Agenda item

To scrutinise matters in relation to footpaths in order to provide assurance of operation.

To accept the report noting the observations submitted during the discussion.

 

The report was presented by Cabinet Member for the Environment, the Assistant Head of Environment Department, the Traffic and Projects Service Manager and the Footpaths Team Leader. They referred briefly to the following main points:

 

They reported that public right of way paths were a valuable resource that addressed several of the Council's strategic objectives, while their users got to enjoy the diverse landscape of the County. They elaborated that they were a means of ensuring access to fresh air for their users, a good way of keeping fit and healthy and that they also reflected the history and culture of the communities. It was expressed that Gwynedd's public rights of way network was long, with so many miles of footpaths to walk that it was equivalent to walking from Caernarfon to Cairo (2,418 miles).

 

It was explained that the public rights of way routes included the Wales Coast Path, the Lonydd Glas network in Gwynedd and a number of active travel routes that were being developed by the Council, along with other paths.

 

They referred to some of the service's challenges arising from budget cuts, while there was an ongoing legislative expectation on the Council to ensure that some of the paths remained open for use.

 

Reference was made to the work programme of the Footpaths Team, explaining that their main activities included:

 

·       Cutting seasonal growth

·       Restoring infrastructure (bridges, walls, gates, stiles, culverts)

·       Installing new infrastructure

·       Implementing a signage scheme

·       Responding to queries, complaints and freedom of information requests

·       Dealing with all legal issues in the field:

o   Maintaining the official map/record of public rights of way in the County

o   Dealing with requests for claims, changes and diversions to the official network and map which were subject to legal processes.

 

It was confirmed that work was underway to ensure that these routes were as accessible as possible, swapping stiles for gates where possible so that more users could follow the paths.

 

It was added that the effects of climate change and turbulent weather can force officers to change the direction of paths, if it was no longer possible to use them, such as if there had been landslides near any path. It was noted that there were additional costs involved in doing this, which had an impact on the service's budgets.

 

It was noted that work was underway to revise the rights of way policy and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and they confirmed that the service would undertake a consultation on the matter. It was hoped that a cross-section of various communities from different areas of the County would contribute comments and feedback within that consultation.

 

During the discussion, the following observations were made by the Members:-

 

It was pointed out that several paths within the county could not be used due to overgrowth. In response, the Footpaths Team Leader explained that a lack of resources had forced the Team to categorise paths according to their usage, and he stated that there were no budgets or resources available to maintain every single footpath within the County. He elaborated that the Team relied on feedback from Community Councils and Local Members to identify which footpaths were most used within their areas, and to hold discussions with the Team. In response to a further enquiry, he explained that it was impossible to remove any footpath from the network map without following a legal process, this explaining why these paths still appeared to residents.

 

In response to an enquiry on categorising footpaths, the Footpaths Team Leader explained that there were four different categories, with category 1 and 2 receiving the Team's ongoing attention. It was explained that these categories had been formed with the help of the community councils as they had reported on which footpaths were most used. It was acknowledged that this work had been carried out some time ago now, but it was emphasised that the Team was considering requests from councils and individuals to re-categorise footpaths. It was noted that the public could view the category of any path they wished to use by accessing Map Gwynedd on the Council's website. It was explained that category 3 and 4 paths were likely to be ones that were not currently receiving maintenance work.

 

In response to an enquiry regarding having input from occupational therapists and disabled people to ensure access for all, the Assistant Head explained that they had been trying to recruit more stakeholders to become members of the Local Access Forum. The Footpaths Team Leader elaborated that there were members representing disabled groups on the Forum and that their comments fed into the work of ensuring access for all.

 

Particular attention was drawn to a section of Lôn Eifion in Penygroes which had closed recently due to damage following severe weather. In response to the comments, the Assistant Head acknowledged that it was hoped that the path would have reopened by the Easter holidays this year but the quotes received from companies to work on the path were very costly and did not provide value for money. He explained that they hoped to wait until the new financial year and for the path to reopen as soon as possible afterwards. He confirmed that an update would be shared with the members as soon as possible. It was emphasised that there was no emergency funding within the budgets.

 

The members expressed their thanks for the report and to the Team for their work.

 

RESOLVED

 

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.