In this time of economic difficulties, the government are looking to make severe cuts to community services. We need to ensure that councils recognise the benefits that rights of way bring.
We are asking Ramblers volunteers to campaign locally on this issue. Please see our factsheet on how to campaign here.
Below are a series of resources and ideas which you can use to lobby your local council:
Generate publicity for your campaign
Press releases
Template press release to express concern over the coming cuts
Template press release for when the detailed cuts are known in each area
Template poster to use for local promotion of the campaign.
There is also a toolkit with templates on the Ramblers brand here
Organise a media stunt i.e. walking on a traffic junction as this is the only place left to walk!
Ask your local radio station if they would like to attend one of your walks, and tell them about the cuts the council is proposing
If you would like further help and advice on working with the local media please contact Maria Castellina, Press Officer at maria.castellina@ramblers.org.uk or by telephone on 0207 339 8531.
Lobby Councillors directly
Invite councillors on a pre-organised walk or arrange a special walk for members to discuss the issues
Ensure that you report all footpath problems you encounter whilst walking to the relevant Highways Authority. This will demonstrate to the Council how much work needs to be done to keep paths open. You can find council contact details here, and you can also tell us about problems here.
Ask the Rights of Way staff for the coucnil if they know of any budget cuts, and what they would like you to do about this situation
Letter to send to councils
Template letter for local volunteers or supporters to send to councils
Attend town meetings to discuss the issue, make sure you use your right to speak
Respond to public consultations and pass the information to us via the email contact detailed below
Submit a Freedom of Information Request to see how budgets are effected. Details of how to do this can be found here, or on the National Council for Voluntary Organisations' website here.
Find out what the council said in their Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and hold them accountable
Ensuring you have facts and figures to back up your argument
Download our PDF: Walking Facts and Figures 1: The benefits of walking
Download our PDF: Walking Facts and Figures 2:Participation in Walking
Survey local businesses to see how much they benefit from walking in the area
See if there are any regional figures for the amount of money generated by walking in your area, or the health benefits of this activity
Resarch paths which are likely to be effected by cuts to budgets, use these as local examples to make the issue local.
Find out the effect that the Foot and Mouth outbreak had on your region, and use this as evidence of how much income walking generates
Working with others
An 'influence map' diagram which shows in a pictorial form how you could campaign can be found here.
To make your argument stronger you may want to consider working in partnership with some/ all of the people below:
Your local MPs, find yours here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/
Your Local Access Forum, details of what these bodies do can be found here
Other walking groups, perhaps consider forming a Walking Forum
Local business which benefit from walking i.e. pubs, cafes and hotels
Local celebrities
Parish Councils
Local community groups such as the University of the Third Age, WI groups, the Scouts and Guides and local Age Concern groups
Your local health care providers such as local Doctors surgeries
Other rights of way users such as horse riders and cyclist
'Walkers are Welcome', lobby to get your town added. More information can be found here: http://www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk/.
If you need any assistance or would like to request hard copies of the posters please contact the Walking Environment team at walking.environment@ramblers.org.uk.
Please let us know if you do any of the above and what the outcome is by emailiing walking.environment@ramblers.org.uk.
