Parish Paths Partnerships. Type the words into any internet search engine and you will be offered anything around 34,000 results referring to this scheme - but ask just about any resident of any parish in the county, and you would draw a blank in most cases.
Launched by the then Countryside Commission in 1992, the Parish Paths Partnership (P3) was adopted by many local authorities to give local people the financial and practical resources and skills to improve, protect and promote the rights of way network in their parish.
In Warwickshire, the scheme is thriving. Of the county’s 247 or so parishes, about 70 are presently signed up and working under the administration of Community Paths Officers. Paths in those parishes outside the scheme are administered by the Maintenance & Enforcement Officers.
The name of the scheme tends to suggest that the agreement has to be a contract between the County Council and the Parish Council but this is not necessarily so.
The scheme can operate in a variety of situations and the local P3 group can be formed by just about any group of individuals in the parish (and in some cases, just one individual), who’s main concerns would be to carry out path surveys, light maintenance work and walking activities specifically tailored to meet their level of commitment and enjoyment.
Typically, a P3 group would meet socially to discuss issues in their parish which need attention and which would have been identified by a previous survey. These issues could include obstructions, maintenance of stiles, gates, bridges etc., way-marking paths, their surface conditions, to name but a few. Other business could include liaison with local landowners or organising a local walk the important point being that it is local people, using local knowledge to make things happen.
Once a programme has been drawn up (probably on an annual basis), work can commence. If the members are so inclined they can tackle anything from trimming back briars at a kissing gate using secateurs, to installing a sleeper bridge across a brook, or cutting back nettles and brambles on a bridleway using a petrol strimmer. As long as the work is carried out in consultation with the Community Paths Officer, insurance will be provided by the County Council, Health & Safety issues will be addressed, and any training necessary (such as First Aid) will be given.
If the group are not so inclined, they can perhaps arrange for the work to be done by contractors local to the area, and paid for out of funds available under the P3 scheme.
Financially, the scheme can place funds directly into the hands of the group for them to equip themselves locally with tools and other sundry items etc. In this case, a simple statement of account is required annually and the group would need to demonstrate some basic administrative procedures. In practice however, P3 groups tend not to want to be “bogged down” by paperwork and usually opt for the budget to be handled by the Community Paths Officer who will usually spend money as and when directed by the group.
In addition to funding, the group will receive a copy of the Definitive Map for their parish, which is the legal record of public rights of way, and will also be provided with all the advice and written information they need about the rights and responsibilities of all user groups.
If you think that you (and perhaps a few friends) may have something to offer, to help protect and preserve one of your parish’s’ greatest assets, please contact your local Community Paths Officer at Countryside Recreation on 01926 413422 in North Warwickshire or 01926 413432 in South Warwickshire.