Year-round footpath users are dominated by dog walkers and accordingly their preferred routes remain passable through higher volume of footfall. Recreational groups are occasionally observed but the biggest change this summer is expected to be caused by the Golden Valley Pilgrim Route which is becoming well known nationally. It has recently been featured in National Geographic and also The Guardian and the Diocese has received thousands of enquiries as a result. We are trying to ensure that these particular routes are heavily waymarked and landowners alerted to pay particular attention to these routes to keep them clear over the summer.
As the gradual change from pastoral to arable farming continues, so footpaths are planted over and not cleared. One of the biggest landowners in the parish has several paths still blocked by potato ridges after the 2 week period of grace allowed to make good. The important VO25 has been allowed to be totally blocked by bramble scrub by the same owner. In addition he has failed to repair two impassable stiles and refuses to give permission to replace any of his stiles with more user-friendly gates. He has been contacted by phone, email and in person. The next step will be an approach to the Dutchy who own the land, backed up by County Council PROW staff. By contrast the best practice of promptly clearing footpaths through crops or leaving a 1.5m margin at the edge is Richard Stokes at Monnington Court who I commend for his good practice yet again this year.
As walking is recognised as valuable recreational activity promoting health and wellbeing, an injection of cash and personnel from 2024 has brought much needed support to Parish Footpath Officers. Training has been given, basic tool kits issued and IT systems updated to facilitate maintenance and upgrading to any PROW in a Parish. In addition the Foothpath Improvements Grant is paying for several items of equipment such as gates although the question of who actually installs this equipment remains unresolved.
Looking ahead I would like to see more use of social media to promote the footpath network which will keep it open and well used.