Obstructed/inaccessible public rights of way
Case reference FOI2023/01831
Published 29 November 2023
Request
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to request the following information regarding public rights of way:
1) The total number of reports made to the authority about obstructed/blocked/inaccessible public rights of way in:
i) 2022
ii) 2023, up to and including 31st October.
2) The total number of public rights of way in your area that were recorded as obstructed/blocked/inaccessible on:
i) 31st December 2022
ii) 31st October 2023
3) The total number of Section 130A Notices under the Highways Act 1980 relating to obstructions on public rights of way served on the authority in:
i) 2022
ii) 2023, up to and including 31st October.
4) The total number of unresolved Section 130A Notices relating to obstructions on public rights of way still being dealt with by the authority on 31st October 2023.
Response
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to request the following information regarding public rights of way:
1) The total number of reports made to the authority about obstructed/blocked/inaccessible public rights of way in:
i) 2022
ii) 2023, up to and including 31st October.
A: 2022 - 354 reports of obstruction (an additional 173 reports of vegetation overgrowth. Some of these could have resulted in the route being impassable, but that's not necessarily the case)
2023 - 341 reports of obstruction up to 31 October 2023, (an additional 187 reports of vegetation overgrowth. Again this could have resulted in the route being impassable, or not)
2) The total number of public rights of way in your area that were recorded as obstructed/blocked/inaccessible on:
i) 31st December 2022
ii) 31st October 2023
A: This information is not held. Our system does not allow us to look at the state of play on a given date.
3) The total number of Section 130A Notices under the Highways Act 1980 relating to obstructions on public rights of way served on the authority in:
i) 2022
ii) 2023, up to and including 31st October.
A: 2022 - 1
2023 - 5
4) The total number of unresolved Section 130A Notices relating to obstructions on public rights of way still being dealt with by the authority on 31st October 2023.
A: 1 unresolved section 130A - however this is near completion.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.