Public Rights of Way - FAQ's

What is a public right of way?
Public rights of way are ways over which the public have the right to pass and repass. Public footpaths are for pedestrians only. Public bridleways are for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists. Public byways are for pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and motorised vehicles, subject to the character of the way.

Can I check if a path is a public right of way?
If you wish to check whether a path is a public right of way please contact us with all the details of your request and we will ensure that this is passed to the correct section for them to investigate and reply back to you direct. On receipt, an Officer will check the status of the route on the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way. If the route is not recorded as a public right of way it could be a claimed path. If the path is not recorded then the Council does not have any responsibility to maintain it.

Can you tell me if this is a private right of access?
Private rights of way are not something the council will become involved with unless there is also a public right along the same route. To find out if there is a public right along the same route please contact us.

Can a signpost be erected, replaced or repaired?
Yes, by contacting us, this will be added to our List of Signposting Requirements. However, at this present moment in time there is a considerable amount of requests for signposting on the list and we are unable to commit to a time scale.

My concern or request isn't covered here.
Please contact us with full details for investigation and reply.

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