Protecting, maintaining and improving public rights of
way.
There are over 5,400 kilometres of public rights of way
throughout Suffolk. They provide both a recreational asset and a
means to access local services in a sustainable way.
All public rights of way are signed where they leave a road and
often waymarked along the way.
A surfaced path running the road is a footway (highway) and not
a right of way. Click here for further information about
pavements.
There are five types of public rights of way:
- Bridleway – The public has a right to pass and
repass on foot, on horseback and on a pedal cycle;
- Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) – The public
has the right to pass and repass on foot, horseback, pedal cycle or
with a vehicle but the route is mainly used by pedestrians and/or
horses;
- Public Footpath – The public has a right to
pass and repass on foot and they may take a pram, pushchair or
dog;
- Restricted Byways – The public has a right of
way on foot, on horseback or leading a horse, or for vehicles other
than mechanically propelled vehicles;
Acting as the Highway Authority Suffolk County Council has a
number of statutory duties in connection with the management of
public rights of way.
These include:
- erecting and maintaining a signpost at every
point where a footpath, bridleway, byway or restricted byway leaves
a metalled road and waymarking where necessary;
-
maintaining paths to a reasonable
standard;
-
protecting and asserting the rights of the
public to use and enjoy these paths;
-
prevent as far as possible obstruction of
paths; and
-
keeping the definitive map, which records
all known public rights of way, up to date.
Suffolk County Council is committed to improving the access network
and its objectives are set out in the Rights of Way Improvement
Plan 2006.
Reporting a problem
Problem reports or questions in the following
towns or parishes should be directed to:
When reporting a problem please provide as much information as
possible to include:
- a description of the path;
- if possible, a grid reference for the problem - which can be
found on an ordnance survey map or the definitive map;
- the parish name;
- where does the route start? - road name, property name, any
landmarks, churches, pubs, farms;
- where does the route end? - road name, property name, any
landmarks;
- your contact details; and
- name of the landowner if known.
Public rights of way - Frequently Asked Questions
For more information contact our Customer Service Centre.
All correspondence for this service should be sent to:
Countryside Access
Customer Service Centre
54 Ipswich Street
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 1AD