A PUBLIC footpath popular with schoolchildren is set to be closed forever as part of the building work for Cottingham's new supermarket.
The path joins a network linking Station Road with Hallgate in the centre of the village.
Roy Cook, who lives in St David's Close, has been using the right of way for 52 years as a shortcut.
He said the closure would inconvenience many people on the outskirts of the village.
Mr Cook said: "I've been using it for a long time to walk into Cottingham.
"The developer is going to build a car park next to it, but why can't they still have the right of way?
"Schoolchildren from north Hull use it to get to Hallgate Primary."
Mr Cook, 81, only realised the footpath was closing when he saw East Riding Council notices nearby.
He wants people to write to the local authority, asking it to think again.
He said: "I can't understand why they want to close it.
"You will have to walk round by the road.
"After all this time, we're suddenly told we can't use it.
"It's a disgusting thing to do to us."
The council's notice gave a deadline of Friday, June 21, for people to write in with objections.
It also said 580m of new footpath would be created "connecting routes east to west and north to south".
The new supermarket is being built by North Newbald developer Innovating Space.
The firm hopes it will create up to 200 jobs in the village.
Its plans for the £20m store were given the go-ahead by East Riding Council in November, but building work has yet to begin.
The developer believes it has an occupier lined up and wants work to begin before the end of this year.
Company director Simon Dixon has said the delay between planning permission and building is down to legal agreements being finalised.
A council spokesman said: "As part of the development of the new supermarket in this area, the existing footpath on the development site leading to Station Road will be closed.
"However, the developer has agreed to fund 580m of new footpaths east to west and north to south across the area, which we believe will offer an improved footpath network.
"We would also stress the existing footpath would not be closed until the new footpaths have been created."