Local group's like the Wellingborough group investigate complaints and take on practical path work to keep the network open. You can help by reporting any obstructions you encounter on a walk.

To report a problem you will need to provide specific information that will enable the Council to investigate and take action with the landowner . In the Wellingborough area you can obtain a report form by contacting

footpathreport@wellingboroughramblers.org.uk.

Any problems should be reported to the County Council. Typical 'problems' are such as obstructed footpaths by crops or locked gates, missing /damaged styles, or missing signposts at a roadside. For Northamptonshire, report these to:- Rights of Way Manager, N.C.C., P.O. Box221,John Dryden House, 8-10 The Lakes,Northampton,

NN4 7DE.
email awoodin@northamptonshire.gov.uk Or enter your footpath complaint direct to the RA in London.

The following shows the information necessary for a complaint to be processed:-

Your report…….

Where was the problem ?

Please give as much of the following information as possible.

County/District/Parish.

Path from: ( Name of place and grid reference).

Path number if known.

Date of problem occurred.

If you were following a guide or map say which one.

What was the problem……

Be precise and quote a grid reference for any specific point.

Draw a sketch map if you think it will help.

If any one spoke to you about the problem, give details including their name and address.

The public's rights

Your Rights of Way are:

·Footpaths - on foot only.

Bridleways - on foot, horseback and pedal cycle.

Byways Open to All Traffic - on foot, horseback and pedal cycle. They may also be usedby vehicles, but don' t expect a metalled surface.

How you use a right of way is important. You may only make a bona fide journey with reasonable rest along the way.
On Rights of Way you can:

Take a pram, pushchair, wheelchair, but expect to encounter stiles on footpaths;

Take a dog, preferably on a lead or under close control;

Take a short alternative route around an illegal obstruction;

Remove an illegal obstacle sufficiently to get past.

For Information

There is an ancient Common Law right to pass and re-pass along the highways at all times. Footpaths,

bridleways and byways are highways. They only differ from other forms 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 right of way.

Widths of Rights of Way - the Definitive Map kept by the County Council sometimes

specifies the width of a path, but where this is not so the assumption is that a footpath crossing open ground or fields should have a width sufficient for two walkers to pass in comfort. A bridleway across open land should allow one horse to pass another horse safely. On roads used as public paths or byways, the accepted width is normally the feature that exists on the ground.

Ordnance Survey Explorer, Leisure and Landranger maps show most public rights of way but there may have been changes since the map was published. The Definitive Map is the most reliable guide.

You must leave land to which you have no legal right of access if asked to do so by the owner or his representative

The Ramblers'Association working for walkers

Wellingborough & District Ramblers