Report - APPENDIX IV:

APPENDIX IV:   AN EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICE: HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

1.    Hertfordshire CC's Statutory Duty is carried out for public rights of way by their Environment Department with capital and maintenance budget which has been substantially increased due to support from Members. All maintenance is contracted out to an established group of contractors, including some farmers who are presently very glad of additional income. Prices are very competitive and the range of contractors means a quick response to several simultaneous requests for works. They have a small selection of contractors who have specialist ability and machinery for path repairs.

HCC has developed some helpful experience from their work eg:

• Where fly tipping is a problem, earth mounds provide a cheap way of impeding access without affecting horse-riders;
• When RUPPS are re-classified, if they are made into restricted Byways, consideration will be given to installing the Kent Carriage Gap. Several landowners have expressed willingness to pay for these;
• Obstruction of paths is dealt with by usual methods. They are currently establishing a system for tackling farms where repeated problems occur;
• They have succeeded in attracting additional funding through the Countryside Agency, Environment Agency and other occasional sources;
• Rights of Way projects have also been included under Parish Action Plans with grant aid to 70 parishes of approx. £1,000.00 per parish.

2.    Their Countryside Management Service is concerned with the non-statutory aspect of access. They work in partnership with 4 Hertfordshire local authorities and other partners eg GROUNDWORK HERTS. This enables an Environmental Body (‘HELP’) to handle applications under various headings including Landfill Tax Credit. This simplifies the process and also permits 9% fund handling/administration costs to be included as part of the project.

Successful bids for Landfill Tax Credit Schemes affecting routes in Herts have been achieved eg Green Lane (Hambridge Way) near a Landfill Site under Biffaward amounting to £40-45,000.00. Also Cycle Projects under GROUNDWORK HERTS have attracted funding amounting to £100,000.

Additional points made by CMS included:

• Landfill sites do not need to be currently open to attract funding. Closed sites are also listed and the 10 mile radius can still apply because the operator will still be paying into the site. This widens geographical scope for finding possible partners for projects;
• Although projects are now harder to put forward, the funds available have increased due to tax escalation;
• Success lies in identifying routes which are meaningful to local landfill operator;
• Where an Environmental Body already exists as in Herts, it can be approached by another applicant eg East Sussex, to act as its fund handler/administrator. This combines expertise with grant aid for admin. These costs are only allowable under an existing Environmental Body.

A list of Open Landfill Sites can be seen on the Environment Agency’s web-site: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

A list of Closed Landfill Sites and those still paying into them can be seen on the HM Customs and Excise web-site: www.hmce.gov.uk.

The Schedules for projects under ENTRUST can be seen on www.entrust.org.uk.

Given the extremely high capital costs of restoring abandoned bridleways to Community Tourism standards, it is essential that East Sussex avails itself of all possible alternatives as Hertfordshire (and South Gloucestershire) has done to considerable advantage, especially where resources in application can be shared.

Source: HWBG