FOI Request - Public Rights of Way (PROW)

Request 101003613265

Please can I request answers to the following:

1. How many miles/km of public rights of way do you cover?
2. What is your annual budget for public rights of way maintenance?
3. Please provide a breakdown of issues reported e.g. Way finding, Obstructions, Path Condition, Safety, Stiles/Fences, Other
4. What percentage of reported issues are remedied within 6 weeks of receiving the report?
5. What percentage of reported issues go unresolved/unattended in a 12month period?
6. What is the average cost per resolution of reported issue? If no average available, please provide low/high range.
7. Where you have a vegetation clearance programme in place, what is the criteria for selection of footpaths to be cleared in any given year?
8. What software/tooling are you using to track these requests – please specify?

Response 19-08-2024

1. The total length of Moray's Core Paths is 634.58km. We do not hold a separate measure for Public Rights of Way – you may wish to contact the Scottish Rights of Way & Access Society for this information. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

2. There is not a budget specifically allocated to public rights of way maintenance. The Council does allocate a budget of circa £60k per annum for the maintenance of the core path network (staff, materials and vehicle costs).  For 2024/25 the budget is £61,690.  The Council’s 2023-2026 Core Path Action Plan (funded by developer contributions of £50k per annum for the financial years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26) is also used to fund a core path ranger to carry out maintenance works on sections of the Core Path network as prioritised through the Action Plan.

3. Data not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

4. Data not held. Reported issues are  managed reactively and not recorded.  Health and Safety issues will prioritised for remedy or make safe actions. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

5. Data not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

6. Data not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

7. Remote footpaths are cut at least once per year from April to October with some areas with greater footfall receiving more subject to available resources.  More information on outdoor access can be found on our website at http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_150314.html 

8. Brightly Confirm Software is used for proactive core path inspections.