New superstore bosses have agreed to residents' demands to unchain a gate used as a shortcut for 30 years - following weeks of muddy detours.

A huge new Home Bargains store is set to open on the former Morrisons site in Faversham, but soon after taking over, the firm locked an entrance to the north of the plot.

The route which allows walkers to quickly cut through from Flood Lane to West Street and then onto the town centre has been in use since the store, originally a Co-op, was built in the 1990s.

Since Morrisons closed its doors in September, the gate has been chained shut meaning people have to make a 10-minute detour along a frequently flooded and muddy path, the condition of which has been described by residents as “an absolute disgrace”.

The path is most frequently used by residents of all ages, including some in their 90s, from North Preston walking into town and parents taking their children to and from Davington Primary School.

But upon being approached by KentOnline the new owners of the site, Home Bargains, agreed to reopen the long-used cut-through.

Robin Sayewell, secretary of the Faversham Footpaths Group, said: “There's nothing in the planning documents about the gates and nothing there about footpaths or creekside access.

“For that reason we regard it as under threat and if they desired to keep that gate shut there's nothing to stop them from doing that at the present stage.

“The Faversham Footpath Group are pleased to hear from KentOnline that Home Bargains are indicating they are to reopen and keep the Flood Lane gate open to the public.

“But in the meantime, the group will continue with their campaign to KCC to have the footpath in Flood Lane, plus the route from Flood Lane to North Lane to become a public right of way.

“We will also push for part of the gate to be securely locked for pedestrian access only to prevent vehicles using it and for the large puddles inside the gate to be looked into.”

Despite the path being used for decades, only part of the route is officially designated as a footpath.

Both the section before and after passing through the site which is soon to be Home Bargains are public rights of way but the middle section is not officially recorded.

For a footpath to be legally recognised evidence must be submitted by those who have been using the route for at least 20 years.

The Faversham Footpath Group is currently in the process of gathering documentation on the use of the path and is actively seeking people to share their experiences.

Faversham town councillor for St Ann’s Julian Saunders (Lab) said: “The public have used the former Morrisons site for more than 30 years to get pedestrian access from Flood Lane through to West Street and North Lane and it is really important that this valuable walking route to the town centre is maintained.

“I am pleased to hear that Home Bargains plans to re-open the Flood Lane gate.

“In the coming weeks, I hope there can be discussions on how this entrance can be made more pleasant and safer for residents using it and whether there are ways of closing it off to vehicles apart from when access is needed by emergency vehicles or immediate neighbours.”

A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We will arrange for the gate to Flood Lane to be unlocked to maintain the public right of way.”

The gate has now been unchained and pedestrians are again able to quickly make the journey from Flood Lane into the town centre.