What is a Rights of Way Improvement Plan?

Middlesbrough Council are required under section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, to develop a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) by November 2007.

The ROWIP is intended to establish a framework for local rights of way and countryside access work, over the next ten years. By identifying the key issues and pressures which affect countryside access and local rights of way in Middlesbrough and setting out in clear terms our aims and objectives for ourselves, our partner’s and the wider public.

The plan includes an assessment of:

• The extent to which local rights of way meet the present and future needs of the public
• The opportunities provided by local rights of way (and in particular footpaths, cycle tracks, bridleways and restricted byways) for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the local authority’s area.
• The accessibility of local rights of way to blind or partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems

The ROWIP also contains a statement of the actions, which shows how Middlesbrough Councils proposes to take forward the management of Public Rights of Way and how the council will secure an improved network with particular regard to the issues highlighted during the assessment.

The Middlesbrough Rights of Way Improvement Plan Process

1 Started – February 2004

2 Information gathering – by July 2004

3 Survey & Assessment – by August 2005

4 Assessment and analysis - by July 2006

5 Statement of action – By December 2006

6 Publication and consultation of draft plan – August 2007 - November 2007

7 Publication of final plan - November 2007

The Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan

The draft plan has now been completed and copies of the draft plan are available in various formats and may be obtained free of charge on request.

Alternatively please scroll up to download a copy in pdf format from the right hand side of your screen.

Please take some time to look and submit any comments by 30th November 2007. All comments received will be considered and where possible included in the final plan.

The finished plan is due to be published in November 2007.

Comments and queries should be addressed to:

Public Rights of Way Officer
Middlesbrough Council
Transport & Design Services
PO Box 65, Vancouver House
Central Mews, Gurney Street
Middlesbrough,
TS1 1QP
Tel: 01642 728153
email: rightsofway@middlesbrough.gov.uk