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Boost to Leicestershire footpaths
Posted on 03/08/2009
Community Services
More than £100,000 worth of improvements have been made to footpaths around the county to encourage people to use them for everyday journeys, and not just for leisure.
Around £45,000 has been invested in revamping paths in north Charnwood, while £65,000 has been dedicated to improving the rights of way in the Market Harborough area.
It is hoped the Leicestershire County Council initiative will help cut car travel and encourage people to walk more and enjoy the countryside at the same time.
The schemes have seen nearly 90 stiles removed across both areas which have been replaced by gates or gaps in hedges and fences to make them more accessible.
The work has also seen new links to paths created, old signs replaced and new footbridges installed.
Places which have benefited include the south and east side of Loughborough, and around Barrow Upon Soar and Quorn, and from Market Harborough out to Foxton, Fleckney, Kibworth and Great Bowden.
Where stiles couldn’t be removed, in several places dog gates have been added alongside to help walkers and their canine companions.
Ernie White, Leicestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Better Places said: "The new gates are much better for anyone who struggles with steps on stiles and also make it easier for dog walkers and families with smaller children.
"We’ve targeted routes where gates or gaps in fences will bring real benefits and agreed the work with local landowners."
The Leicestershire County Council scheme is one of a series around the county that aim to get people to walk more and use local paths for everyday journeys and access out into the countryside.
The project has also seen nearly 120 informative direction signs, where footpaths start from roads,installed.
Many of the signs show the path’s destination and the distance to it. Either the previous signs didn’t include this or were damaged or missing.
The project has also included routine maintenance on rights of way across the area, including urban paths in Loughborough and Market Harborough and the large villages, to keep the network in a good and usable condition.
Leicestershire is well known for the yellow-topped waymark posts which help show the way on paths; new ones have been put-in and existing ones repainted.
More information about where to walk or ride is on the web at: www.leics.gov.uk/paths
ENDS
Notes:
Nearly everyone has a path almost on their doorstep; over 90 per cent of people in Leicestershire live within 500 metres of a footpath, bridleway or byway.
Walking is the easiest way to have some fresh air and exercise and local paths are an ideal way to explore more.