Right route for footpaths

An action plan to make more of Staffordshire's countryside accessible to walkers and riders has been put together by the county council.

The council's countryside team now wants people's backing before putting the plan into effect.

There are more than 2,600 miles of official rights of way in Staffordshire and they are maintained and improved by the team. In recent years they have been concentrating on improving the footpath and bridleway network, with a host of new stiles and kissing gates, bridges and way marker signs.

Staffordshire, ranked among the best in the Midlands, is heading towards an above average rating for the UK as a whole.

The team's draft rights of way improvement plan sets out an action programme for the next decade and follows months of research, surveys and consultations.

The key proposals are for improvements to signposts, upgrading of stiles and kissing gates and making more routes accessible for disabled people.

The council is also recommended to work with landowners to make more routes accessible, create more links for long distance paths, improve facilities for horse riders and cyclists and improve safety with more crossings where paths meet major roads.

There are also proposals for getting the community involved in protecting and improving the paths net-work and providing im-proved information and guidance for planners, de-velopers and landowners to protect the paths network.

Encouraging more people to get out using the routes for cycling, walking and riding is also part of the plan.

Cabinet member for economic prosperity and sustainable communities Councillor John Wakefield said: "The rights of way network is an incredible resource for the whole community."

The action plan is at www.staffordshire.gov. uk and copies are available by calling Noreen Moore on 01785 277240 or emailing rowip@staffordshire. gov.uk