RIGHTS OF WAY Improvement Plan 2007-2011 Photograph © RNRP Foreword 2 Introduction 3 CONTENTS Background 4 Rights of Way Improvement Plans 5 Northamptonshire 7 Other Strategies and Plans 8 Local Transport Plan 2006/07 – 2010/11 11 Safer Cleaner Greener and Local Delivery 13 Assessment of the Current Network - The Access Network 14 Assessment of the Current Network - Network Assessment 18 Assessment of People’s Needs and Demands 31 Key Issues 32 Highlights of the Needs and Demands Survey 33 The Action Plan 35 Appendix A – Assessment of Potential Short Circular Walks 62 Appendix B – Potential Inter-Village Routes 68 FOREWORD 2 Welcome to the which there are proposals to deliver significant Northamptonshire Rights urban expansion around the major towns which will of Way Improvement include a great deal of associated infrastructure Plan. such as new roads, education facilities and leisure opportunities. Our Rights of Way team is fully We have a tremendous committed to achieve as much as possible in asset in the network of partnership with the growth area delivery bodies public rights of way here and as you will read, great importance has been in Northamptonshire, placed on this subject within this plan’s Statement and I am delighted to of Action. introduce our plan for the coming years that I would like to personally thank everyone who sets out how we will contributed to the production of this plan, especially prioritise our actions to bring about improvements all those who took part in the initial surveys in 2004 for all members of the community. and everyone who completed feedback on the Draft Plan launched at the 2005 Northampton I know how important this network is to everyone Balloon Festival. I would also like to thank all the who uses our rights of way – remember how volunteers that have helped make the county’s people were affected during the Foot and Mouth rights of way network such a valuable asset. Disease crisis in 2001. To back up this view, the Without their input our job would have been made research commissioned by the Rights of Way team much more difficult and we could have lost touch has shown that local accessible paths are what with our communities which are our life blood. residents really wish to be maintained. We can deliver this in the next few years with the support of My hope is that this plan, allied to the provisions of our farmers and landowners in ways that match the Local Transport Plan will result in significant both the needs of the community and the changing improvement in accessibility throughout the county face of agriculture and access to the countryside. as well as having environmental benefits and contributing to the promotion of good health for the I hope that the plan can help us to improve the people of Northamptonshire. profile of Northamptonshire County Council by means of improved promotion, publicity and In the meantime I would very much like to express branding to ensure that our services are recognised my personal appreciation of all those involved in and appreciated by members of the public. If we pursuing these objectives which I have no doubt will provide attractive and well maintained access, our provide a good positive contribution to the standing in the community will be raised. wellbeing of the County. We have a particularly important challenge in Northamptonshire by being a major part of the Bob Seery Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area in Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transport Photograph © RNRP INTRODUCTION 3 Welcome to the Northamptonshire Rights of We have put an electronic version on our website Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). www.northamptonshire.gov.uk This strategic document explains how For further information please contact: Northamptonshire County Council as highway authority will identify, manage and deliver Richard Hall improvements to its local rights of way and access Rights of Way Manager to the countryside over the next 4 years. Sustainable Transport Northamptonshire County Council Since the draft version of this plan was circulated in Riverside House August 2005, many of the comments, suggestions Bedford Road and priorities have been incorporated in this docu- NORTHAMPTON ment. These have allowed us to: NN1 5NX 1 Check that the findings of the research Telephone: 01604 654352 were right Email: [email protected] 2 Consider people’s views on our proposed actions 3 Prioritise proposed actions in the approved Plan 4 Identify and deliver a series of ‘quick wins’ to achieve important improvements BACKGROUND - What are Public Rights of Way? 4 Natural England and Defra have the following information on their websites: England has about 190,000 km (118,000 miles) of footpaths, bridleways, byways and other rights of way. They are the most important way for visitors to enjoy the countryside, and are also useful for local people to get to the shops, school and work. Definitions: Footpath open to walkers only, waymarked with a yellow arrow Bridleway open to cyclists, horseriders and walkers, waymarked with a blue arrow Restricted Byway open to cyclists, horseriders, carriage drivers and walkers, waymarked with a plum coloured arrow Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) open to all walkers, cyclists, riders and motor vehicles, waymarked with a red/orange arrow BACKGROUND - Rights of Way Improvement Plans 5 The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) In November 2002 further guidance was issued Act 2000 places a duty on every Local Highway from DEFRA which provided local highway Authority to prepare and publish and Rights of authorities with greater detail on what was expected Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) by November to be contained within the ROWIP process. The 2007. guidance given by DEFRA includes the following: A ROWIP is a strategic document which is a means In making the assessments under section 60(1) and for the local highway authorities to identify and 60(3)(a) of the CRoW Act, local authorities should propose the management of improving public rights consider the needs and circumstances of people of way and access to the countryside. Plans should with a range of expectations, interests and levels of be reviewed at least every 10 years. ability, also they should take in to account the needs of both local people and visitors to the area. The CRoW Act 2000 requires every local highway Examples of what local highway authorities should authority to assess consider are: The extent to which local rights of way meet Access to and within attractive areas which the present and likely future needs of the might have few existing rights of way i.e. public watersides, woodland or particular views or The opportunities provided by rights of way for attractions exercise and other forms of open-air recreation Attractive routes to support tourism and and the enjoyment of the area economic regeneration or community lead The accessibility of rights of way to the blind initiatives. or partially sighted and those with mobility Opportunities for cycling, horse riding, horse problems. driving and walking, allowing people to avoid roads mainly used by motor vehicles. The plan should also contain statement of actions, Routes from centres of population in these are action local highway authorities proposes conjunction with public transport to allow easy to take for the management of local rights of way access to the countryside from where people and for securing improvements to the network, with live. particular regard to the matters dealt with in the Links to create circular routes and better assessment. facilities for walkers (including dog walkers), runners, cyclist, horse riders and drivers for Also the CRoW Act requires every local highway leisure and health. authority to consult with: Convenient and safe crossings over roads, railway, rivers and canals. Each local highway authority whose area The current rights of way network such as adjoins theirs ways ending in a cul-de-sac or routes carrying Each district and parish councils whose area is different rights along their lengths. within theirs Routes for local journeys such as walking to Any Local Access Forum established for their work, shops, doctors and other local area amenities The Countryside Agency (now Natural Routes through and around heavily developed England) areas, to ensure such development does not prevent or disrupt the continuity of the network. 6 The guidance gives greater depth to the process The study of the definitive map should allow a that the assessment should go through. Local high- preliminary assessment of: ways authorities should: The extent to which routes are available to Study of the definitive map and statements. different groups of users Collate and consider data on: Areas which are deficient in rights of way for all applications for modifications to the map or particular groups and statement Obvious inconsistencies or anomalies in request for improvement to the network relation to individual rights of way and Other opportunities to improve the network the current condition of the network Identify any other relevant information, The study of the map should be in conjunction with including plans and strategies. the wider highway network, cycle tracks and permissive routes including towpaths and routes through woodland and forest. BACKGROUND - Northamptonshire 7 Since the 1960s, the population of Northamptonshire has a significant natural heritage Northamptonshire has increased by 50% to with important areas in the western uplands and the 646,000 residents. It remains a predominantly Nene Valley. Its man-made heritage can be seen in rural county but is interspersed with several the limestone villages at either end and the large and small towns. sandstone villages in the Northampton area. Important contributions are also made by the small Northamptonshire is officially in the East Midlands industrial towns and the Grand Union Canal.