Blocked Footpaths

Q. How does a person report footpaths which are blocked?

To whom do they report this to?

And once reported what does the other person have to do?

Many Thanks

Nick Redmond, Atherton

A. I found a blocked footpath when doing the "Round Preston Walk" in 1986. The paths were in the correct places according to both the guide book and the Preston OS Map. This one was in the Fulwood area; barbed wire had been placed across between 2 fence posts with a stile into the next field several feet behind the fence posts. By crawling on my hands and knees, I was able to just squeeze under the barbed wire and then negotiate the stile. Upon returning home, I wrote to the Preston Area Ramblers Association to tell them about this problem. About 2 weeks later I received a letter from their secretary to say he had investigated, and had successfully persuaded the farmer to remove the wire. By coincidence I met this RA secretary a few months later on a Rail Rambler Walk and he remembered my letter. I walked the same part of the route again a few months later, and the wire had indeed been removed, a success for common sense!

David Dawber, Lytham St Annes

A. You can (and should) report any blocked footpaths to your local council who will have a 'footpaths officer' (or similar) who deals with such things. You can refer to the local definitive map to make sure that the path you're trying to follow is a right of way and hasn't been diverted somewhere else. The definitive map should be available at the Council Offces or at your local library.

The paths are numbered, so you should report the number of the path thats blocked and the grid reference and nature of the blockage.

Alternatively, contact your local Ramblers Association who should be very interested.

Mike Knipe, Crook

Add your answer to THIS question | Ask a NEW walking and hiking question

Return to the main list of Walking and Hiking Questions

Search for an existing Walking and Hiking Question or Answer