Maintenance and Removal of Obstructions

The County Council maintains the network of Public Rights of Way in Worcestershire. It takes a positive approach using its resources as effectively as possible to address its management and maintenance of the PROW network in the County.

With over 16,000 rights of way this presents a considerable challenge, including addressing a range of issues from broken stiles, blocked paths, vegetation growth and the replacement of old bridges. The Countryside Service deals with several thousand issues (reports) per year.

Who does this work?

The duty to ensure public rights of way are available for the use and enjoyment of the public lies with Worcestershire County Council as the Highway Authority.  The task is carried out by the Countryside Service Access Team.

Whilst the County Council has this overall responsibility, maintenance responsibility is generally divided between the Council and landowners.  

The County Council is responsible for:

• Signposting paths where they leave a metalled road
• Waymarking paths along the route of the path
• Clearance of undergrowth i.e. natural vegetation growing through the surface
• Maintenance of most bridges and smaller ditch crossings
• Ensuring landowners comply with their responsibilities

Landowners are responsible for

• Maintenance of gates and stiles
• Clearance of overgrowth i.e. vegetation growing from the sides or above
• Re-instatement of paths after ploughing
• Keeping paths clear of crops
• Making sure they don’t obstruct paths in other ways

How do we organise maintenance work?

The considerable amount of work that is required is carried out through a number of different work programmes and schemes, including comprehensive improvement projects carried out on a parish by parish basis (Parish Improvement Programme) and partnership schemes with local parish and town councils.  Further details, including how we deal with problems reported by the public, are contained in Work Programming  (305.22 KB)

What action is taken when landowners obstruct paths?

Most landowners carry out their responsibilities without contact or action from the County Council. Occasionally, however, some landowners fail to comply with their statutory duties and the Council is required to resolve the matter.  Normally this is achieved through co-operation, although if necessary, the Council will serve legal notice, take direct action to clear an obstruction or seek to prosecute.  For further information...

• Countryside Service
• Public Rights of Way
• What are Public Rights of Way
• Definitive Rights of Way Map
• Maintenance and Obstructions
• Enforcement
• Reporting a Problem
• Recording, Changing and Closing
• Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• Local Access Forum
• County Council Working Practices
• Working Practices
• Local Contacts
• Section 31 Deposits
• Definitive Map Modification Orders
• Definitive Map Modification Order Reports
• Rosses and Guises Lanes, Wichenford