Walkers face problems using paths as funding cuts bite, the Ramblers said
Cuts in funding for England’s local authorities are stopping people going for a walk, the Ramblers warned.
The charity said there are now 100,000 problem paths in the country which hinder members of the public trying to take a healthy walk.
More than 30 per cent of councils have cut their budgets for footpaths this year, which follows three years of severe cuts during the coalition Government’s austerity measures.
The Ramblers said the cuts are damaging people’s ability to get outdoors and will increasingly affect tourism, the economy and the nation’s physical and mental health.
The charity today published its findings from Freedom of Information requests to every local authority in England. Its Paths in Crisis report said 100,000 problems reported to the highway authorities have not been fixed.
Walkers face impenetrable overgrowth, dangerous barbed wire, flooded paths and missing signposts, stiles and bridges, the organisation said.
The charity said it has teams of volunteers working with 44 different councils in England who go out in their spare time to clear overgrowth paths, put up signposts and fix broken stiles and bridges.
“However, with such drastic cuts to funding there is less money for path clearance and with fewer staff to co-ordinate volunteers and liaise with landowners, it will become harder for volunteering to take place,” it said.
The Ramblers called on councils to work with the charity to repair path problems.
It also said authorities should stop the severe and disproportionate cuts to rights of way budgets and address the backlog of work for recording paths as rights of way to protect them for the next generation of walkers.
Chief executive Benedict Southworth said: “Blocked and overgrown paths put people off from getting outside at a time when we need to be making it easier, not harder, for everyone to get more active.
“We know walking is one of the nation’s favourite pastimes, with visitors to England’s great outdoors spending £21bn last year.
“Keeping paths clear is a small cost compared to the huge benefits they can bring to tourism, the economy and the nation’s health and happiness and it is vital that councils properly invest in them.
“We’re calling on councils to work with us to help get these paths back on track.
“We have volunteers across the country that regularly go out to clear paths, fix stiles and build bridges but without council staff to work with our volunteers and liaise with landowners, it is becoming harder for our volunteers to help.”
The Paths in Crisis report lists ‘councils of concern’ which have made the largest funding cuts or have the largest number of path problems.
These include authorities in prime tourist areas and on the fringes of national parks.
Cornwall, Somerset Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Staffordshire County Councils are on the list, along with Barnsley, Oldham, Calderdale and Kirklees, and city councils in Birmingham and Plymouth.
The Ramblers said physical inactivity is one of the nation’s biggest killers and if everyone walked more, it could prevent 37,000 deaths every year.
John Belbin
25 November 2013It's ineviatble that RofW will become worse over the next few years. Lancashire ( and I assume most authorities) are prioritising work so that the most vital is attended to first which means that the least important (e.g. overgrown paths, poor but not dangerous stiles) will never be done and thus become less pleasant and, eventually, unused.
I reported a blocked path to North Yorkshire some three years ago. It has never been repaired although the barbed wire obstruction has been trampled down. Walking it last week I found that the entire network of paths beyond it had become disused and there was no trace of them on the ground. It took considerable navigational skills to find the line to my destination which the majority of casual walkers neither possess nor want to use - and this was not somewhere remote in the Dales but off an A road and close to a small town.
Phil Lee
25 November 2013What a load of scare mongering nonsense - seriously, I am amazed anyone has even bothered reporting this - no doubt the Ramblers have a cunning plan, I expect a nationwide drive by the Ramblers to raise money and sort the problem out?
There has been some superb work done by volunteers and organisations like the Friends of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks all over the UK, repairing, creating and enhancing trails. In my view there has never been a better time to get out and enjoy the advantages walking brings and why do people hav eto stick to "trails" there are many public parks, paths etc through urban areas of interest too, why not stray off the paths and go walkabout too... these are great times for the outdoors.
But then since when did good news ever tickle the buds of a newspaper editor.
"will increasingly affect tourism, the economy and the nation’s physical and mental health" hilarious - and they want us to take them seriously? Rambers.. typical, they just go on and on and on...(sorry an old one I know : )
Sheepy
25 November 2013How did people manage before paths were ever repaired and signposts were placed on every path?
The joy of having a map, being able to read it and a compass should enable people to go wherever they want. So what if yoru feet get wet or muddy, thats half the fun of walking, dodging the obstacles.
I'm also a Parish councillor with part of our parish falling into the Forest of Bowland AONB. I can honestly say that Pendle Borough Council and their countryside office are brilliant and we always receive prompt and efficient assistance replacing signs, stiles, footpath repairs etc etc.
If you come across something firstly go round over or through it. Secondly report it to the local authority.
Ian
25 November 2013which would they sooner we cut?social services? Libraries? Highway repair and gritting? Maybe close some more schools?
As the cuts have to be made somewhere. I'm afraid footpaths are one of the areas that are going to have their funding cut. In Lincolnshire even the main highway budget is being cut...