Public Rights of Way

View and query the Public Rights of Way network in Lancashire online at
MARIO - Maps & Related Information Online, Lancashire County Council's interactive mapping site. You can also inform us of problems on the rights of way network. Click here for instructions to help get you started with Mario.

Highways Partnership Residual arrangements for maintenance of Public Rights of Way

The Lancashire Highways Partnership was terminated in June of this year, this was an arrangement where district councils carrying out highways maintenance duties on behalf of the County Council. The larger parts of these duties have now returned to the County Council however in the case of Ribble Valley, Pendle and Wyre District Councils, responsibilities for maintenance of public rights of way have been retained.

In Pendle it is for the entire district,

In Ribble Valley it is for the parishes of; Aighton Bailey and Chaigley, Alston, Balderstone, Billington, Chatburn, Clayton le Dale, Clitheroe, Dilworth, Dinckley, Dutton, Gisburn, Great Mitton, Horton, Hothersall, Little Mitton, Newsholme, Mellor, Osbaldestone, Paythorne, Ribchester, Salesbury, Sawley, Thornley with Wheatley, Whalley, Wilpshire and Wiswell.

In Wyre it is for the area of Fleetwood, Poulton le Fylde, Preesall and Thornton Cleveleys.

If you wish to report a problem on a right of way in these areas please contact;

Pendle-
Tom Partridge, 01282 661059 Fax 01282 661068 tom.partridge@pendle.gov.uk

Ribble Valley
Martin Kersey, 01200 887220 Fax 01200 414488 martin.kersey@ribblevalley.gov.uk

Wyre
01253 887220 Fax 01253 887210

If you submit a report via our MARIO maps system it will be re-directed by us.

Lancashire has a network of 3,716 miles of public rights of way, including 240 miles of Bridleways. Lancashire Countryside Service has a statutory responsibility for these Public Rights of Way.

Our responsibilities include:

• Signposting and waymarking of footpaths, bridleways and byways.
• The updating and continuous review of public rights of way on the definitive map which is the official legal record of public rights of way.
• Maintaining the surface of a right of way to a standard appropriate for the purpose for which the highway is used. Walkers should, however, be prepared to use boots in poor weather.
• Maintaining bridges over natural river courses.
• Making grants to landowners of 25% of the cost of maintaining approved stiles and bridlegates.
• Administering the law concerning rights of way and in particular ensuring that they can be used by the public.

The Countryside Service holds copies of the Definitive Maps and accompanying statements. So if you wish to check the rights of way network, if you require information or you encounter a problem please contact the Countryside Service who will be only too pleased to help.

Copies of the Definitive Maps and accompanying statements are held in the Environment Directorate and are available for inspection during office hours. If possible, please telephone the Countryside Service in advance of your visit to ensure that appropriate advice and assistance is available. Ordnance Survey Maps that show public rights of way derive their information from the definitive Map. The most useful Ordnance Survey map for countryside recreation purposes is the 1:25,000 series which show public rights of way in green.

The 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey Landranger map shows public rights of way in red. However, Ordnance Survey maps cannot show details of any legal changes to the rights of way network that have taken place since the map was published. If you wish to check whether there have been any legal alterations to the rights of way network you should consult the Lancashire Countryside Service.

The Public's Rights in using the Network are:

Public footpaths:- On foot only.

Bridleway:- On foot, horseback and pedal cycle.

Byways and roads used as Public Paths:- Open to all traffic but don't expect a smooth surface.

On Rights of Way You Can:

• Take a pram, pushchair or wheelchair but expect to encounter stiles on footpaths.
• Take a dog under close control, preferably on a lead.
• Make a small deviation to avoid an illegal obstruction, but only do so if you are certain that your route is safe and available. If in doubt please try to find an alternative public right of way and report any obstruction to the Countryside Service.
• Remove an illegal obstruction sufficiently to get past.

For information:

• There is an ancient common law right to pass and repass along a highway at all times. Footpaths and bridleways are highways. They only differ from other classes of highway, such as roads, by the type of traffic entitled to use them.
• Lack of use has no effect on the legal existence of a public right of way.
• The Definitive Map held by the County Council sometimes specifies the width of a path, but where this is not so, the assumption is that a footpath without boundaries, crossing open ground or fields, should have a width sufficient for two walkers to pass in comfort. A bridleway without boundaries should allow a horse to overtake and pass another horse safely.
• You must leave land to which you have no legal right of access if asked to do so by the owner or his representative.

Responsibilities of the Public:

By using the path properly and within your rights you are much less likely to come across problems than if you abuse them. Follow the country code. Apart from the above there are two ways in particular by which you can help to promote harmony in the countryside.

Do not park your car where it can obstruct access to fields. If you are in a party, walk or ride single file and do not trespass by spreading out beyond the confines of the path.

Responsibilities of Landowners and Farmers:

• Know where public rights of way cross their land and maintain stiles and bridges in good order.
• Refrain from obstructing the paths, and cut back overhanging vegetation.
• Obtain the consent of the County Council before erecting new stiles or gates.
• Provide adequate bridges where new ditches are made or existing ones widened.
• Not allow any dairy bull over ten months of age free range of any field through which a footpath or bridleway passes. The following are dairy breeds: Ayrshire, Jersey, Dairy Shorthorn, Kerry, British Fresian, Guernsey, British Holstein, Bulls of other breeds must be accompanied by cows or heifers.
• Refrain from ploughing a footpath or bridleway which constitutes a headland of a field, or runs alongside a hedgerow.
• Plough or disturb the surface of a footpath or bridleway that crosses a field only if it is not convenient to avoid it when sewing or cultivating a crop. A disturbed path should be reinstated and marked out within 14 days of the first disturbance for that crop or within 24 hours of any second or subsequent disturbance.

Information

• It is illegal to put plain, barbed or electrified wire across a right of way. It is not illegal to run wire along the side of a right of way unless it is dangerous or inconvenient to a person using the way.
• Byways and 'Roads used as Public Paths' may not be ploughed under any circumstances.
• Landowners and farmers may shoot on their land but not in such a way as to endanger the public's use of a right of way.

Please note that the above is not intended to be a complete and exhaustive account of the law relating to public rights of way.

We hope that you enjoy Lancashire's public right of way network but if you do encounter any problems, or require further information on any aspect of public rights of way, please contact the Lancashire Countryside Service. If any problems are encountered, it would be helpful if you could give a detailed description of where the problem occurred, inform us of its nature and whom you believe may be responsible.