Footpath problems - Report them
Public Rights of Way - South Gloucestershire Council
As the highway authority for South Gloucestershire, are responsible for 783 miles of public rights of way. The Council aims to help you make the most of the opportunities to walk in the countryside. For more information click here
To report a footpath problem you can use the interactive mapping tool Registration is required to use the mapping tool.
What are the land owner responsibilities regarding a public right of way?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-rights-of-way-landowner-responsibilities
Reporting Footpath Problems
The Local Authorities are responsible for solving footpath issues and they can be contacted directly on the following email addresses: -
Bristol
Bath & NE Somerset
Steve Lambert at BathNES Council has produced a little video example of Bath Ramblers BRAM Team working collaboratively with the BathNES PROW Officers. YouTube Link
South Glos https://www.southglos.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/transport/public-rights-of-way/public-rights-of-way-useful-facts/ See the "Contact" section on the web page and click on @ Email and an enquiry form will open.
North Somerset
https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/libraries-leisure-open-spaces/parks-countryside/public-rights-way/report-issue-public-right-way
Here it is necessary to log in to report a problem.
Path reference Numbers
Each path has a number (just like road numbers) and these can be found nationally on http://www.rowmaps.com/
Choose your location and your base map (usually OS), then click on a path to find its path number.
Each Local Authority may also have its own website for identifying path numbers.
South Glos mapping tool
BathNES website
Bristol https://www.bristol.gov.uk/streets-travel/public-rights-of-way-service
North Somerset http://map.n-somerset.gov.uk/dande.html
On most of these you may have to Select "Highways" "Public Rights of Way" from the menu and then click on the path to find its number.
Advice from Avon Area Ramblers - Reporting Footpath Issues - Information provided by Keith Weller, Chair of Avon Area Footpath Volunteers
Ramblers - Protecting and improving paths
Ramblers - Problems on paths with no public right of way
Ramblers - Highway Authority Map
A useful site for for checking rights of way is www.rowmaps.co.uk
Report, view, or discuss local problems - fixmystreet
Find My Street - The purpose of FindMyStreet is to support local highway authorities in meeting their Highways Act Section 36 (6) obligation in providing a list of publicaly maintainable streets to the public.
Useful bits of footpath law:
Highway authorities have a duty to put up signposts at all junctions of footpaths, bridleways and byways with metalled roads. The signs must show whether the path is a footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic (BOAT) and may also show other information such as destination and distance.
Highway authorities also have a duty to waymark paths with arrows along the route so far as they consider it appropriate. Waymarking is a means of indicating the line or direction of a path away from metalled roads at points where it may be difficult to follow. There is a standard system of colour-coded arrows – yellow for footpaths, blue for bridleways, purple for restricted byways, and red for byways open to all traffic.
The difference on the ground between footpaths (for walkers only) and bridleways (for walkers and horse riders) is the width of the paths. Cross-field paths must have a minimum width of 1 metre for a footpath and 2 metres for a bridleway. A field-edge path must be 1.5 metres for a footpath and 3 metres for a bridleway. The crop (other than grass) must be kept clear of the PRoW to ensure that it remains free of crop for at least the minimum width at all times.
The most common obstructions are overgrown vegetation on the ground and around stiles, and un-reinstated cross-field paths. A cross-field path may be ploughed out with no sign of levelling of the path, or in the growing season the adjacent crop may restrict the width of the path to below the minimum.
Cross-field paths must be restored within 24 hours of the disturbance or within two weeks if this is the first such disturbance for a particular crop.
A beginner's guide to rights of way and access law
Can you tell a bridleway from a BOAT? Do you know what that pink patch on your map means? And is it really impossible to commit trespass in Scotland? Find out all of this and more with our handy guide.
Read more about rights of way and access law.
Ramblers - Rights of way in England and Wales
Ramblers - The definitive guide to rights of way law
Ramblers - Open access land
Ramblers - Rules around keeping animals in fields with paths