A frequently-used Frome footpath could be saved after the district council delayed a decision on a new development close to the river.

Family Sutton Solutions Ltd applied for permission to build four new homes and an employment studio on land opposite The Retreat, sandwiched between the River Frome and the town's railway station.

The plans have drawn opposition from hundreds of locals, who fear it will lead to a vital pedestrian link between the Wallbridge and Adderwell areas of the town being lost forever.

Mendip District Council has now given these campaigners hope, voting to defer a decision on the new plans until retrospective plans to demolish neighbouring barns come forward.

The plans were debated at great length by the council's planning board at a virtual meeting on Wednesday evening (February 17).

Chloe Jones, who runs the Save River Frome Pathway group on Facebook, called on the council to stop the developer from "privatising the pathway and obstructing a potential green corridor".

She said: "Many children who live here have learned to swim, fish and canoe on the river.

"How would you feel, how would your children or grandchildren feel, if that pathway were to suddenly disappear, with a large fence being put in its place?"

The community has applied to Somerset County Council to secure the footpath as a formal right of way, including it on the council's definitive map of all public rights of way across the county.

However, the county council has a substantial backlog of such applications – meaning it could take years until a decision is made.

The district council's Local Plan includes a policy commitment to improving footpath links across the town – including the "River Frome corridor initiative", which seeks to secure footpaths along the length of the river.

Councillor Shane Collins, whose Frome Keyford ward includes the site, said: "Like many of the 1,600 Frome people who signed a petition to keep this footpath, I walk it regularly with my family.

"We have written evidence of use for the past 40 years, an old Ordnance Survey map showing a path, and a right of way application with the county council.

"Losing the riverside path is clearly contrary to all our Local Plans – if we can't protect it for future generations, then who will? Then it's gone, just a memory."

Councillor Helen Kay said that failing to secure the footpath would undermine work being done on the neighbouring Frome printworks site, where a path is being secured and enhanced as part of a development of 157 homes.

She said: "The Acorn Property Group is creating a path as part of their development, but this stretch is a really important piece of the jigsaw to enable people to walk along the river.

"By refusing to allow a footpath across the site, it will have a major impact on the sustainability of the town as a whole."

Councillor Francis Hayden accused the developers of "pulling a fast one", arguing they had demolished two stone barns adjoining their site (which were also in their ownership) without planning permission being granted.

He said: "We can't just allow people to demolish old buildings if they feel like it – that's not how planning works."

Councillor Hayden urged the council to defer a decision on the plans until the applicant had applied for retrospective permission for demolishing the barns.

Following this proposal, the applicant's agent stated that the Sutton family would be willing to keep the path open on an informal basis if planning permission was granted, pending the outcome of the right of way application.

Chris Beaver, the agent, assured the committee that any blockage to the path would be removed "in a matter of weeks" after permission was granted and a building contractor had been appointed.

After around two hours of debate, the board voted to defer a decision on the application until retrospective plans for the barns' demolition had been submitted.

The board voted in favour of Councillor Hayden's proposal by ten votes to four, with one councillor being absent due to technical issue.

Following the meeting, Ms Jones posted a video response to the decision on the group's Facebook page.

She said: "We have more time now to get our arguments together.

"It's really clear that the river pathway is a really important issue to people."

The council has not indicated how soon the application could come back before the planning board.