What is a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP)?

Section 60(5) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 created a new statutory duty on highways authorities to prepare a rights of way improvement plan or ROWIP by November 2007.

ROWIP's are 10 year strategic plans that are designed to be a mechanism for improving the local network of public rights of way for all types of user. The act defines "local rights of way" as including footpaths, cycle tracks, bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic.

These plans must take into account what the current and likely future needs of the public are, and present proposals for how the current network will be improved to meet those needs. It is required that a ROWIP must contain:

• An assessment of the extent to which local rights of way meet the present and likely future needs of the public.
• An assessment of the opportunities provided by the local rights of way for exercise and other forms of outdoor recreation and enjoyment.
• An assessment of the accessibility of the local rights of way to those members of the public who are blind and partially sighted or those who have other mobility problems.
• A statement of action that is proposed for the management of local rights of way and for securing an improved network of local rights of way, with particular regard to matters dealt with in the assessment.

Guidance dictates that the ROWIP should not contain site-specific assessment information; instead it should draw much broader conclusions.

Although there is a statutory requirement to produce a ROWIP, there is no statute to implement one. However the Government have recognised that some improvements to the local rights of way network have the potential to contribute in a number of ways to the objectives of Local Transport Plans. Over time the Merseyside ROWIP will become integrated within the Local Transport Plan for Merseyside. As a result of this the Merseyside ROWIP will be used to drive improvements to public rights of way on Merseyside and ensure local transport planning is making the most effective use of the rights of way network.

Government guidance has been produced to assist in the preparation and production of the ROWIP. However, local authorities have been given the flexibility to tailor their individual documents to local circumstances so although ROWIP's across the country may contain similar priorities, they are all likely to look very different.