Managing public rights of way

More photos of work we have done on rights of way

Did you know...

• There are over 2000 bridges
• Nearly 6000 finger posts
• Nearly 7000 gates
• 4500 stiles
• And over 1500 waymark posts

On the Rights of Way network in Oxfordshire?

We manage the Public Rights of Way network in partnership with land managers, user groups and local councils. Our role is to help people enjoy legitimate use of rights of way and ensure that all people and organisations involved with rights of way understand their responsibilities and are able to meet them effectively.

To achieve this we:

• investigate complaints and take appropriate action as necessary to ensure paths remain open and available
• signpost paths where they leave a metalled road and waymark along them where required
• remove excessive natural vegetation growing on them
• provide and maintain bridges over natural watercourses and ditches
• provide, in approved cases, support for the maintenance of stiles and gates
• work with community groups and parishes to find local solutions to local challenges
• survey 5 per cent of our network per year to monitor our performance and undertake minor works
• offer a free advice service and financial incentives to encourage land managers & occupiers to make access easier on Public Rights of Way by removing stiles where they are no longer needed, replacing stiles with gates wherever possible and making existing gates easier to use
• provide information to assist users, landowners and others who are involved with public rights of way
• develop recreational routes for people to enjoy more areas
• produce publications to accompany recreational routes.

To find out more, contact your local area Field Officer.