RESIDENTS living in Ferndale Road say they’ll put up a fight against boxing trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick after he installed a gate next to his gym, blocking off what they believe is a public right of way.

The tussle between locals and the businessman first started five weeks ago when the fence was put up between Fitzpatrick’s Boxing Gym and MRT Convenience Stores - between a popular cut-through alleyway used by residents to access the main road.

Now residents have started a petition to try and get the borough council to enforce what they believe is a public right of way.

Daniraj Thavabalasingam, who owns MRT Convenience Stores, said since the fence was put up, his business has taken a massive hit in passing trade.

“People with prams go that way for school and so do a lot of others,” the 28-year-old said.

“As a business, it has affected us and we only moved in less than two years ago. It has been a right of way for the last 20 years according to the history books.

“We’ve had people come in and say they have deeds that state it is a right of way with some having lived here since 1947.”

The petition has so far collected more than 50 signatures and resident Kate Averies, 59 said she decided to voice her concerns because no one was informed that the gate was going to be installed.

“I am disgusted about it and completely fed up,” she said.

“I use the alley as a cut through because I live around the back and everyone around here uses it for that.

“We have older people using it and now they have got to go all the way round and for some it is quite a walk.

“It would help so much if it was opened from 9am to 5pm so mothers can use it or older people and it would mean that the shop doesn’t lose all its business.

“The residents have never had a problem with the gym or anything before now but this problem has caused this level of upset because it has been done without anyone being told.”

Local councillor Des Moffatt said he has been inundated with concerns from locals prompting him to have a meeting at the Civic Offices and now said he is working with council officials to check whether it is a public right of way and whether retrospective planning permission is required. Mr Fitzpatrick, who was previously based at Maxwell Street, moved his Fitzpatrick’s Boxing Gym to Ferndale Road in March 2011.

Paddy said: “I have put gates up on our property the same as anyone else does with theirs.

“Our property is outlined by the Land Registry.

“When the gates are open for my gym customers I have no problem with anyone walking through but when the gates are closed I expect that to be respected also.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “As regards the query over public right of way in Ferndale Road, this issue has been referred to the borough council by local ward councillors and is currently being looked into. No further information is currently available.”