It can be appreciated that changes of habits and circumstances during this century have caused many footpaths to fall into disuse. Many have already disappeared. Others have become overgrown and are no longer passable. In our modern age, however, they have a new “raison d’etre”, adding to the network of rural paths in our country to serve the whole community of town and countryside dwellers alike enabling all to enjoy fresh air, exercise and recreation in the countryside. Unless steps are taken, these rights of way will be extinguished.
We need to act to preserve these footpaths for future generations. So what do we need to do ? Be a detective !
Firstly, check on the Definitive Map and List of Streets that routes that you think are ROW are, in fact, on one or the other.
Secondly, for “lost” routes (not on the Definitive Map or List of Streets), we need to watch out for routes that you might suspect have had higher rights, or routes remembered by older people in the area, or missing links (ROW that do not link up with any other ROW) or any ROW shown on an old map. Is the route hedged or ditched on both sides? Does it join a highway at each end or join a road to a common? Does it have a footpath running parallel in the field alongside? Does it have a stony or bound surface (i.e., has never been “under the plough”)? Do footpaths dead-end into it (in which case the logical connection between the footpaths is along the route)? Does it have telegraph poles along part of its length? Does it go under a railway through a wide bridge? Is there a ford alongside a footbridge? Does it have a name (helpful ones can be “Old Road”, “Horsey Drove”,“Holdfast Lane” etc)? Is it an ORPA (Other Route with Public Access) that is not recorded ?
Everyone can prevent routes being lost. And, we need to work together to make it happen! It is really difficult to work on your own!
Some websites to enthuse you !
http://labs.nationalarchives.gov.uk/maps/valuation.htmlhttp://data.gov.uk/dataset/land-registry-inspire-service-metadatahttps://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registryhttp://www.restoringtherecord.org.uk/http://highwayhunter.ukhttp://maps.nls.uk/os/25inch-england-and-wales/index.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/RestoringTheRecord
We need to be able to perform a systematic search, which means forming a group of volunteers between whom we can divide up the map and jointly consult about cases.
You do not need to walk with Ramblers – just be interested in protecting and preserving our path network! A lot of research can be done at home in your sitting room with access to the Internet!