Your Footpaths Need You

Survey of Rights of Way.

Thirteen group members assisted with the May Audit of the usability of Rights of Way (RoWs) in the Derbyshire Dales. Of the 68 paths surveyed, 70% passed overall, which met Derbyshire County Council’s target for ease of use. Overall, the percentage of RoWs assessed as “easy to use” in Derbyshire has increased from 47% in 01/02 and the Council should be congratulated in achieving this improvement. However, the figures mask a major problem with the condition of paths outside of the PDNP area. On the recent survey, only 58% of RoWs outside of the National Park were assessed as easy to use, compared with 80% inside the park.

This was reinforced by a check that Dave Williams and I carried out on paths at Biggin and on Colin Barker’s survey in Brailsford parish, which he described as having the worst RoWs that he has seen in Derbyshire. I am attempting to get the Council to put some priority on the areas outside of the National Park. After all, this is where most of us live.

Off-Road Vehicles.

We are waiting for the Peak District National Park Authority paper on the use of Off-Road Vehicles on unsurfaced routes to be re-drafted and presented to Authority members. Our informal group of Footpath Secretaries will continue to object to any policy that actively encourages the use of such vehicles in the Peak District. I attended the recent inquiry into the creation of a Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) in Beresford Dale. The local landowning angling club had objected. The Inspector decided that the track should be classified as a BOAT but, because of the outcry about opening the route and especially the ford to motor vehicles, DCC has announced its intention to impose a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to make the route a restricted byway. This would mean that it would be an offence if the track were used by motor vehicles. If anyone has any suggestions for other routes were we could press for similar pre-emptive TROs, please let me know. Two suggestions to date are the lanes at Pilsley and Madge Hill.

Use of Powers of Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

This Act creates a new means of enforcing the duty of a Highway Authority (HA) to prevent obstructions, other than buildings. Under this Act, action can be taken against the HA rather than the landowner. I am looking for suitable obstructed paths to test these powers in our area.

National Campaigns.

As a Group, we are still poor at supporting national RA campaigns, such as the Walk Your Paths Challenge, the Lost Ways Project and Footpath Guardians. I am also having problems recruiting parish wardens. This is disappointing bearing in mind our membership and the importance of our Area as a national asset. Any volunteers for any of these important aspects of the RA’s work?

Reporting of Footpath Faults.

Members often tell me about problems with Rights of Way. I will look at these when I am in the area but, with about 1,250 km of paths in the Derbyshire Dales, that may take some time. You can, of course, report problems yourself. Pages 48/49 of the RA Handbook, “Walk Britain”, explains the procedure and any reports should be addressed to The Rights of Way Team, Derbyshire County Council, Shand House, Dale Road South, Matlock DE4 3RY, copied to me. Alternatively, you can report them on-line to RA central office, who will forward them to me. Thank you for helping me with this.

Geof Cole
Footpath Secretary