Is this Britain’s ‘most pointless footpath’?

Is this the UK’s smallest path?

Residents of a housing development in Suffolk certainly think so, after slamming the 40cm-wide walkway as ‘utterly’ ridiculous.

It has been a hot topic of debate on social media, with some dubbing it as ‘Britain’s most pointless footpath’ because it’s only wide enough to fit both feet on.

The thin pavement, built by Barratt Homes, is positioned on either side of a road in the 190-property Walton Gate development, in Felixstowe.

One social media user even asked if it’s ‘one of those things police make you walk along to check whether you’re drunk’.

Meanwhile, local resident, Ken Knights, joked that ‘there’s actually no safe way to leave your home unless you drive’.

Elvita Branch, from Felixstowe, added: ‘This is Britain’s most pointless pathway.

‘The pathway is just for one person to walk on – no way two people could walk on it, or either a mother pushing her pram.’

However, developers said the strips were not designed to be used as walkways, or pavements, but to house utility services – such as gas and electricity – along their lengths.

But residents took to social media to express their thoughts on the ‘pointless’ design.

It has been dubbed ‘#pathgate’ on Facebook group, FelixstoweNews, where the photo was posted with the caption: ‘When is a path not a path?’

Tessa Aston wrote: ‘Ridiculous! Really pedestrian friendly – maybe it’s enforced tightrope walking training!?’

Angela Ashford also wrote: ‘That’s not a path at all, it’s a wide curb… dangerous for any users… once the hedge has grown it will be non-existent… quite pathetic.’

And Lynn Morrissey slammed developers as ‘ridiculous, no brains.’

But the house building firm said most roads on the Walton Gate development did have footpaths for pedestrian use.

A spokesperson for Barratt Homes Eastern Counties said: ‘Service margins are installed for Shared Surface Roads, where footpaths are not required in line with the Suffolk Design Guide for Residential Areas.

‘We have designed and constructed the roads at Walton Gate in line with Suffolk Highways Estate Road Specifications and they have been vetted and approved by Suffolk Highways, who will be adopting the road network once the development is complete.’