Day to day maintenance of the public rights of way network and some works on the Councils sites and parks is carried out by the in-house Countryside Recreation team based at Old Nills Depot, Pontesbury.
The team are responsible for general maintenance of rights of way, sites and parks, including minor surface works, clearance of surface vegetation and the repair and replacement of most bridges.
The team build and fit wooden kit bridges where these are suitable, but larger structures are contracted out as are any major surfacing or drainage works on paths.
In addition to dealing with individual reports from the public, over the year's the Countryside Recreation team have managed large capital program of works, which include many large projects such as the replacement or repair of large bridges, improvements to existing paths and the development of new links in the network. In recent years these include The Jack Mytton Way extension, several Ride UK circular bridleway routes and improvements to the Offas Dyke National Long Distance Trail.
Following the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, the Countryside Recreation Team is working on a variety of projects to help improve the rights of way network. Other areas of work include:
Parish Access Project
Find out more about our project to improve the public rights of way network by following the link below.
Open Access Land
Access Land commenced in Shropshire on 31 October 2005, opening more than 7000ha of land for open-air recreation on foot. Shropshire Council were the first local authority in England to dedicate their own sites under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Shropshire Local Access Forum
Established to give advice to Shropshire Council, Natural England and other organisations on countryside access issues.