Parish access project

April 2004 saw the start of the Council's five year Rights of Way project to open up nearly 2000km of paths through an `Action Area` approach. This involves a parish by parish proactive approach to restoring access and involves the complete surveying, identification of works required and subsequent practical implementation in nearly 100 parishes across Shropshire.

The Council has set aside nearly £1.5 million and recruited new members of staff to achieve this formidable target. The Project currently has four project assistants and a project enforcement officer headed up by a project officer, all based at the Nills Quarry unit. Further backup in terms of administration, mapping, data handling and legal issues is also provided by various other staff based at Shirehall.

The project assistants are engaged in the practical works and surveying of works required and the enforcement officer as well as carrying out some practical work deals with any problems that arise. Their practical input is augmented by contractors who have carried out roughly a third of all practical works.

Works carried out ranges from clearing vegetation to installing bridges; The project is now beginning its fifth year with over 1500 km of the network having been reopened involving the installation of nearly 1900 stiles, 1800 fingerposts, 900 gates, 344 bridges with around 66km of overgrown paths cleared!

72 parishes have been completed or have works underway and a large amount of positive feedback has been received from users.

Works have been completed (or are underway) in Abdon; Acton Round; Alberbury with Cardeston; All Stretton; Ashford Bowdler; Aston Botterell; Baschurch; Bedstone; Bettws y Crwyn; Boraston; Bucknell; Buildwas: Burwarton; Burford; Caynham; Cheswardine; Chetton; Clee St Margaret; Cleobury North; Clungunford; Cockshutt, Colebatch; Coreley; Cound; Cressage; Deuxhill; Ditton Priors; Ellesmere Rural; Ellesmere Urban; Frodesley; Glazeley; Heath; Hordley; Hodnet; Hopton Castle; Leebotwood; Leighton and Eaton Constantine; Llanyblodwel; Longnor; Loppington; Ludlow; Ludford; Mainstone; Middleton Scriven; Monkhopton; Moreton Corbet & Lee Brockhurst; Moreton Say; Morville; Nash; Neenton; Newcastle on Clun; Oswestry Urban; Pimhill; Petton; Richards Castle; Ruckley and Langley; Shawbury; Sidbury; Smethcott; Stanton Lacy; Stanton upon Hine Heath; Stottesdon; Stowe; Welshampton and Lyneal; Westbury; Weston under Redcastle; Whixall; Wistanstow; Wollaston; Woolstaston; Woore; and Wroxeter.

There are Parish Access walks available in Caynham, Westbury, Ellesmere and Stottesdon - more will follow as and when works are completed. To download a walk leaflet visit the circular routes page.

The Parish Access Project continues in its commitment to providing the easiest access option possible and since the start of year 3 has been able to install over 300 pedestrian and kissing gates, most of which were in place of stiles.