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Areas help look after paths and green spaces, open up new places to explore and act as the leading voice on walking matters near you.
Each Local Authority has a designated person who is responsible for ensuring that Public Rights of Way in their area are protected. In the Merseyside and West Cheshire Area, our Public Rights of Way officers are responsible for more than a thousand miles of footpaths. Cutbacks to local authority funding mean that these officers cannot regularly check the whole network in their area. They appreciate footpath users reporting any problems that they may have encountered on the footpaths for which they are responsible.
In the growing season paths can become blocked, difficult or impossible to use, or simply disappear! Over time, stiles can become broken, and boarding to cross poorly drained areas will need replacing. Signage and way-marking can become damaged and in need of repair or replacement.
In some parts of our Area, teams of volunteers work alongside the Public Rights of Way officer in maintaining the standard of footpaths
Occasionally, paths will be blocked or gates locked, denying access. However, it is an offence to obstruct a Public Right of Way, and officers will work with landowners to ensure that the law is followed.
In our Area you can use the links below to report any footpath problems to the Rights of Way officer for the appropriate local authority.
Cheshire West and Chester
Knowsley
Liverpool
Sefton
St Helens
Wirral
If you experience a problem, whilst walking outside of our Area, you can report the problem to Ramblers, using this Pathwatch link. They will forward it to the appropriate Rights of Way officer.
Each local authority is responsible for keeping the definitive maps showing Public Rights of Way in their area. You can access these Definitive Maps and Statements by clicking on the links below. For the St Helens authority, enter Definitive Maps and Statements in the “Search” box on their website and press Return.
Local authorities are responsible for producing Rights of Way Improvement Plans. You can see the latest available plans for our Area by clicking on the links below.
Merseyside
Sunday 14 August 2022Starting at 07:50A moderate 8 mile / 12.9 km walk
Sunday 4 September 2022Starting at 08:10A moderate 13 mile / 20.9 km walk
Sunday 18 September 2022Starting at 07:50A moderate 8 mile / 12.9 km walk
Sunday 9 October 2022Starting at 08:10A moderate 8 mile / 12.9 km walk
Sunday 23 October 2022Starting at 07:50A moderate 6.5 mile / 10.5 km walk