Let’s get the most out of our cherished rights of way

Give your views about Buckinghamshire’s rights of way in a new online survey.

Buckinghamshire has a network of 3,359 kilometres (2,087 miles) of public rights of way, and it is the responsibility of Buckinghamshire County Council to ensure that residents and visitors alike have free access to these routes and are able to get the maximum benefit from the access they provide, not only to the wonderful Bucks countryside but also through urban areas.

As part of this duty, there’s a legal requirement for highways authorities such as Bucks County Council to have in place a rights of way improvement plan (ROWIP) which sets out how the public rights of way network will meet the current and future needs of the public. This has to be reviewed every ten years, and in Buckinghamshire that review falls in 2019.

So that we can develop a ROWIP that reflects what people need and expect from the county’s rights of way, we’re conducting an online survey, and are asking Buckinghamshire residents, organisations, businesses, district councils and parish councils to take part.

Bill Chapple OBE, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment, said: “Whether they’re used for sport, relaxation, studying nature or simply getting from A to B, Buckinghamshire’s rights of way are an important part of our local heritage and an incredibly valuable way of enhancing quality of life for our residents, people who work in the county, and visitors that come to enjoy the beautiful countryside for which Bucks is renowned.

“So that we can ensure that this wonderful resource provides the maximum benefit to all, I’m asking residents, local groups, organisations and businesses to take part in the online survey and let us know how you use our rights of way, what benefits they provide to you, how you feel about their upkeep and use, and what you think our spending priorities should be in this area.”

Take part in the survey here:
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Bucks_CC_ROWIP