Town councillors have continued to criticise the "dangerous" pedestrian access around a new Kenilworth housing estate, a year after they first raised the issue.

Members at Kenilworth Town Council say they continue to press Warwickshire County Council and developer Persimmon Homes as residents at the Kenilworth Gate development on Leamington Road are still "marooned" without a safe route into town.

"We are continuing to push both Persimmon and the county council to put a pavement between the St John's gyratory to connect it to the entrance of the Kenilworth Gate development," Cllr Richard Dickson said at last week's town council meeting. 

"Anybody who drives up there will probably see that the grass verge has been worn away simply by people walking there. 

"It is very dangerous and should have been put in at the get go in my opinion."

Despite repeated calls for a solution - and Persimmon pressing ahead with building more houses - there remains little pavement at the entrance to the development, meaning new residents effectively have to cross straight over or walk along the busy Leamington Road if they want to head into town on foot.

A pedestrian link has now been provided through Thickthorn Close, but this has a coded entrance with only residents on the estate given the access details.

A spokesperson from Persimmon told Nub News: "The provision of the pedestrian crossing is dependent on WCC Highways Authority approving our S278 plans on both the lilo and signal control junctions on the Leamington Road.

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"We acknowledge that progress has been slower than we would have liked and have organised a further meeting with the WCC Highway leadership team later this month to progress this matter.

"An alternative pedestrian route is currently available to enable residents to walk through Thickthorn Close and along Birches Lane into town.

"Currently access is via a coded gate on Thickthorn Close with all residents having access to the code. The gate is a safety measure we need in place whilst building work continues.

"However, once these works are completed, the gate will be removed, offering full access to the footpath for residents.

"We believe that our Kenilworth Gate development remains a desirable location for local people with easy access to not only Kenilworth Town Centre but also surrounding towns such as Leamington Spa and Stratford upon Avon."