About Public Rights of Way
Bridgend County Borough is covered by a network of over 808 individual public rights of way, just over 612km, which vary in the rights and type of user that can use them.
What is a public right of way? - A Public Right of Way is a route over which the public have a legal right under Highway Law to pass and re-pass.
Once such a right has come into existence it continues indefinitely and can only be brought to an end or amended by the use of statutory legal procedures (see public path orders).
Lack of use over a period of time does not mean that the rights have disappeared. When using Public Rights of Way, it is important to follow the Countryside Code.
Public Rights of Way can be divided into five categories, namely:
- Public Footpath - Rights exist for people on foot only
- Public Bridleway - Rights exist for people on foot, horseback and pedal cycle
- Byway Open to All Traffic - Rights exist for people on foot, horseback, pedal cycle and motor vehicles...but don't expect a metalled surface! Bridgend County Borough Council only has a duty to maintain it to a standard suitable for use on foot and horseback only, not for vehicular use
- Restricted Byway - Rights exist for people on foot, horseback, pedal cycles and drivers of horse drawn carriages
- Permissive Route - Not a public right of way, however the Landowner has given permission for the public to use this route
The different types of right of way can be recognised by their signposts and waymarks. Rights of Way can be found in towns, villages and in the countryside.
Some paths may be surfaced although most are routes across countryside owned by private landowners. Because of this users need to be aware that they should use appropriate footwear depending on the time of year, prevailing weather conditions and type of landscape they are expecting to access.
Public footpaths are not to be confused with highway footways for example, pavements to the side of the road, which are the responsibility of the Highway Maintenance Section.
Public Rights of Way are recorded on the Definitive Map and Statement and these documents are the legal record for public footpaths, bridleways, byways and restricted byways. The map illustrates the line of the path and the statement gives a brief worded description of each route.