Loss of public Rights of Way issue raised by Whitchurch walking group

There are several walking routes around Whitchurch, many of which are public rights of way through fields, but these routes are often destroyed or rendered inaccessible as fields are cropped.

Neil Moore, from Whitchurch Walkers, has brought the issue to the attention of Whitchurch Town Council, with it set to be discussed by councillors at Thursday's full council meeting.

In a letter to the council, Mr Moore suggested the council look at ways of reminding farmers of the legal requirement to avoid or reinstate any public rights of way when cropping.

In the letter, Mr Moore said: "I am writing to ask if the town council could contact farmers in the urban parish and ask them to reinstate Rights of Way after ploughing or planting maize or other crops.

"Last year a lot of the local paths were unusable due to this problem.

"Most years we lose about a third of our Rights of Way to cropped fields, where the paths have not been reinstated.

"I don't expect realistically for the town council to write to all the farmers but maybe a piece in the paper and an email to rights of way asking them to reinforce the reinstatement rules."

Shropshire Councils 'A Guide for Landowners & Farmers' currently sets out the rules and regulations regarding public Rights of Way through fields.

The regulations state that it is an offence to plough any field edge public right of way and cross field Restricted Byway or BOAT.

It is possible to plough cross field footpaths and bridleways.

However there is a statutory period within which the public right of way has to be reinstated.

Reinstatement means marking the route clearly on the ground and making the surface reasonably convenient for public usage.

The statutory period is 14 days for the first disturbance and 24 hours for any further disturbance such as harrowing or drilling.

Upon application the council can grant an extension of that period not exceeding 28 days.