Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Wednesday, 24 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 March 1999. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 March 1999 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many miles of (a) footpaths and (b) bridleway in England and Wales are not fully open or easily negotiable according to Countryside Commission criteria. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of (a) footpaths and (b) bridleway in England and Wales are not fully open or easily negotiable according to Countryside Commission criteria. [73967] Mr. Meacher: In a national rights of way condition survey carried out in England in 1994 by the Countryside Commission, walkers found that 25 per cent. of footpaths and 18 per cent. of bridleways were poor or unusable at some point on their length. Horse riders and cyclists found that 25 per cent. of bridleways were difficult to use. 25 per cent. of footpaths equates to about 20,500 miles, and 25 per cent. of bridleways represents about 4,600 miles. Wales has a total of 24,850 miles of rights of way. Between 1992 and 1998, 7,215 miles were surveyed and it was found that 23 per cent. of footpaths were blocked or difficult to use. This equates to 5,716 miles of the total. No comparable figures are available for bridleways due to the statistically small proportion surveyed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 73967; 326 c622-3W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Access Countryside Countryside Commission Public footpaths Rights of way Bridleways Cycleways
Contains statistics: Yes