Rights of Way Maintenance

• Path Report Form
• Rights and Responsibilities

The majority of public rights of way cross private land. Responsibility for these paths is shared between the landowner and the highway authority. Put simply, the landowner is responsible for keeping them free from obstruction and for looking after lawful gates and stiles on the route, whilst the highway authority is responsible for maintaining the surface and for signing and waymarking.

In Powys, the management of the public rights of way network falls within the Countryside Services section, and look after all paths in rural areas and those paths in towns which don't have a sealed surface. Those urban paths which do have a sealed surface (tarmac, flags or concrete) are looked after by Technical and Environmental Services.

 

Path Report Form

If you have a report to make about a public right of way within Powys, please use the online path report form to let us know about it. Alternatively you can contact the relevant Area Officer using the contact details opposite.

Rights and Responsibilities

If you have a query about your rights and responsibilities regarding public rights of way, please click here.

A brief summary of Powys County Council's and Landholders' responsibilities can be found below:-

The County Council's responsibilities include:

• Keeping public rights of way clear of undergrowth
• Strimming and routine maintenance
• Assisting farmers and landowners with maintenance of stiles and gates
• Signposting footpaths and bridleways where they leave the metalled road
• Waymarking paths to help users find their way
• Maintaining most bridges and culverts

Landowners' responsibilities include:

• Keeping any rights of way on their land clear of overgrowth (ie hedge outgrowth across the path)
• Maintaining any stiles and gates which are needed on the path
• Keeping the path free from obstruction - including growing crops
• Not ploughing field edge paths, or any restricted byway or byway
• Reinstating cross-field paths after ploughing etc (in accordance with the Rights of Way Act 1990)

If you have a query which is not answered on these pages, please feel free to contact the Countryside Services team who will be more than happy to assist you.

 

Contact Us

Countryside Services

The Gwalia

Ithon Road

Llandrindod Wells

Powys LD1 6AA

 

Tel: 01597 827500

Fax:01597 827555

Email: rightsofway@powys.gov.uk