www.ramblers.org.uk

Local authorities

The councils listed below have the principal responsibility for transport and outdoor access in their areas and many of them also manage parks and green spaces and the local countryside. Some National Park Authorities act on behalf of councils on outdoor access matters, and in parts of England with two "tiers" of local government, some district councils act on behalf of county councils to manage the local footpath network. In these cases the principal council will refer you on.

A complete directory of local councils throughout the UK, including district, community and parish councils, can be found on the Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk/QuickFind/LocalCouncils/fs/en.

England: national bodies

  • Local Government Association Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ, tel 020 7664 3000
    www.lga.gov.uk
    Promotes better local government by representing all 500 local authorities in England and Wales.
  • National Association of Local Councils 109 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LD, tel 020 7637 1865
    www.nalc.gov.uk
    Represents the 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales, in partnership with 52 county associations.

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  • Barking and Dagenham (Outer London Borough) Civic Centre, Dagenham RM10 7BN, tel 020 8592 4500
    Parks & Countryside Ranger Service, Millennium Centre, The Chase, Dagenham Road, Rush Green, Romford RM7 0SS, tel 020 8595 4155
    www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk 
  • Barnet (Outer London Borough) Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BG, tel 020 8359 2000
    Greenspaces Development: 2nd Floor Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP, tel 020 8359 7820, parks@barnet.gov.uk 
    www.barnet.gov.uk 
  • Barnsley (Metropolitan Borough) Town Hall, Barnsley S70 2TA, tel 01226 770770
    Countryside Officer: Leisure & Amenities Dept, Phase III Court House Site, County Way, Barnsley S70 2TL, tel 01226 770770
    www.barnsley.gov.uk 
  • Bath & North East Somerset (Unitary Authority) Trimbridge House, Trim Street, Bath BA1 2DP, tel 01225 477000
    www.bathnes.gov.uk 
  • Bedfordshire (County Council) County Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP, tel 01234 363222
    www.bedfordshire.gov.uk
    See also Luton 
  • Berkshire: see Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
  • Bexley (Outer London Borough) Civic Offices, Broadway, Bexleyheath DA6 7LB, tel 020 8303 7777
    www.bexley.gov.uk 
  • Birmingham (Metropolitan Borough) The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB, tel 0121 303 9944
    Walking and cycling tel 0121 303 7485
    www.birmingham.gov.uk
    Birmingham Nature Centre: Pershore Road, Birmingham B5 7RL , tel/textphone 0121 472 7775
    www.birmingham.gov.uk/naturecentre
    Walk 2000 health walks including routes: www.birmingham.gov.uk/walk2000
  • Blackburn with Darwen (Unitary Authority) Town Hall, Blackburn BB1 2LX, tel 01254 585585
    www.blackburn.gov.uk 
  • Blackpool (Unitary Authority) Municipal Buildlings, PO Box 77, Town Hall, Blackpool FY1 1AD, tel 01253 477477
    www.blackpool.gov.uk 
  • Bolton (Metropolitan Borough) The Wellsprings, Bolton BL1 1US, tel 01204 333333
    www.bolton.gov.uk
  • Bournemouth (Unitary Authority) Town Hall, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth BH2 6DY, tel 01202 451451
    www.bournemouth.gov.uk
  • Bracknell Forest (Unitary Authority) Market Street, Bracknell RG12 1LR, tel 01344 352000
    www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk 
  • Bradford City (Metropolitan Borough) City Hall, Channing Way, Bradford BD1 1HY, tel 01274 435681
    www.bradford.gov.uk
  • Brent (Outer London Borough) Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9EZ, tel 020 8937 1234
    www.brent.gov.uk  
  • Brighton & Hove (Unitary Authority) Town Hall, Bartholomew Sq, Brighton BN1 1JA, tel 01273 290000
    www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
  • Bristol City (Unitary Authority) The Council House, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR, tel 0117 922 2000
    Transport Planning DETL: Wilder House, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8PH, tel 0117 903 6449
    www.bristol-city.gov.uk
  • Bromley (Outer London Borough) Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH, tel 020 8464 3333
    Countryside Rangers: High Elms Country Park, Shire Lane, Farnborough BR6 7JH, tel 01689 862815
    www.bromley.gov.uk 
  • Buckinghamshire (County Council) County Hall, Aylesbury HP20 1UA, tel 01296 395000
    Credit card orders for promoted route guides: 01296 382171
    www.buckscc.gov.uk
    Walking information: www.buckscc.gov.uk/rights_of_way
    See also Milton Keynes
  • Bury (Metropolitan Borough) 21 Broad Street, Bury BL9 0AW, tel 0161 253 5000
    www.bury.gov.uk

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  • Ealing (Outer London Borough) 14-16 Uxbridge Road, London W5 2HL, tel 020 8825 5000
    Parks and countryside service: tel 020 8825 6999
    www.ealing.gov.uk 
  • East Riding of Yorkshire (Unitary Authority) County Hall, Beverley HU17 9BA, tel 01482 393939
    Countryside access: tel 01482 395201
    www.eastriding.gov.uk 
    Search for 'Walking' to find the W@lking the Riding section of the website with over a hundred route suggestions.
    See also Kingston upon Hull, York
  • East Sussex (County Council) County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes BN7 1UE, tel 01273 481000
    www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk 
    Environmental pages including walking events: http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/walks/default.htm
    See also Brighton 
  • Enfield (Outer London Borough) Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield EN1 3XA, tel 020 8379 1000
    www.enfield.gov.uk 
  • Essex (County Council) County Hall, Chelmsford CM1 1LX, tel 08457 430430
    PROW Team Publications and enquiries: tel 01245 437291, prow.web@essexcc.gov.uk
    Public Transport Coordination, tel 01245 437771, ptcs@essexcc.gov.uk
    www.essexcc.gov.uk
    Walking information is on the above website: look for Public Rights of Way under Travelling. Under Publications you can order or download a copy of Our Guide Your Countryside, a useful directory of walks and rides in Essex, as well as other priced publications.
    See also Southend, Thurrock

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