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Footpaths will get better

18/ 8/2008

WALKERS have given the boot to figures claiming Rochdale has some of the worst footpaths in the North West.

The town has been named the second to worst for footpath maintenance out of a total of 22 areas surveyed.

Just 56 per cent of its footpaths and rights of way are ‘easy to use’ say the figures produced by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

It wants to see council’s stepping up footpath maintenance so that more people can enjoy exercise in the great outdoors.

Only Cumbria performed poorer than Rochdale in the survey with a figure of 52.2 per cent.

Liverpool was at top of the list with just over 96 per cent, with 78 per cent being the region’s average.

The statistics relate to footpaths or rights of way that are in, or lead to, open spaces and countryside.

But Joe Taylor, of Whitworth Footpath Group, says footpaths in Rochdale are not particularly worse than other areas.

He said: “They’re not too bad considering every where is a bit neglected, unless you’re in the spots like the national park or the Yorkshire Dales.

“It‘s like that in the main wherever you go

“Considering the footpath network we have, we can’t complain.”

Chairman of the Milnrow and Newhey Residents’ Association Alan Wright agrees.

He said in his area one of the biggest problems is down to people using the footpaths.

He added: “A lot are used by dog walkers and sometimes the owners don’t bother clearing up after their pets.

“In this area we have problems where people allow their hedges to over-grow and encroach onto our footpaths.”

Peter Cunningham, head of service for environmental management, said: “Although previous years figures were not very good, 2007/08 figures have shown a significant improvement. Additional funding has been secured for 2008/09 to bring the target up to 67 per cent. If funding is maintained figures are estimated to rise to 78 per cent in 2009/10. We have also developed a long-term plan to improve the quality and usefulness of our footpaths.”