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Footpaths
- Our legacy and heritage
The
13,000 miles of public paths which criss-cross England and Wales have
evolved across the centuries. Many
of these paths – known as public rights of way (PROW) – date from
prehistoric or medieval times. They
link villages, hamlets and farmsteads, follow ancient boundaries
alongside hedgerows and stone walls, or track the routes of historic
processions.
All
have their own unique history, and reflect the changing pattern of human
interaction with the landscape. And
they are as important and valued today as when they were first created.
In
town and country alike, millions of people are using public paths every
day. Whether for transport or
pleasure, paths help people travel safely and healthily on foot.
Their continued protection is vital.
The
RA’s role in defending public paths
Since
its formation in 1935, the Ramblers’ Association (RA) has sought to
preserve the existing path network creating special routes such as the
National Trails like the Pennine Way, and to improve the laws that
protect them.
The
RA is a much respected source of expertise on PROW law.
Although on paper the law gives good protection to public paths,
there needs to be constant vigilance to ensure the law is enforced.
The RA scrutinises and campaigns on proposed legislation to
ensure that PROW are given maximum protection.
We played a leading role in securing the Rights of Way Act 1990,
which tackled the extensive problem of paths that are impossible to use
because they have been ploughed up or planted with crops.
More recently, we were closely involved with the Countryside and
Rights of Way Act 2000, which introduced a number of significant
improvements to peoples ability to protect public paths.
In
the courts, we prosecute people who illegally obstruct public paths,
such as the ones crossing the East Sussex estate of landowner Nicholas
van Hoogastraten. We also
bring test cases to clarify the law, challenging bad decisions on
contested path closures and diversions.
The
RA also helps make the path network more accessible for the public.
For example, the RA’s success in getting public paths
officially recorded means that they are now shown on Ordnance Survey
maps, making planning a walk much easier.
It
would be virtually impossible to protect paths without the vigilance and
dedication of RA volunteers and the public. RA
footpath volunteers work locally, reporting problems like blocked paths
to the council responsible (the highway authority), clearing undergrowth
from paths, erecting signs and building footbridges and stiles. They
speak out on behalf of all walkers against the unnecessary path
diversions or closures, and try to ensure the future protection of
routes not yet recorded as public paths, by lobbying to get them
officially recognised.
In
many parts of Britain, RA volunteers have launched campaigns to persuade
highway authorities to do more to protect their local paths and to
allocate adequate resources for PROW work.
By law, these authorities (county, unitary and metropolitan
authorities) must:
Parish
and community councils are also encouraged to protect and improve their
local paths.
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