A Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Worcestershire

What is a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP)?

The ROWIP is a strategic assessment of the adequacy of the rights of way network to meet current and future demand (for walking, cycling and riding for recreational or utilitarian purposes) and will provide strategic aims and objectives for the development and management of the network in the future. Although the ROWIP is focused on public rights of way, it is also concerned with the adequacy of other tracts of land that the public might use to complete their walk, cycle or ride (e.g. canal towpath or public open space) insofar as those tracts of land contribute to a wider network of routes available for walking, cycling or riding.

Worcestershire County Council have now published their first Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which will influence the improvements on footpaths, bridleways and byways for people to walk, ride, or cycle in the County over the next 10 years at a strategic level (it will not address individual issues on individual rights of way). The Plan and Action Plan are now available. A Consultation Summary Report, is also available, detailing Worcestershire County Council's response to over 600 comments on the draft document.

To download the ROWIP Consultation Summary Report click here  (2.08 MB)

If you would like a paper copy please e-mail: countryside@worcestershire.gov.uk

or write to:
ROWIP Consultation
Countryside Service
Worcestershire County Council
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

What progress has been made with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan so far?

Progress so far has been;

• The general approach outlined in this progress report has been endorsed by the Local Access Forum.
• Worcestershire County Councillors have been briefed on the ROWIP process.
• Questions relating to improving access have been included in the Citizens Survey, a postal questionnaire sent to over 2000 Worcestershire residents.
• Electronic and paper survey questionnaires of users and potential users as well as landowners, have been completed.
• This information has been collated with other secondary and existing data and helped carry out an adequacy assessment.
• Secondary research into work completed on both a national, regional and local level is being collated, to help form a clear picture of the issues effecting rights of way and peoples access.
• A draft ROWIP was produced and a 12 week consultation period was undertaken.
• Comments received were carefully considered and appropriate changes made. A Consultation Summary Report has been produced and will be made available with the published ROWIP and Action Plan.
• A further consultation was undertaken with the Local Access Forum on both the revised draft ROWIP and Action Plan and Consultation Summary Report.
• Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet have considered the ROWIP and Action Plan and the plan has been adopted by Worcestershire County Council.
• The ROWIP and Action Plan have been made available on this website along with a Consultation Summary Report.
• Worcestershire County Council will now seek to implement the Action Plan as appropriate.

What if I have a specific question, that hasn’t been covered here or in the Plan?

If you have a question about the Rights of Way Improvement Plan, please e mail countryside@worcestershire.gov.uk or call 01905 768289

Useful Links for Further Guidance

Department of Envronment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Natural England

Department of Transport

• Countryside Service
• Public Rights of Way
• What are Public Rights of Way
• Definitive Rights of Way Map
• Maintenance and Obstructions
• Reporting a Problem
• Recording, Changing and Closing
• Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• Local Access Forum
• County Council Working Practices
• Working Practices
• Local Contacts
• Section 31 Deposits
• Definitive Map Modification Orders
• Definitive Map Modification Order Reports
• Rosses and Guises Lanes, Wichenford