Battle Town Council wants to repair the unofficial path, with runs through the North Trade Road recreation ground, as it is popular with many residents, including schoolchildren.

The council wants to take £2,185 from it's own budget to carry out the work.

Cllr Paula Fisher, chair of the Estates Committee which oversees the management and maintenance of town council owned footpaths, suggested the council should make an application for funding to the Wealden and Rother Rural (WARR) Partnership.

Addressing fellow councillors at a recent meeting, she said: "An application through the WARR Partnership would not take long, I'm assured, because there is money waiting to be spent and it must be spent by September."

Council chairman Ron Harris pointed out the WARR bid has to be in by September.

Cllr David Hussey said because of the looming deadline, the council needed to make a decision on it's own funds as soon as possible.

He said: "That makes it more important for us to approve this now and allow the estates committee to make an application immediately."

Cllr Fisher said: "It was not budgeted for, so where do you envisage the cost coming from?"

Cllr Harris said the funding would come from £20,000 set aside for capital projects.

He added: "If we agree to this in principal, the estates committee will decided where the money will come from."

Battle Town Council agreed to spend £2,185 from its budget.