Many thanks to everyone who has said they will write in. It's much appreciated by those of us nearby (although of course you may be nearby as well). The application isn't on the council website yet, but doubtless it will appear soon.

Brian - my understanding (for what it's worth) is that the path was indeed used by local people for many years, but that this was only by permission of St John's Church, and that it wasn't actually ever a legal right of way. It is indeed a shame that it has been closed.