The Public Rights of Way network requires an annual investment of £1.53m to address a maintenance backlog and prevent further deterioration.
The Working Group on Footpaths, Bridleways, and Green Lanes found that 316km of PROWs are currently underfunded, with 210 outstanding complaints and six footpaths closed due to safety concerns.
That backlog includes £186,290 in joinery work and £1.3 million in construction repairs, with some projects taking up to 7.5 years to complete at current resource levels.
The report states: “Without appropriate investment and long-term funding, it is likely that these routes and pathways will deteriorate and become unusable.
“Footpath closures will increase on safety grounds and the utility will be lost to all.”
It adds: “There are currently six footpaths closed, while at the time of first report there were seven, one of which has been closed since 2015.
“It is worth noting that the rest of the closed paths are different to those from the first report.
“This shows that, while the teams are managing to get PROWs open again, due to the nature and length of time for these works take, others are deteriorating to the point of closure in the meantime.”
Network
To maintain the network, the Working Group recommends:
- £831,301 in annual revenue funding for routine upkeep.
- £700,000 in minor capital funding for five years to clear the backlog, dropping to £400,000 thereafter.
The report warns that transferring responsibility to local authorities or the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) would be “sub-optimal” and could increase costs.
Instead, it calls for primary legislation to streamline Definitive Map updates and improve landowner cooperation.
Tourism benefits are also highlighted, with 57% of visitors engaging in outdoor activities, contributing an estimated £6.2 million annually to the economy.
However, the report cautions: “It will not be prudent to create additional PROWs whilst the maintenance of the existing PROW is underfunded.”
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