Ramblers Cymru is preparing a vigorous new campaign to help counter a wave of cuts to council budgets for footpaths in the country. Funds that are ring-fenced to implement local authorities’ Rights of Way Improvement Plans have been slashed by almost a third this year, from £1.4 million to £1 million, with the situation beyond 2014 looking uncertain.
Ramblers Cymru has issued Freedom of Information requests to all 22 local authorities in Wales to find out the extent of cuts to rights of way budgets, and is keen to work with struggling councils to help mitigate the effects. Ramblers volunteers are collaborating with nine councils to help them clear and maintain local paths, and there are plans to reach out to the remaining 13.
“This year’s cut will be detrimental to our path network and walkers’ access, and we need to ensure that investment is not further eroded in the coming years,” says Ramblers Cymru Gwenda Owen. “Many of our paths remain closed despite the money spent and we want to work with all local authorities to explore ways of ensuring that our walking environment continues to improve.”
For more, visit www.ramblers.org.uk/wales