Public Rights of Way
Public Rights of Way, often called PRoW, are routes such as footpaths, bridleways and byways which the public has a legal right to use.
In St. Agnes Parish, Public Rights of Way are managed through a combination of responsibilities involving Cornwall Council, St. Agnes Parish Council, private landowners and contractors.
Who is responsible for what?
Cornwall Council is the Highway Authority and has overall responsibility for Public Rights of Way in Cornwall. This includes the legal record of routes, major structural issues, enforcement matters and reports about paths outside the Parish Council’s agreed maintenance contract.
St. Agnes Parish Council works with Cornwall Council through the Local Maintenance Partnership, known as the LMP, and Southwest Coast Path arrangements. The LMP is a partnership developed by Cornwall Council with over 170 parish and town councils, providing grants to help local councils organise trimming and minor works on Public Rights of Way.
Local Maintenance Partnership – Cornwall Council
Under these arrangements, the Parish Council helps organise vegetation cutting on specific paths listed in its annual contract. The Parish Council is only permitted to cut paths that are included in its current annual contract with Cornwall Council, or paths on Parish Council-owned land. If a path is not included, the Parish Council does not have authority under this arrangement to cut it, and the matter should be reported to Cornwall Council, or the private landowner, which may be National Trust.
Private landowners
Landowners also have responsibilities where Public Rights of Way cross private land. This can include matters such as gates, stiles, obstructions and some vegetation growing from adjoining land. In some cases, the landowner may be a private individual, organisation or body such as the National Trust.
How the cutting schedule works
Each year, Cornwall Council provides the Parish Council with a schedule and map showing which paths are included for cutting and how many cuts each path should receive during the season. Most paths are cut once or twice during the growing season, depending on their classification, level of use and agreed maintenance need.
The timing of cuts is carefully planned around staff capacity, training, weather conditions and the number of paths included in the contract.
The Parish Council generally avoids cutting paths out of sequence unless there is a clear operational or safety reason. This helps ensure the whole agreed network is managed fairly and consistently.
In recent years, the number of maintained paths in the Parish Council’s contract has increased significantly. Cornwall Council has since confirmed that further annual increases are not expected due to budget constraints. This means any future changes to the paths included for cutting are likely to need a “one-in, one-out” approach.
Reporting a path issue
Online reporting form in development
If you wish to report a problem or ask about a path, please contact the Parish Council and provide the path number wherever possible. This is very important, as it helps identify the correct route quickly.
You can find the path number using Cornwall Council’s interactive map. St. Agnes Parish path numbers usually begin with 318, followed by the path and link number: Public rights of way mapping – Cornwall Council
Please include:
- the path number, if known;
- the location of the problem;
- a short description of the issue;
- photographs, if helpful;
- your contact details, in case more information is needed.
The Parish Council will check whether the path is included in its current LMP contract. If it is, the path will be dealt with in line with the agreed cutting schedule. If the path is not included, the Parish Council will advise that the issue should be reported directly to Cornwall Council or, where appropriate, the relevant private landowner.
You can report an issue directly to Cornwall Council here: Public Rights of Way – Cornwall Council
Definitive Map Modification Orders
Cornwall Council keeps the legal record of Public Rights of Way, known as the Definitive Map and Statement.
If you believe a Public Right of Way is missing, wrongly recorded, or should be changed or removed from the Definitive Map and Statement, you can apply to Cornwall Council for a Definitive Map Modification Order, known as a DMMO. Applications must be made to Cornwall Council and supported by evidence: Definitive Map Modification Orders – Cornwall Council
Rights and responsibilities
Cornwall Council, as the Highways Authority, is responsible for the management of public rights of way in Cornwall.
In addition to the responsibilities of the Highways Authority, landowners and the public also have rights and responsibilities, which includes matters such as access, obstructions, gates, stiles, vegetation and dogs on Public Rights of Way. Find out what your rights and responsibilities are here, including Dogs on public rights of way: Rights and responsibilities on public rights of way – Cornwall Council