REPORTING AND PROGRESSING RIGHTS OF WAY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHEN LEADING WALKS
Introduction:
In order to reduce the workload on the Group’s Footpath Secretary, leaders of Group walks are encouraged to report direct to the appropriate local authority any significant problems with rights of way encountered when reconnoitring or leading walks. This can be done by telephone, email, letter or in many cases by using the interactive reporting form on the Council’s website.
We recommend that you use the Path Problem Report Form attached to this letter as a guideline to report path problems direct to the relevant local authority (whose address, telephone number, email address and website can be found on the back of the form) and to detail the action taken by yourself when providing feedback on the walk to Alma Richardson for the bimonthly Group Walks Reports. This will then be seen by the Group Footpath Secretary and Group Path Warden Co-ordinator who may wish to contact you and / or take action themselves.
On the first time they lead each year, all walks leaders will be sent a copy of this letter and the Path Report Form by the Group Secretary. You should retain this letter for information and, if relevant, you can request more Path Report Forms from the Group Secretary, Gerald Barnett (Tel: 01494 522404; email: groupsecretary@eastberksramblers.org).
Recommended procedure:
Walk your route out well in advance. You may discover problems on this reconnaissance that can be reported and rectified before the date of the walk. Advance notice of a serious problem before the walk takes place often results in a swift action. Problems reported after the event are unlikely to receive the same priority. If there is more than one problem to report it would be sensible to list the problems on a separate piece of paper, using the headings as a guide to the information required. If you have a camera with you take a photograph to illustrate the problem and submit that as well.
You should, hopefully, receive some written confirmation that your Path Problem Report Form has been received and that it will receive attention. It is recommended, however, that, if practicable, you progress this report, either by physically checking on the ground or by a telephone call, email or letter to ask the current status. Alternatively, you could request information on a previous problem when the next is submitted.
Please do not forget to let Alma Richardson (Tel: 01628 781827; email: walkreports@eastberksramblers.org) know what action you have taken and, if possible, inform her of any confirmation that the problem has been rectified.
If Rights of Way Officers do respond quickly to a problem please do not forget that a telephone call, email or letter of thanks will be appreciated and might, perhaps, ensure similar prompt treatment next time.
Possible problems that might be encountered:
Natural vegetation: undergrowth, overgrowth, hedgerow encroachment, overhanging branches, fallen trees, etc. Ask for action on obstructions to be taken before your walk takes place, if at all possible.
Path furniture: missing steps or broken stiles, bridges, gates, etc. Gates should be easy to open and close and be wide enough to allow easy passage. If a stile need attention first consider whether it needs to be there at all, i.e., if cattle or sheep are in the field. If so, would a kissing gate or squeeze stile be sufficient and preferable to a climbing structure? Stiles should conform to British Standard BS5709, i.e., their steps should be no more than 12” high and the overall stepover height no more than 24”. The width between uprights should be 36” minimum and one upright be extended to form a handpost. Barbed wire must not be continued between the uprights and must not be placed around handposts (this is particularly important as it is often not obvious and can lead to nasty cuts). Any electric wire crossing the stile should be cladded.
Signposts and waymarks: all rights of way which junction with a metalled road must be signposted. Paths should be reasonably easy to follow; if they are not, it would be helpful to indicate where waymarks would be useful or where any are broken or have, obviously, disappeared.
Agriculture-related: ploughing, cropping, manure, slurry, etc. Paths must be reinstated after ploughing and kept clear of crops. Crossfield footpaths and bridleways should be, respectively, 1 metre and 2 metres wide. Headland footpaths and bridleways should be, respectively, 1½ metres and 3 metres wide.
Man-made problems: barbed wire, buildings, fences, walls, rubbish, rubble, etc. Rights of way must not be blocked illegally so please report any such problems that you encounter.
Miscellaneous: misleading notices, dangerous animals, surface problems, etc. Again, please report any such problems encountered.
RIGHTS OF WAY OFFICERS IN THE UNITARY AUTHORITIES AND COUNTY COUNCILS
Listed below are the addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and websites of contacts for Berkshire and those areas of Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire and Surrey that border Berkshire, in which Group walks might take place. Rights of Way Officers are not named as personnel can frequently change.
These contact details are updated at intervals (see below for the latest update). As this information gradually becomes out of date, however, it is recommended that you request that, if appropriate, the Report be forwarded on to the appropriate person and address.
BERKSHIRE:
Windsor and Maidenhead: Public Rights of Way Team, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead,
Town Hall, St. Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 1RF.
TEL: 01628 683800 Email: prow@rbwm.gov.uk
Website: rbwm.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
Bracknell Forest: Countryside and Rights of Way Officer, Bracknell Forest Council,
Parks and Countryside Service, Time Square, Market Street,
Bracknell, Berks RG12 1JD.
TEL: 01344 354118 Email: Rights.OfWay@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Website: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
Reading: Rights of Way Officer, Reading Borough Council, Civic Centre, Reading RG1 7AE.
TEL: 0800 626 540 Website: www.reading.gov.uk
Slough: Rights of Way Officer, Slough Borough Council, Landmark Place, High Street, Slough SL1 1JL.
TEL: 01753 475111 Email: enquiries@slough.gov.uk Website: www.slough.gov.uk
West Berks: Senior Rights of Way Officer, West Berkshire Council, Market Street, Newbury, Berks RG 14 5LD.
TEL: 01635 42400 Email: elcox@westberks.gov.uk Website: westberks.gov.uk
Wokingham: Wokingham Borough Council, Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, Berks RG 40 1BN.
TEL: 0118 974 6000 Email: wokinghamdirect@wokingham.gov.uk
Website: www.wokingham.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE:
South Bucks: Rights of Way Officer, Bucks County Council, Wycombe Area Office, Easton Street
High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1NH.
TEL: 0845 3708090 Email: customerservices@buckscc.gov.uk
Website: buckscc.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
HAMPSHIRE:
All areas: Rights of Way Section, Countryside Service, Hants County Council, Mottisfont Court, High Street,
Winchester, Hants SO23 8ZF.
TEL: 0845 6035636 Email: rightsofway@hants.gov.uk
Website: hants.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
MIDDLESEX:
Hillingdon: Customer Contact Centre, Hillingdon Borough Council, 2W08, Civic Centre, High Street,
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW.
TEL: 01895 556000 Email: contact@hillingdon.gov.uk Website: www.hillingdon.gov.uk
OXFORDSHIRE:
All areas: Oxfordshire County Council, Countryside Service, Signal Court, Old Station Way,
Eynsham, Oxford OX29 4TL.
TEL: 01865 810808 Email: countryside@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
SURREY:
All areas: Surrey County Council, Contact Centre, Floor 3, Conquest House,
Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1AB.
TEL: 03456 009009 Email: contact@surreycc.gov.uk
Website: www.surreycc.gov.uk (use the online reporting form)
Last updated: December 2010