Paths
This Council affirms that it is the policy of the Ramblers:
(a) To oppose a proposal to extinguish a public path by means of a public path extinguishment order under section 118 of the Highways Act 1980 unless there is clearly no public need for the path, either now or in the future;
(b) To oppose a proposal to divert a public path by means of a public path diversion order under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980, unless the alternative path to be provided either positively improves the route or offers an alignment which is only marginally less satisfactory to users.
This Council, noting that schemes for reorganisation of the rights of way network have:
(a) involved the Association’s voluntary workers in the expenditure of much time;
(b) involved the expenditure of considerable sums of public money at a time when highway authorities are failing, allegedly through shortage of resources, to carry out their statutory duties in respect of the maintenance and protection of public rights of way; and
(c) failed, either at all or in proportion to the expenditure of time and money involved, to produce benefits for those who walk in the countryside,
instructs Areas to resist the pursuit of any such schemes by their respective highway authorities, to press instead for compliance by those authorities with their statutory duties, and to seek assistance from the National Executive Committee where necessary.
That this Council calls upon the National Executive Committee to press the DOT and all highway authorities to provide safe and convenient crossings for public rights of way, wherever major roads are improved or built, and on existing roads where the speed and density of traffic makes crossing on the level inconvenient or hazardous.
This Council calls on Areas, as a fillip to the Free Your Paths campaign, to encourage every Group to organise throughout the year at least some walks on the less-used and poorer-maintained paths in the Group’s and Area’s territory.
