Have a say on rights of way

WORK has started on an improvement plan for public rights of way across West Berkshire – and the council wants your views.

West Berkshire Council is responsible for around 740 miles of public footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways.

There are public rights of way across the whole of West Berkshire, in both urban and rural areas, that form a network across the district for enjoying and exploring the countryside, as well as travelling to work or school.

They provide hundreds of miles of free routes on which people can walk, cycle, ride horses or use other means of travel.

The council’s rights of way improvement plan (ROWIP) helps it to ensure the network meets the needs of the public now and in the future.

The plan was adopted in May 2010 and now needs updating.

The council’s executive member for transport and countryside Richard Somner (Con, Tilehurst South and Holybrook) said: “Many people have used public rights of way more during the pandemic or have discovered them for the first time.

“We want to better understand the value of the public rights of way network to those who currently use them as well as how we might help other residents to discover and make use of them.”

The rights of way service is also using the process of reviewing its ROWIP to understand the needs of West Berkshire’s residents more fully.

It will use the opportunity to make sure the ROWIP addresses the priorities of the area in terms of health and wellbeing, supporting people living with disabilities and mental health issues, regeneration, growth, transport, climate change, tourism and other priorities.

The council wants to know about your experience of using the district’s public rights of way, and how important the network is to your health and wellbeing.

An online survey has been set to gather people’s views – and you have until May 30 to take part.

Visit https://info.westberks. gov.uk/wbrowip for the survey.