Warminster Town Council will be more active in reminding owners about their responsibilities and importance of maintaining local rights of way.
Residents will be encouraged to help maintain rights of way by cutting back overhanging branches, and stopping other vegetation such as brambles and bracken from encroaching onto paths. From September to February, there are no restrictions on cutting hedges, so residents are being reminded to check boundaries and cut back growth if needed.
Nigel Linge, member of Wiltshire Countryside Access Forum and Rights of Way Coordinator for Salisbury Plain said: “Public rights of way and access to the countryside are really important and Warminster is lucky to have 76 rights of way many of which link to neighbouring parishes.
“Wiltshire Council is responsible for nearly 4,000 miles of public rights of way, but staff and budgets have been cut. Sadly, parts of the network are not as well maintained as we would like.
“The Town Council gives a grant to maintain rights of way by funding volunteers to mow some paths and provide destination signs to encourage use of those paths. They hope to cut more paths next year.
“We can all do our part to improve the network. If your land borders a path or pavement and a bush or hedge extends over that path, you have a duty to cut it back so that it does not obstruct or narrow that highway.”
Last modified: 15 September 2023
