods, and is popular with dog walkers, walkers and ramblers groups.

According to the petition, the footpath features in two brochures advertising local walks, and provides an important wildlife corridor.

Louise Howles set up the petition on Essex County Council's website, requesting that both the county council and Uttlesford District Council save the footpath, and amassed 130 signatures.

She said: "I would like to thank all 130 petitioners who care about this footpath for their support, this action shows that together we can have influence.

"The size of the petition showing strong feeling by local people forced the developers - at the last minute before the Planning Committee made their decision - to reconsider the layout of the public footpaths around the site and on July 24 stated that they would amend the footpath’s route."

The next stage will involve the drawing up of a Public Path Order, with proposed new diversion routes of two footpaths in the area and a public consultation exercise organised by Essex County Council.

Louise said: "I encourage all fellow petitioners and local people to look out for this notice, and fully engage, checking carefully the design proposals of both footpaths and make your representations back to Essex County Council because your views do count.

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"It should not have come to this, resorting to a petition, Planning law states that public footpaths should be enhanced by developers and that diversions should not go through estate roads.

"Although there will be a decrease in amenity value caused by the building of new houses, we have managed to secure that our footpath remains on its direct route to the woods around the edge of the estate.

"The developer did not consider the public amenity value of viewing this beautiful valley side landscape from the footpath, local people should always be considered."