Help council to protect routes

THE Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 requires that the Definitive Map and Statement - the formal record of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) is continually updated to incorporate changes that have come about for historical or legal reasons.

North Tyneside Council officers are currently working in Dudley, Seaton Burn, Wideopen and North Gosforth to ensure there is the most up to date record for that area, but not all these link footpaths are known to them.

The paths can be any length and may be short cuts across fields that were once walked by miners going to the local pit or desire lines that have developed when houses have been built. They could be over private or none registered land or have served as a way through an estate for a lot of years.

Some may be linked into the Council’s Wagon Way network

which runs across the borough.

Once legally recorded the footpaths will be managed by the council and will ensure that they can be maintained properly. They also cannot be closed off.

PRoW are invaluable to schools and parents when working on their Safer Routes to School journeys and offer safe off-road links for other walkers and members of the , and in some cases cyclists.

The knowledge and help of local residents in bringing this map up to date would be very much appreciated. The current map is on the council’s website for those who have access, but please let me know if you want to check on any paths near to where you live.

Contact me on 0191 2533761 or email to muriel.green@ northtyneside.gov.uk

Kind regards and all good wishes for 2019

COUN MURIEL GREEN,

Weetslade Ward