Footpath Committee

Footpath Committee & Footpath Problems

The Footpath Committee of Northamptonshire RA Area aims to protect and improve the rights of way network in Northamptonshire. It is the engine room of footpath campaigning in the county.

The Area Footpath Secretary and his team of District and Local Footpath Secretaries aim to:

Report footpath problems to local authority and monitor progress and any action taken
Comment on proposals to close, divert and create paths
Comment on plans for road-building, housing, industrial development or for mineral extraction and their effect on rights of way
Attend public inquiries either to present the RA's case or represent its interests
Comment on local authority plans / strategies where they refer to walking (e.g. Rights of Way Improvement Plans)
Coordinate practical work to improve paths
Look for opportunities to extend the footpath network
Collect evidence for the addition of paths to the definitive map and defend the status of existing recorded paths
Check proofs of OS Explorer maps
Organise footpath surveys and liaise with Area Publicity Officer to publicise the results
Maintain and enhance the beauty of the countryside, especially for all people who walk in it, and liaise with the Area Countryside Officer

Inspecting a proposed footpath diversion in Raunds. Photo© Will Lovell

Join the Footpath Committee

If you have a passion for walking and an affinity with the charitable aims of the RA, then join the enthusiastic band of ramblers on the Footpath Committee as a Local Footpath Secretary and contribute to the protection and improvement of paths in Northamptonshire.

Full on the job training is available at the monthly meetings of the committee and on site walks/visits. Extensive support is available from the Footpath Team at Central Office on the phone or email and sometimes through staff visits. A detailed handbook is provided. Occasional training workshops are run.

For further information please contact the Area Footpath Secretary, the Area Secretary, or the Area Chairman.

Footpath Problems

Report a problem to the local authority

The quickest and simplest way to help improve our footpaths is to report any problems you come across. There are 3000km of public rights of way in Northamptonshire. The county officers cannot hope to walk them all. They rely on ramblers. We are their eyes and we need to keep them informed.

Please report path conditions in Northamptonshire to:

www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Transport/PEM/

e-mail: rightsofway@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Tel: 01604 883449 (Senior Rights of Way Officer)

Post: Public Rights of Way
MGWSP, Highways Depot
Old Harborough Road
Brixworth
Northants
NN6 9BX

Addresses of other counties can be found on the RA website:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/footpaths/problems/index.html

Example of a path blocked by oil-seed rape (Raunds)

Report a problem to the Ramblers' Association

If you also let RA Central Office know about problems you have already reported to the local authority you will ensure that the local Ramblers representative is aware of the problem. They will be able to monitor progress towards the resolution of the problem and bring pressure to bear on the relevant authority:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/campaigns/report.html

Cross Compliance

Compliance with public rights of way legislation is now a condition for the payment of subsidies for farmers. The cross-compliance rule presents an additional tool for highway authorities to achieve improvement of the condition of paths. Please help the RA to persuade highway authorities to take advantage of this new measure.

When reporting a path problem to the local authority please include a request that any breach of cross compliance conditions is reported to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

Blocked path now fully reinstated Photos © Will Lovell

Charitable Objectives

www.ramblers.org.uk/aboutus/charitableobjects.html

LINKS

Footpaths

The Ramblers : www.ramblers.org.uk/footpaths/

Northamptonshire County Council - Rights of Way: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Transport/ROW/row_home.htm

Planning authorities

Corby Borough Council : www.corby.gov.uk/an/wc.exe/AO2/Home/

Daventry District Council : www.daventrydc.gov.uk/

East Northants Council : www.east-northantsonline.co.uk/

Kettering Borough Council: www.kettering.gov.uk/site/index.php

Northampton Borough Council: www.northampton.gov.uk/site/index.php

South Northants Council : www.southnorthants.gov.uk/

Borough Council of Wellingborough: www.wellingborough.gov.uk/site/index.php

Northamptonshire County Council, Minerals and waste planning, Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Environment/environment_home.htm

Government Office for the East Midlands: www.goem.gov.uk/

North Northants Development Company: www.nndev.co.uk/

River Nene Regional Park: www.rnrp.org/

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation: www.wndc.co.uk/

Planning Inspectorate: www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/index.htm

Planning Portal: www.planningportal.gov.uk/

DEFRA: www.defra.gov.uk/

Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly Office of the Deputy Prime Minister): www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1150232

Pressure Groups

The RA is not responsible for the content of external websites.

CPRE: www.cpre.org.uk/index.htm

REF: www.ref.org.uk/