Rights of way improvement plan

Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan consultation

Herefordshire Council has now produced its draft ROWIP. This represents an objective and strategic view of the rights of way and countryside access network covering the whole of Herefordshire and looks at the benefits for different types of user, local communities, and those visiting the county.

The document provides an assessment of information collected from consultations about access and rights of way.  This has enabled us to produce a plan covering demand and network assessments and a statement of action outlining the way forward for countryside access in Herefordshire over the next 5 years.

We would welcome your views on this document in the format set out on the accompanying comment form.

You can view and download the ROWIP and the comment form in the resources box below.

The deadline for responses is the 27th July 2007.  You can send your response by e-mail or by post to:

Alison Roberts, PROW Development Officer, Queenswood Country Park, Dinmore Hill, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0PY

E-mail: aroberts@herefordshire.gov.uk

The Plan

Rights of way are more than a valuable recreational resource – they are also an important asset in terms of the rural and wider economy, tourism, sustainable transport, sport, social inclusion, cultural identity, health and well being.

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan is a pioneering project which will be innovative and an opportunity to bring rights of way and sustainable transport into the 21st Century! The Plan has come about following implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Following further government advice it is our aim to incorporate prioritised rights of way improvements into the next Local Transport Plan (LTP). This will help meet Herefordshire's LTP objectives and with the ROWIP being fully integrated into the LTP by 2010. We intend to have completed the first plan by November 2007. Once published the plan will be reviewed within every ten years.

The Improvement Plan should benefit different types and classes of users. In order to do this it will be necessary to consult widely and publicise the consultation period to get as many responses as possible. The plan must contain an assessment of:

• The extent to which the local network (footpaths, bridleways, Restricted Byways (formerly RUPPs), Byways and cycleways) meets the present and likely future needs of the public
• The opportunities that the network provides for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation
• The accessibility of the network to blind and partially sighted persons and those with mobility problems
• Any other matters directed by the Secretary of State

It is intended that the Plan will address the whole network of non-motorised routes, not just definitive rights of way. This will work towards a more integrated and sustainable transport network. The Plan will look at the whole spectrum of users and journey purposes, from disabled access needs to routes to open access land.

The Government has issued statutory guidance to highway authorities on how to complete the ROWIP process, and there are a number of key stages including information gathering, evaluation and consultation.

This document can be viewed by clicking on the link in the resources box below.

Resources

DRAFT ROWIP COMMENT FORM

MS Word

20 kb

Statutory Guidance

Adobe PDF

133 kb

If you need help to understand a document, or would like it in another format or language, please call 01432 260500 or email info@herefordshire.gov.uk

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