Residents, landowners and visitors to Cheshire East are being urged to have their say on the borough's footpaths and bridleways.

A 12-week public consultation is being held on a draft rights of way improvement plan. This is a 10-year strategy which is set to be published by Cheshire East Council in 2026.

The plan covers walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding for leisure and also as means of getting from A to B.   

Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, every highway authority in England is required to prepare and publish a rights of way improvement plan (ROWIP) for its area.  

Chair of the council's highways and transport committee, Cllr Mark Goldsmith, said: "In an increasingly sedentary and digital world, it has never been more important for people to access our wonderful green spaces to walk, wheel, cycle and horse ride.

Chair of the council's highways and transport committee, Cllr Mark Goldsmith (Photo: CEC).

"The public rights of way and wider countryside access paths are the vital network that enables so many of our active travel and outdoor leisure pursuits to take place.   

"This network plays a fundamental role in the wellbeing of our residents, the connectivity of our communities and in our landscape's appeal to visitors.

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"The value in maintaining, improving and promoting these footpaths and bridleways is therefore abundantly clear and highly important, both to achieve our vision for Cheshire East and to improve all our daily lives. 

"I hope people will get involved in this consultation and have their say in helping further refine the draft vision, objectives and statement of action."

The ROWIP document can be found online HERE. Printed copies are available, on request, by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 01270 686029.  

The deadline for the submission of responses to the consultation is Sunday 24 May.