Enforcement
From GPG
Enforcement is a key element in the role of Public Rights of Way Officers. The prosecution of an individual is a serious business and demands a high level of professionalism, indeed the same level of professionalism that would be expected of other enforcement agencies such as Trading Standards, Environmental Health or the Police. See also Enforcement Strategy and Enforcement Procedure.
Landowners and Occupiers
The landowner and occupier must respect the public's rights of passage and not do anything that would inconvenience or endanger the public in any way. The legislation includes special provisions to deal with gates and stiles and to allow ploughing and cultivation.
Building good relationships with landowners can help significantly with keeping the network open. (See document non-confrontational approaches to working with landowners.)
Complaints from the public
A sample procedure for managing rights of way casework generated by the public gives a step by step approach starting from logging the initial complaint.
The Natural England/Countryside Agency publication CA 9 - Out in the Country was aimed at members of the public wishing to know where they go and what they can do in the countryside. It explains who is responsible for what, and can be very useful to send out to walking groups or footpath wardens who may wish to report problems. It is free from Natural England publications as a download.
Rights of Way affected by development
The basis of good management of rights of way affected by development is twofold: an acknowledgement of the importance of public rights of way in planning policy documents and good liaison between planning officers and rights of way officers. Influencing planning policy to ensure that rights of way are included is important. See practical advice on how to deal with rights of way that are affected by the planning process.
Authorities can make a traffic regulation order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict or prohibit the use of the way by all or certain types of user. See information on TRO procedures.
