County council and unitary authorities (highway authorities)
Duties
- Maintain local paths
- Clear vegetation growing up from the surface
- To maintain bridges
- To maintain surfacing and/or drainage
- To provide signposting from a road
Powers
- Ensure stiles and gates are in good condition - The County Council often works with landowners, local councils and volunteers to replace stiles with gates and funding is often available to assist with this. The County Council is also able to authorise new gates on a right of way (and to order the removal of those that aren’t authorised), but only where they are needed to contain livestock. More about funding for path improvements
- Clear vegetation growing from the side or above
- To provide other signposting and waymarking
- To authorise temporary diversions. More about applying for a temporary closure