Walking is big business for the English countryside, but the serious under investment and neglect of the footpath network by local authorities is jeopardising this, a shocking new report released by the Ramblers' Association (RA) reveals.
The findings, from Dr Mike Christie at the University of Wales Aberystwyth and independent research consultant Jon Matthews, show that over 527 million walking trips to the English countryside are made each year, with walkers spending over £6 billion. This has a big impact on the rural job market, with an estimated 185,000 to 254,000 full-time jobs being supported by walking. Walking is a draw for overseas visitors too. They make over 1 million trips to walk in the English countryside yearly, boosting the rural economy by £355 million.
However, the report concludes, "walkers encountering an obstructed path are unlikely to return to that path. A number of similar experiences may lead walkers to avoid a particular area in the future. Given the level of obstruction on English paths (31% difficult or impossible to use) the disincentive effect on return visits to areas notorious for obstructed paths is likely to be significant."
Commissioned by the RA, the largest charity in Great Britain working on behalf of walkers, the report found the total benefits from walking are greatly in excess of the cost of bringing the path network to an acceptable standard. An investment of as little as £69.1 million - a fraction of the amount spent by walkers - is all that is needed to bring paths up to scratch.
In spite of the huge numbers of jobs created there are a staggering 178,000 obstacles on the rights of way network. Local authorities must protect paths, and admit themselves that 31% of all paths are difficult or impossible to use in England. This is due to barbed wire, ploughing and cropping of paths, dangerous or missing stiles, gates, and signposts.
The report also indicates that there are wider social benefits to walking, such as the enormous health benefits that are gained by regular walking. This has an economic impact: healthier people reduce the pressure on health services. The report is published at a time when walkers are appealing to local authorities to prepare for the opening of new access land next summer.
Jacquetta Fewster, Head of Footpath Campaigns at the RA, said, "This research confirms what we suspected. The public helps sustain rural communities simply by going for a walk and local authorities are failing the public by under-funding rights of way. It's shocking that paths are still in such an appalling state when it would take as little as £1.79 per adult to get the network open and easy to use."
Read the full report
