Public Rights of Way (PRoW) cover (a) footpaths, for use on foot, (b) bridleways, for use on foot, bicycle, and horseback, and (c) byways, for use on foot, horseback, bicycle and motorised vehicles.
Three good rules of thumb when surveying PRoWs are:
there should be adequate signage so that walkers should be able to walk PRoWs using a 1:25 000 OS Explorer map in conjunction with waymarking
the PRoW should be walkable without any additional equipment
the walker should not be put at risk
which means that there should be:
fingerposts showing where the PRoW starts from a the public highway
waymarker posts at junctions with other PRoWs, at not-obvious changes of direction, across fields, through woods, through buildings, and through gaps in hedges and thickets
footbridges provided to cross ditches, streams and rivers
opening gates and stiles provided where necessary
and:
fingerposts, waymarker posts, gates, stiles and footbridges should be be in good working order, sufficiently clear of vegetation and fit for purpose
PRoWs should not be obstructed (by fences, locked gates, buildings, barbed wire etc)
PRoW widths should meet certain standards
PRoW surfaces should be in reasonable condition during wet weather and the winter months (although many PRoWs will naturally be muddy)
PRoWs should follow the correct line as shown on the electronic and A3 paper maps provided, and should not be (unofficially) diverted for the benefit of the farmer/land manager
There is no specific standard to which PRoWs have to be maintained, but they are required to be in a condition appropriate for their expected use, with reasonable care being taken by the Highway Authority to ensure that they are safe.
We are currently trialling the use of a 'Priority' column. Its designed to give some indication of what Adopters think the severity of an issue is (the need to do something about it).
P1 is for Highest Priority issues
P3 is for lowest priority, and coincidentally, suitable for P3 work parties
P2 is for all other issues
P or [blank cell] is where no issue is found
Fingerposts are either concrete, wood, or black rubber based. Currently in Essex, only wooden ones are being installed to replace missing or broken posts. Fingerposts rot, get removed, get broken, and get covered by vegetation. Because special checks need to be made for underground services, missing and broken finger posts are replaced as part of the Rolling Programme by the Essex Highways contractors.
Record all fingerpost issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images.
Distinguish between:missing/broken/leaning (requires contractors, P2); and vegetation clearance only (suitable for P3).
Waymarker posts are typically 4" x 4" x 6 foot wooden posts, impregnated with preservative. The posts stand approximately 4' 6" feet above ground. The top thirteen inches may be painted yellow to make the post stand out from a distance and keep walkers on the right path. Taller posts may be found for example where the land is rolling.
Waymarker posts should be fitted with waymarker discs to indicate PRoW directions. Different coloured arrows are used for the three types of PRoWs: yellow for footpaths, blue for bridleways, and brown/red for byways. Special discs indicate named routes. Where it is not practical to install a waymarker post, for example through farm buildings, waymarker discs can be placed on buildings, walls gateposts and fenceposts, with the land managers permission.
Waymarking of a PRoW is beneficial not only for walkers, but also for land managers, as it keeps walkers on the correct route, and reduces trespass.
Record all waymarker issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images.
Distinguish between: missing/broken/leaning posts (requires contractors, P2); and missing discs or vegetation clearance only (suitable for P3).
Footbridges are installed to provide for the safe crossing of rivers, streams, brooks and drains. They have one, two or no handrails, depending upon the length of the footbridge and the drop.
Missing or broken planks or treads are a safety risk and must always be reported.
The major problems with footbridges are caused by vegetation – a canopy of branches over the footbridge frequently causes planks or treads yo become slippery and eventually rot.
Record all footbridge issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. Definite safety issues should be treated as high priority (P1); vegetation clearance is often (suitable for P3). A wobbly handrail or a couple of rotting planks would be (P2).
Many PRoWs follow field edges and hedge lines. These should have minimum widths of 1.5m for a footpath, 3m for bridleways, and 5m for byways (always adequate width for two walkers to walk side-by-side).
PRoWs are narrowed from ploughing and cultivation on one side, and sidegrowth on the other side.
Upgrowth, a mix of annual and perennial plants, is a fact of life when walking in the countryside. Well walked PRoWs suffer less. However lesser walked paths can suffer severely from upgrowth, especially with stinging nettles. Some PRoWs do become almost impassable to walk due to upgrowth and sidegrowth.
There can also be problems where PRoWs go through gaps in the hedge – the sidegrowth can eventually close the gap, and walkers will then take an unofficial route.
The Highway Authority has responsibility to keep PRoWs free from obstruction by natural upgrowth. (Essex Highways maintain a cutting schedule on this page).
Keeping sidegrowth and overhanging growth from trees, hedges, shrubs, brambles, nettles or other herbaceous plants encroaching on to a path is the responsibility of the land manager (although hedges may be trimmed back by EH as part of the works associated with the seasonal cutting of paths).
Record all upgrowth and sidegrowth issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images.
Distinguish between sidegrowth (land manager responsibility; sometimes suitable for P3) and upgrowth (contractor responsibility, suitable for P3).
Essex Highways run a Parish Paths Partnership Programme, which enables Parish Councils and Societies to carry out a lot of vegetation clearance on behalf of ECC.
Note: many walkers carry with them a small pair of secateurs which they can use to remove brambles, small branches etc
Farmers annually plough fields, then cultivate (harrow) them, then roll, and finally seed. Sometimes during this lengthy process, walking across fields can be awkward (walking over ploughed ridges is not pleasant; fields can turn to mud during winter months; after ploughing and cultivating the line of the PRoW on the ground may not be obvious; and walking across growing crops often does not feel right).
By law, land managers must reinstate cross field PRoWs within 14 days of first disturbance of the field, and within 24 hours for subsequent disturbances. This applies throughout the cycle. PRoWs crossing ploughed fields should be reinstated. PRoWs crossing newly cultivated and rolled fields should be waymarked, so walkers can stick to the route. Seeded fields should have the line of the PRoW sprayed with herbicide so the line of the PRoW is clearly defined. Details from Essex Highways here (p4.).
For cross field PRoWs, the minimum widths are: 1m (footpath), 2m (bridleway), 3m (byway).
Record all ploughing & cropping issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. Inspectors must contact the land manager. Mark all overcropping issues as P2.
The surface of a PRoW, whether a surfaced or un-surfaced track, or a field edge path (also called a headland path), or one which passes between a row of trees and shrubs, should be relatively smooth. Clearly, walkers in the countryside, expect hazards such as tree roots, mud, etc. However, common surface issues include:
drainage issues, where mud causes PRoWs to become impassable
water erosion issues, where a watercourse adjacent the PRoW reduces its width
landslip, where sections of the PRoW have been lost due to earth movement
rutting, where for example legal or illegal use by motor vehicles have damaged the PRoW surface
Record all surface issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. Mark all surface issues as P2.
It is entirely acceptable for land managers to keep livestock in fields crossed by PRoWs - with one exception, and that is dairy bulls over 10 months old
If you believe dairy bulls over 10 months have access to a PRoW, record on your survey, and report ASAP to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. This will be treated as high priority (mark as P1).
Gates exist to define boundaries, to keep livestock in enclosed areas, and to prevent vehicle access (for example motorcycles on bridleways). All gates and stiles are licensed and recorded by the Highways Authority. They are usually installed by the land manager, who is responsible for their maintenance.
Gates come in many forms:
metal kissing gates: typically set in concrete, durable and vandal proof. Compliant with the Equality Act 2010. To date, no major problems have been reported with them
wooden kissing gates: often have problems due to rot. No longer installed.
stiles: usually of wood and basically a three bar fence with one or two steps on supports to assist walkers in climbing over. No longer installed because they are not compliant with the Equality Act 2010 (formerly DDA 1995).
rambler’s gates: metal and wood construction, and very durable. Apart from the latch not working properly or falling off, they are problem free. However unfavoured, and no longer installed in Essex
field gates: metal or wood, 1m - 4m wide. Typically, a kissing gate is installed next to a wide field gate. If a field gate only is installed, and it is loacked, that is defined as an obstruction and must be reported as such.
wire and hooks: often used in electric stock control fencing and found in horse paddocks. Easy to use by walkers. Few reported problems.
The major problem with gates is with vegetation growth making use of the gate difficult, especially stiles, when vegetation growth can make climbing stiles very dangerous. Report vegetation issues around gates as Gate issues.
Note: the phrase ‘least restrictive option’ has become well known; when a path crosses a hedge, or fence, the selection of a gap, stiles, or gaps should result in as little restriction as possible for potential users, while meeting the actual agricultural needs of the land managers. The ground, within two metres of gaps, stiles, gates, steps, etc., must be free of surface water and provide a firm surface except immediately after rain.
Record on your survey any gates or stiles requiring repair, or vegetation removal, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images.
Distinguish between: gates requiring repair (requires contractors P2); & vegetation clearance only (suitable for P3).
Steps are needed on footpaths where the level of the path changes quickly, and on the approach and exit from footbridges. Even a few steps can make a slope easier and safer to walk up or down, especially when it is muddy. Steps are usually six inches high. Steps often get overgrown with vegetation, making them a potential safety hazard.
Record on your survey any steps requiring repair, or slopes which you consider should be stepped, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. If its a safety issue, mark as (P1). Otherwise mark all steps issues as (requires contractors P2).
Obstructions and hazards on PRoWs, such that the walker cannot pass the obstruction without possibly taking risks, can take the form of fences, a pile of earth or rubbish, machinery, locked gates, vehicles, and barbed wire. Barbed wire can be a hazard to walkers: on a narrow path with a barbed wire fence on one or both sides, a walker could catch themselves, resulting in personal injury or damage to clothing. Barbed wire on the ground is also a hazard, as is barbed wire wrapped around the posts of stiles and gates. No barbed wire or electric fences should be within one metre either side of stiles, gates, etc., or manoeuvring space.
Record all obstructions on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. If an obstruction makes the PRoW impassable for many walkers (eg fenced off footbridge, or fallen tree or locked farm gate) mark as P1. Otherwise (for example a fallen tree that a walker can walk around), mark as P2.
It is an offence for anyone to put up a sign or notice containing false or misleading information likely to deter people from using a public footpath, bridleway or byway. The highway authority is responsible for enforcing the legislation.
Record misleading or potentially offensive signage issues on your survey, and report to Highways Authority. Provide details and images. Mark all misleading or offensive signage issues as P1.
Most of our Adopters walk for the sheer pleasure of it. If they are walking outside their adopted parish and they come across an issue on a path, we absolutely want them, just like walk leaders, members of the public etc, to record the issue with Essex Highways (or their local Authority). Adopters should enter the Issue Reference Number given to them by the Authority into the District spreadsheet as well. It also makes sense to add a brief note in the District Spreadsheet, even though that Parish might have been adopted by somebody else already. If you know the other Adopter’s email address, it is good practice to send them an email letting them know. However, our agreed policy is that we will not make our email addresses public, so sometimes notifying the Adopter via email may actually be difficult.
We have informed the Essex Association of Locals Councils that the PPA scheme was getting underway. Not all of that information will make its way down to the 300 or so Parish Councils. Because a number of those Parish Councils will have their own ‘Footpath Officers’ or equivalent, sending an emails to the Parish Council directly is a good idea.
Many District Spreadsheets actually list the Parish Council email addresses - we are gradually pulling together the list of all Parish Council email addresses across Essex.
It's a good idea if, when you are first allocated a parish, for you to let the local Parish Council know what you are doing. This may result in useful shared knowledge but in no way will restrict your operation. We have produced a draft email below which you may like to send to your Parish Council.
Essex Highways run a Paris Paths Partnership scheme (described here). Essex Highways do not have sufficient resources to address all reported issues. P3 groups are volunteer work parties who do vegetation clearance, waymarking and minor repairs to bridges.
West Essex, Maldon, Tendring, Uttlesford, Brentwood and Braintree (NW Essex) Ramblers all run P3 groups.
By using the PPA system to flag up which issues are suitable for P3 work, we hope to assist in work planning and scheduling for Ramblers P3 groups. After work has been successfully completed, P3 coordinators will update the PPA system to remove the P3 flag and update the Comments field to show 'work done'.
Flag a PROW as 'P3' for the following issues:
vegetation & upgrowth clearance around fingerposts, waymarker posts, gates, stiles, and footbridges, and general clearance of PRoWs (including gaps in hedges)
waymarker posts (installation, firming, reinstalling, and removal)
waymarker discs (fitting & replacing)
footbridge repair & replacement (up to 6m long), including handrails and tread replacement
stile replacement and repair
step maintenance and installation
gate installation & maintenance
P3 working parties are not usually allowed to install fingerposts.
Most PRoWs in Essex are managed by Essex Highways (a joint venture between Essex County Council and Ringway Jacobs).
Southend, Thurrock and the London Boroughs are responsible for their own PRoWs.
Essex Highways employ about ten local Public Rights of Way Inspectors, who look after the PRoWs in different areas of the county.
Essex Highways also employs a PRoW and Localism Officer (who broadly controls resourcing), a PRoW Enforcement and Liaison Officer (who broadly controlls enforcement), and a Definitive Maps Officer (who deals with developments and diversions).
To: Parish Council Footpath Wardens
Subject: Parish Paths Adopters
At the beginning of 2020, Essex Ramblers initiated a project to annually walk the 10,000 Public Rights of Way in Essex, and report any issues found to Essex Highways. We named this initiative ‘Parish Paths Adopters’. Back in April, one of Essex Ramblers Executive Committee, Len Banister, wrote to Amanda Brown at the Essex Association of Local Councils informing them of this initiative. Amanda might have forwarded you his letter.
You can read more about the Parish Paths Adopters here: https://sites.google.com/view/essex-ramblers/home (and you can see which Parishes have been adopted so far.
If your Parish has a Footpath Warden (or equivalent) please let them know of the PPA. If they would like to get in touch with me, please ask them to email [xxxx@essexarearamblers.co.uk]
kind regards,
'An Adopter'