A footpath at St Clether north of Bodmin Moor, cleared by the React group of the Ramblers

A seasoned campaigner for the rights of walkers accused Cornwall’s authorities of neglecting the county’s footpaths.

Ramblers president Kate Ashbrook said the public path network is the jewel in Cornwall’s crown.

But, she said, it is being starved of funds, neglected and downgraded.

Ms Ashbrook was speaking at the annual meeting of the Ramblers’ Cornwall area, at which the Cash for Cornish Paths was launched.

She said: “We must persuade Cornwall Council to put more money and resources into the county’s public paths.

“The council has a legal duty to ensure that all 2,765 miles of recorded paths are open and usable. Yet a large number of these routes are blocked, closed or have problems which make them difficult to use.

“They are governed by the same laws as our roads and lanes; if they were in the same state as the path network there would be an outcry, yet the paths are just as important.

“The paths are the arteries of this beautiful and splendid county. They are vital for local people, visitors, our health and well-being, the tourism industry and the local economy.”

The St Clether path before the Ramblers' work

The Ramblers said they will form a task force to lobby councillors to increase the path budget instead of cutting it year by year.

The Ramblers will team up with other path users – horse riders, carriage drivers and cyclists – all of whom need good paths, they said, and will seek the support of tourist and health bodies and businesses, to make the case to county councillors who hold the purse strings and are responsible for the path network.

The walkers’ charity members are already giving substantial help to the council with its practical path work team, Ramblers Environment Action Team, saving the council about £20,000 a year and opening up numerous paths, most of which had been blocked for decades.

Ms Ashbrook said: “Paths give great value for money. A small amount spent on enforcement and opening up the network will bring pleasure to locals and visitors and encourage people to spend money in the county.

“It’s time to put cash into paths; it can only do good,” she added.