A Landowner’s Guide to Public Rights of Way - Roles and Responsibilities
In this section
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Landowners’ Principal Responsibilities
- 3. Who is responsible for Stiles and Gates on Public Rights of Way?
- 4. Who is responsible for Bridges on Public Rights of Way?
- 5. What fencing is permitted near a Public Right of Way?
- 6. How Wide is a Public Right of Way?
- 7. Who should maintain the surface of a Public Right of Way?
- 8. Who should maintain hedgerows?
- 9. Can I plough and grow crops across a Public Rights of Way?
- 10. Can I change the Route of a Public Right of Way?
- 11. Can I remove a Public Right of Way from my land?
- 12. Can I challenge the accuracy of the Definitive Map and Statement?
- 13. Can I protect my land from the addition of more Public Rights of Way?
- 14. Contact Us
6. How Wide is a Public Right of Way?
There is no common width that applies to all PRoWs unless it is recorded in the Definitive Statement, each route needs to be considered individually.
There is a presumption that the width of a PRoW which follows a defined path or lane extends to the full historical width, from boundary to boundary or, in the absence of boundaries, to the width measured at scale on historical mapping.
Where width cannot be defined by either method above or by any other means, we aim to maintain at least these widths along all PRoWs in Carmarthenshire.
Cross field PRoW: Footpath 1m. Bridleway 2m. Byway 3m.
Field Edge PRoW: Footpath 1.5m. Bridleway 3m. Byway 3m.
If a landowner/occupier wishes to fence a PRoW from surrounding land, we request the allocation of an additional 0.5m width. The additional width allowance means that encroaching vegetation does not have to be closely and regularly managed year-round for the path to remain accessible.
