Rights of way improvement plan
Page updated on: 26/01/2023
Following the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 all local highway authorities were required to publish a rights of way improvement plan (ROWIP) covering all of their area.
The Act also imposed a duty on authorities to review their ROWIPs within 10 years of producing their last plan.
Improvement plans are intended to be the prime means by which local highway authorities will identify the changes to be made in respect of the management and improvement of their local rights of way network to make better provision for walkers, cyclists, equestrians and for those who face barriers in accessing the countryside.
Public rights of way can provide valuable links within the local transport infrastructure, providing sustainable transport opportunities between communities, to places of work and to local amenities.
Public rights of way are also an essential part of rural tourism and have an important role to play in improving and sustaining health and well-being and in meeting the objectives outlined in the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015).
The key steps involved in undertaking the review process as per Welsh Government Guidance:
- Plan for the Review: issue and outline and timetable and initial consultation
- Carry out new assessments
- Review the previous ROWIP and decide if they need to amend it
- Publish a Draft ROWIP. This is subject to a minimum 12-week public consultation
- Revise the Draft ROWIP
- Publish their Final ROWIP
Carmarthenshire’s previous ROWIP has reached the end of its term, we are pleased to announce the publication of our revised Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) 2019-2029.
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