Farmers, Landowners and Managers Responsibilities

Farmers, Landowners and Managers should:

  • Know where Public Rights of Way cross their land, and maintain stiles and bridle gates in good order.
  • Refrain from obstructing the paths, and cut back overhanging vegetation.
  • Refrain from ploughing a footpath or bridleway, which constitutes a headland of a field, or runs alongside a hedgerow.
  • Ensure that paths across fields are reinstated two weeks after ploughing.
  • Ensure that disturbance to paths following drainage schemes is put right without delay.
  • Not allow any bull over ten months of age free range of any field through which a footpath or bridleway passes.
  • Obtain the consent of the Borough Council before erecting new stiles or gates.
  • Provide adequate bridges where new ditches are made or existing ones widened.

Diverting a Right of Way

The law does allow for Rights of Way to be diverted, provided that a number of conditions are met. For further details and advice, contact the Rights of Way Officer for your area.

Estimate of Costs [pdf document]

PPO Application Form and Guidance [word document]

Installing gates and stiles on Public Footpaths and Bridleways

Sometimes Land managers enquire about the possibility of installing gates or stiles on Rights of Way. 

Law with regard to installing path furniture [pdf document]

Application Form [word document]