Suffolk County Council is the relevant
authority to fulfil the following statutory duties in relation to
the protection and maintenance of public rights of
way:
- erect and maintain a signpost at every point where a footpath,
bridleway or byway leaves a metalled road, and further to erect
such waymarks along each route as it considers are necessary to
assist persons unfamiliar with the locality to find their way;
- maintain each highway maintainable at public expense to a
reasonable standard appropriate for a highway of that character
having regard to the traffic which passes or may be expected to
pass along it;
- prevent as far as possible the stopping up or obstruction of
highways; and
- protect and assert the rights of the public to use and enjoy
these highways.
This work is carried out by Area Rights of Way Officers who are
based at two outposted offices:
- East Area Rights of Way – based at Saxmundham; and
- West Area Rights of Way – based at Bury St Edmunds.
In the Bury St Edmunds area, the Borough of St
Edmundsbury acts as the agent of the county council for this work.
Similarly, in Ipswich it is undertaken by Ipswich Borough
Council.
Any protection and maintenance problems with a public right
of way can be reported to the Countryside Access team through
Customer Service Direct who will make sure that they are
passed on to the correct office. This means that we can answer your
question as soon as possible.
Countryside Access
Customer Service Centre
54 Ipswich Street
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 1AD
Telephone: 0845 606 6067
Email:
customerservice@csduk.com