A major increase in the use of public rights of way for exercise has led to increasing tensions between the public and landowners over access, according to a new survey.
The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) poll found the lockdown measures have resulted in a significant increase in the use of public footpaths due to daily exercise regimes causing health concerns among landowners.
Around 90% of respondents had seen some increase in the use of their public rights of way network with a third reporting a significant increase, particularly on the urban/rural fringe.
Updated police guidance does allow people to drive to get their daily exercise, providing the drive was shorter than the period of exercise. Two-thirds of landowners' enquiries to councils about public rights of way were requests for routes to be closed or diverted, ADEPT said. And similar increases in enquiries have been seen from members of the public complaining of footpaths being blocked or closed off by landowners.
Other enquiries from landowners were more general concerns about an increased number of walkers and the perceived greater threat to the health of landowners and their families, particularly vulnerable people.
'The conflicting views have been causing issues for local authorities with almost 90% of responding councils reporting an increase in tensions,' ADEPT said.
Legally, landowners are not able to close or block public footpaths, but ADEPT said local councils do not wish to use enforcement powers excessively at this time. However, on more than 10% of occasions councils did have to step in to enforce the law.
Efforts are being made to work informally with landowners to resolve issues, with advice being provided on tying gates and fixing public notices on the Countryside Code and social distancing.
Local authorities have reported an increase in concerns from landowners over the use and misuse of rights of way and a disregard for social distancing.
More than 75% of councils reported some impact to rights of way services with 15% saying there has been a major disruption to services.
Overwhelmingly, the reason for these changes is due to a scaling back or suspension of services due to COVID-19, as staff are redeployed and resources reallocated to essential frontline and new services.
More than 80% of respondents predicted 'a 20% increase in the number of rights of way networks in their area becoming impassable due to this extended scaling back'.
The concerns follow years of austerity-driven funding cuts to public rights of way services.
Paul Newark, chair of ADEPT's Rights of Way Managers Group, said: 'The survey clearly shows an increase in the numbers of people using rights of way, which in some instances has led to tensions with local landowners and communities.
'Local authorities are making every effort to resolve these issues informally; we can understand the concerns of farmers when people are leaving gates open and not following the Countryside code or social distancing guidance. Equally, for members of the public who use these footpaths, they expect to be able to continue to do so.
'We need clear and consistent messaging from government and the police on how local exercise guidelines are being interpreted. We are finding this varies significantly across the country, which causes confusion and increases tension.'
The report was completed by Rights of Way Officers from over 55 local authorities and found an increase in frustrations between walkers and footpath users, farmers and local landowners.
ADEPT has been working with the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management (IPROW), to design the survey.
Chris Miller, IPROW President, said: 'Clear guidance to occupiers and landowners is required to ensure that a consistent approach can be made and for the public to better understand how their actions may be impacting on those whose land is crossed by these routes.'
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