A public right of way is either a footpath, bridleway or byway for the use of the general public. The Council maintains over 280 public rights of way within the Borough.
- A footpath is for pedestrians only
- A bridleway is for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists
- A byway can be used by pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and some vehicles
All public rights of way are marked with a post indicating the footpath number.
Responsibility for these footpaths is divided between the Council's Countryside Service an d StreetCare. To report a problem regarding countryside footpaths (ie. those on soft ground) please contact the Countryside Service on 01708 432582, and for urban footpaths (ie. those that have blacktop) please contact StreetCare on 01708 432563.
Rights of way
There are many public rights of way, routes where the public have a right to walk, in some cases, to ride horses or bicycles. So that everyone knows which routes are public rights of way, local authorities have drawn up special maps, called Definitive Rights of Way Maps.
A Definitive Rights of Way Map is a legal record of the public's rights of way. If a way is shown on the map then that is conclusive evidence of public rights along the way unless there has been a legally authorised change.
Definitive Rights of Way Maps can be amended by modification and reclassification orders.
Definitive Rights of Way Maps are a major element in providing evidence of the existence of public rights of way but they may not show the full picture. There may be additional rights over land which have not yet been recorded on the map, or there may be rights which are incorrectly recorded on the map. Maps can be amended if evidence of missing rights of way is discovered, or to correct errors in previously recorded information.
Each map is accompanied by a statement which may include descriptions of the rights of way. If the statement contains any limitations or conditions attached to the public's rights, then that too is conclusive evidence. As with the definitive map, there may also be unrecorded limitations or conditions on the public's rights. Definitive statements can also be amended if missing evidence is discovered, or to correct errors in previously recorded information.
Havering's Definitive Rights of Way Map and Statement can be inspected at 9th Floor, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford during normal office hours, i.e. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
To find out more about rights of way contact the Ordnance Survey
OS maps of the local area can be purchased in most bookshops or online.
Public rights of way - general
A public right of way is either a footpath, bridleway or byway for the use of the general public. The Council maintains over 280 public rights of way within the Borough.
- A footpath is for pedestrians only
- A bridleway is for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists
- A byway can be used by pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and some vehicles
All public rights of way are marked with a post indicating the footpath number.
Responsibility for these footpaths is divided between the Council's Countryside Service an d StreetCare. To report a problem regarding countryside footpaths (ie. those on soft ground) please contact the Countryside Service on 01708 432582, and for urban footpaths (ie. those that have blacktop) please contact StreetCare on 01708 432563.
Rights of way
There are many public rights of way, routes where the public have a right to walk, in some cases, to ride horses or bicycles. So that everyone knows which routes are public rights of way, local authorities have drawn up special maps, called Definitive Rights of Way Maps.
A Definitive Rights of Way Map is a legal record of the public's rights of way. If a way is shown on the map then that is conclusive evidence of public rights along the way unless there has been a legally authorised change.
Definitive Rights of Way Maps can be amended by modification and reclassification orders.
Definitive Rights of Way Maps are a major element in providing evidence of the existence of public rights of way but they may not show the full picture. There may be additional rights over land which have not yet been recorded on the map, or there may be rights which are incorrectly recorded on the map. Maps can be amended if evidence of missing rights of way is discovered, or to correct errors in previously recorded information.
Each map is accompanied by a statement which may include descriptions of the rights of way. If the statement contains any limitations or conditions attached to the public's rights, then that too is conclusive evidence. As with the definitive map, there may also be unrecorded limitations or conditions on the public's rights. Definitive statements can also be amended if missing evidence is discovered, or to correct errors in previously recorded information.
Havering's Definitive Rights of Way Map and Statement can be inspected at 9th Floor, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford during normal office hours, i.e. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
To find out more about rights of way contact the Ordnance Survey
OS maps of the local area can be purchased in most bookshops or online.
Walks and rights of way
Rights of way
There are many public rights of way - ways where the public have a right to walk and, in some cases, to ride horses or bicycles. So that everyone may know which routes are public rights of way, Local Authorities have drawn up special maps, called definitive rights of way maps.
A definitive map is a legal record of the public's rights of way. If a way is shown on the map then that is conclusive evidence of public rights along the way unless there has been a legally authorised change.
Definitive maps can only be amended by modification and reclassification orders.
Definitive maps are a major element in providing evidence of the existence of public rights of way but they may not show the full picture. There may be additional rights over land which have not yet been recorded on the map, or there may be rights which are incorrectly recorded on the map. Maps can be amended if evidence of missing rights of way is discovered, or to correct errors in previously recorded information.
Each map is accompanied by a statement which may include descriptions of the rights of way. If the statement contains any limitations or conditions attached to the public's rights, then that too is conclusive evidence. As with the definitive map, there may also be unrecorded limitations or conditions on the public's rights. Definitive statements can also be amended if missing evidence is discovered, or to correct errors in previously recorded information.
How do I find out more about rights of way?
The most useful maps of the local area showing rights of way are published by the Government's mapping agency, the Ordnance Survey (OS). OS maps of the local area can be purchased in most bookshops or online.
How do I look at the definitive rights of way map?
Havering's Definitive Rights of Way Map and Statement can be inspected at 9th Floor, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford during normal office hours, ie 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.