Rights of way improvement plans

Please note that there are two Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIPs) covering the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  The Cumbria ROWIP covers the parishes of Sedbergh, Garsdale and Dent, whilst the North Yorkshire ROWIP covers the remainder of the Yorkshire Dales.

If you want to know more about the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP), read our Questions and Answers page.

Cumbria

We’re working with the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria County Council to produce a ‘Rights of Way Improvement Plan’ (ROWIP) for Cumbria. This will contain a list of actions aimed at improving access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and people with limited mobility. We hope to have a draft plan for consultation during 2006.

We want to make the network of footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways, byways, cycle tracks and permissive paths fit for modern day use. We will also consider any ideas that encourage people to enjoy and understand the countryside.  If you want to know more, take a look at our Questions and Answers page.  If you have any other specific questions, please contact:

Abi Mansley
Countryside Integrated Access Planning Officer
Economy, Culture and Environment
Cumbria County Council
The Courts
Carlisle
Cumbria CA3 8NA

North Yorkshire

We’re working with the North York Moors National Park Authority and North Yorkshire County Council to produce a ‘Rights of Way Improvement Plan’ (ROWIP) for North Yorkshire.

In 2004 an initial public consultation exercise was run in order to obtain stakeholders' views and ideas about future improvements to the management, maintenance, definition and promotion of local rights of way in North Yorkshire. This consultation included the area of the National Park within North Yorkshire.

During 2005 the local rights of way network in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the rest of North Yorkshire was assessed. The assessment looked at the current availability of local rights of way network for walking, off-road cycling and horse riding and at potential future improvements. Rather than considering the local rights of way network in isolation, the assessment also looked at other public access provision including permissive access and access provided by private and public bodies such as Yorkshire Water and the National Trust.

The assessment looked at the current missing links in the local rights of way network and whether there was a low availability of routes for different classes of non-motorised user, the availability of circular routes (a top consultation priority), access to key attractions such as viewpoints, woodland and riverside and integration with public transport provision.

The County Council and National Park Authority are still interested in receiving your ideas and views. For further information contact the Rights of Way Improvement Plan Officer on 01609 532774 or 532604, email your suggestions to: prow.consultation@northyorks.gov.uk or send your ideas to:

Rights of Way Improvement Plan Team
Planning & Countryside Unit
Environment Directorate
North Yorkshire County Council
County Hall
Northallerton
DL7 8AH

Fax 01609 779838

During 2006 an assessment will be carried out to look at the availability of local rights of way for horse and carriage driving. The rest of the ROWIP will also be drafted to include the wider role that local rights of way play in improving our health and well-being and supporting the local economy through access to sport, culture and heritage.

When the draft ROWIP is ready, a major public consultation exercise will be carried out which will last for a minimum period of 12 weeks.

A high level policy statement for the ROWIP is included in an annex to the current Local Transport Plan for Yorkshire. For further information visit the County Council website at www.northyorks.gov.uk.

The ROWIP is to be merged progressively with the Local Transport Plan for North Yorkshire, with full merger anticipated in 2010. The local rights of way are part of a wider highway network and can support the aims of a Local Transport Plan in reducing the need and demand to travel by private vehicle.