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1725773

registered interest
date	30/08/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps is to promote (a) wider and (b) more accessible footpath access in (i) parks and (ii) other public spaces.
tabling member constituency	Salford
tabling member printed	Rebecca Long Bailey
uin	2931
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2024 answer text <p>Local authorities already consider the needs of those with mobility problems when managing the public rights of way network for the area they are responsible for. They are required to produce rights of way improvement plans which must set out how the public rights of way network will provide a better experience for users including those with mobility problems.</p><p> </p><p>The King Charles III England Coast Path and the new Coast to Coast National Trail will be made as accessible as possible where it is feasible to do so.</p> answering member constituency Coventry East answering member printed Mary Creagh question first answered 17/09/2024 16:14:20 answering member 1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh
tabling member	4396 label Biography information for Rebecca Long Bailey

1656964

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Preparation works to develop a sustainable funding model for National Trails Grant.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	196623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>The grant helped establish National Trails UK, a registered charity, whose purpose is to promote and protect our inspirational network of national trails that connects people, landscapes and nature. Defra provides additional funding to help National Trails UK champion our national trails and improve their long-term management and sustainability which will have benefits for people’s health and wellbeing and local economies.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England is working with National Trails to investigate sustainable funding opportunities.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 11/09/2023 14:05:50 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1639295

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to create a network of shorter walks to encourage people to engage with walking.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	186178
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2023 answer text <p>England has a fantastic network of paths with some 120,000 miles of linear access through England’s countryside, and we are taking steps to improve this further. For example, we are designating Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route across the north of England as a new National Trail, crossing some of our most precious national landscapes making it accessible to cyclists and horse riders where it is feasible to do so. One of the benefits of designating the route as a National Trail includes circular paths and link routes making the trail more accessible to those interested in taking shorter walks locally.</p><p> </p><p>The Bridlington to Filey stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) was also recently opened, connecting thousands of people to the Yorkshire coast. Over 850 miles of the path are now open to the public, with over 2,000 miles having now been approved as KCIIIECP. The path links to many existing walking routes, increasing the number of shorter and circular routes available.</p><p> </p><p>We are also improving the way in which rights of way are recorded by implementing a package of reforms to reduce bureaucracy and speed up the process for new rights of way to be added to the legal record for everyone to enjoy.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, we are taking steps to increase the availability of green and blue spaces for everyone to enjoy, which will also increase the availability of walking routes. In January, we announced a new commitment to work across government to help ensure that everyone lives within 15 minutes’ walk of a green or blue space. This commitment builds on work that is already happening across government. Initiatives such as DLUHC’s Levelling Up Parks Fund, Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework, DfT’s funding for active travel, and Defra’s Urban Trees Challenge Fund are all contributing already.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 30/05/2023 14:06:23 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1487765

registered interest
date	11/07/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the existing institutional framework in England for waymarking (1) long distance trails, and (2) local footpaths.
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL1622
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2022 answer text <p>Effective waymarking and signage has been consistently identified as an essential component in the maintenance of public rights of ways improving access and providing a better experience for all users.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of public rights of way including the appropriate use of signage in accordance with published guidance. No overall assessment of the condition of signage and waymarking has been undertaken however such assessments may form part of local authorities’ rights of way improvement plans.</p><p> </p><p>Signage for National Trails is covered by national trail quality standards where there is a requirement to make constant improvements to individual Trails and its associated routes. Monitoring information on the assessment of the condition of path surfaces and structures including signage is reported annually.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 25/07/2022 08:52:43 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

1400392

registered interest
date	06/01/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many new footpaths his Department has created in England in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	98887
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2022 answer text <p>The Highways Act 1980 allows highway authorities to create a new right of way where it can be shown that there is a need for it. As such, local highway authorities have statutory duties to record public rights of way, these are kept at a local authority level and the relevant date for each public right of way can be found in the definitive map and statement. The department does not hold a record of what footpaths have been created in an individual year.</p><p> </p><p>However, our network of National Trails is managed centrally, and work is continuing to support this network and in particular to complete the England Coast Path. To date, Natural England has published proposals for more than 99% of the England Coast Path route, and over 450 miles is already open to the public. The table below shows the total mileage of England Coast Path opened in each of the last five years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Miles opened</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>44</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>N/A</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>94.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>16.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>56.7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 14/01/2022 14:42:20 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1182030

registered interest
date	02/03/2020
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities' maps are updated to identify unrecorded footpaths.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	23538
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2020 answer text <p>Local highway authorities are responsible for recording public rights of way. We are planning to reform the process for recording rights of way to make it quicker and simpler to do so, enabling the maps to be updated more easily.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 10/03/2020 12:58:23 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1149941

registered interest
date	16/10/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 17 November 2016 (HL Deb, col 1532), what assessment they have made of the current state of the footpath network in England; and whether its condition has improved or worsened since that answer.
tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
uin	HL150
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>Responsibility for the management and maintenance of the 118,000 miles of public rights of way in England lies with local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England assess the condition of the network of National Trails, which are maintained to agreed Quality Standards. The last assessment covered the 2017/18 reporting year and noted that the number of out of condition items (such as gates and stiles) remained relatively low during the monitoring period.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/10/2019 16:38:45 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1149943

registered interest
date	16/10/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 17 November 2016 (HL Deb, col 1532), what was the outcome of their discussions with the chief executive of the Ramblers.
tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
uin	HL151
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>I have met the Chief Executive of the Ramblers several times since November 2016. At these meetings we discussed a number of areas including the England Coast Path, National Trails, rights of way reform and the 25 Year Environment Plan. We noted the positive working relationship between our organisations and agreed to continue engagement on these matters in future.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/10/2019 16:35:22 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1149944

registered interest
date	16/10/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to improve and extend the footpath network since the publication of their Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in 2017 on 21 April 2017.
tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
uin	HL152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) does not contain measures to improve and extend the national footpath network. However, funding has been provided under the CWIS to improve walking routes alongside highways and to improve road crossings in towns and cities, including through the £210 million Cycle Ambition Cities programme.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 29/10/2019 12:54:55 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1083651

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress Natural England has made on the National Trail; and what the completion date is for that project.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	229794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>The England Coast Path (ECP) will be a 2,700 mile walking route around the coast of England. Natural England have been allocated £25.6m between 2015 and 2020 to deliver the England Coast Path.</p><p> </p><p>A summary of progress on each of the 16 open or approved stretches is included in Table A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. Estimated cost of establishment works and opening dates are provided where known.</p><p> </p><p>The ECP proposals are within scope of a European Court opinion, known colloquially as <em>People over Wind</em> (PoW), which was handed down in April 2018. The PoW opinion affects the way Natural England manage the impact of their proposals on sites with nature conservation designations. As such, the PoW court ruling has impacted on delivery of the path to date and will continue to have an impact moving forward.</p><p> </p><p>In light of this judgement and progress to date the 2020 delivery date is being reviewed. Natural England continue to work towards opening as much of the path as possible by 2020.</p><p> </p><p>To date the delivery programme has cost £18million. Establishment costs have been funded through grant in aid to Natural England. From 2018/19 Rural Development Programme for England funding has been available for local authorities to meet the cost of establishment.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">Table A - Open stretches</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Stretch name</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Opening date</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Length in Miles</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Establishment </strong></ins> <ins class="ministerial"><strong>Costs (Actual)</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">29/06/2012</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">20</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£25,000</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Allonby to Whitehaven</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">11/04/2014</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">22</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£67,813</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">North Gare to South Bents</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">12/04/2014</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">34</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£51,306</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Sea Palling to Weybourne</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">12/12/2014</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">25</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£64,301</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Brean Down to Minehead</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">15/03/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">58</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£381,506</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Camber to Folkestone</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">19/07/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">29</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£19,123</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Folkestone to Ramsgate</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">19/07/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">37</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£99,994</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">21/07/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">68</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£65,221</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">24/10/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">21</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£79,901</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South Bents to Amble</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">26/07/2018</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">44</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£223,048</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>358</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>£1,077,213</strong></ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Stretch name</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Opening date</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Length in</strong></ins> <ins class="ministerial"><strong>Miles</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Establishment costs (Estimated)</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Skegness to Mablethorpe</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">27/02/2019</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">16</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£80,484</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Newport Bridge to North Gare</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">10</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£528,979</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Whitehaven to Silecroft</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">32</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£415,949</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Walney Island</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">21</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£233,679</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Ramsgate to Whitstable</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">25</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£31,574</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Maldon to Salcott</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">27</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£46,099</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>131</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>£1,336,764</strong></ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Table C - Unopened stretches</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Region</strong></ins></p></td><td rowspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Opening date</strong></ins></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Length in</strong></ins> <ins class="ministerial"><strong>Miles</strong></ins></p></td><td rowspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Establishment costs </strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>(Stretches)</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South West</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">548</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(8)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">West</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">140</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(4)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">276</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(7)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South East</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">208</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(6)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Essex</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">266</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(8)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">East</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">261</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(7)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">North East</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">212</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(5)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">North West</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">302</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(5)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>2213</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>50</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/03/2019 17:59:21 question first ministerially corrected 25/03/2019 10:44:48 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey previous answer version 107269 answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock