Footpath survey

One of the many new stiles and gates that have been put up by the Council, repaired and way marked

The Ramblers, Rochdale Group set out plans to survey 1,000 footpaths by Easter 2015 and by 16 January 2015 had been able to allocate 1,000 paths to volunteers for checking.

Given the support, at the 14 January Rochdale Rambler's Committee meeting the decision was made to check all 1,476 footpaths by the end of this summer or even earlier.

Roy Thorniley, Footpath and Countryside Secretary The Ramblers, Rochdale Group, said: "The Council claims 1,476 footpaths, our records and enquiries so far have identified 1,451. The differences will no doubt be resolved when the legal orders relating to new paths and the extinguishment of old paths are available later this year."

By the 29 January, 1,139 footpaths had been allocated out for checking. 352 survey forms have been received back.

Mr Thornily said: "Of the 352 reports received so far, 43 paths (12%) need action taking because of man made obstructions such as locked gates, unguarded electric fencing, and fencing erected across footpaths, paths which are impassable because they are totally overgrown, and paths with damaged path furniture, stiles etc. If this pattern is reflected in the remaining 1,100 surveys there may be up to 180 paths in need of some sort of attention. Priority reporting will be given to the most serious issues.

"The survey forms received back have been of very high quality produced by volunteers with a knowledge of and an interest in the countryside. Although not a requirement of the survey many volunteers have made use of grid references and several have included photographs to support what they have found. Some have adapted the forms for use on computers, many have been typed and some forms have been returned via the internet.

"Obviously with the passage of time since the Definitive Map was last approved in 1976 there are now many anomalies. We are producing a list of the anomalies which we have uncovered, eg where a footpath appears on the Definitive Map and in the Councils Right of Way List but when checked on the ground we have found Bridleway signs. So far at this early stage we have recorded 172 anomalies and this information is being provided to the Planning Team as part of the ongoing review.

"Over 130 volunteers have come forward to help. It is not possible to give an exact figure because some Community Groups have not fed back to me how many of their members are involved.

"The general public have got involved and have helped enormously and other organisations/groups who have supported the initiative include the Peak and Northern Footpath Society, the Friends of Hollingworth Lake, the Friends of Alkrington Woods, the Wardle Society, the Birtle Trust, the Friends of Wince Brook, the CHA Rambling Group, the Slip Inn Walkers of Milnrow, the Saddleworth Pedestrians, 12 members of the Council's Green Volunteers team and 21 local councillors."