Trafford Footpath Team

Protecting Trafford PROW

Protecting Trafford Public Rights of Way

There are 110km of footpaths in Trafford that should be open for all users. Any problems should be reported on the council website.

Identify the path with it’s start and end points and any other useful information. Photographs are helpful. Trafford council Report a Problem on a Road is the link.

Below is the official Guidance for the Acceptable Standard

Public Rights of Way – Technical Requirements

A path may have a number of technical failures but not fail the ‘ease of use’ Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) overall. The following circumstances would however mean an automatic FAIL for the BVPI for that path

A missing signpost/waymark (s.27 Countryside Act 1968) where they leave the road

A signpost showing the incorrect status, not clearly visible and not properly aligned

A missing waymark where a path changes status (e.g. Bridleway to Footpath)
A missing waymark where the route of the path is not clear from the map
Any furniture on the path where immediate repair or replacement is required
A building across the path
A body of water on the path extensive enough to count as a linear obstruction
Any point obstructions that cause the surveyor to deviate from the definitive line

Any diversions from the definitive line
Any linear obstructions that cause the surveyor to deviate from the definitive line

Any surface conditions that prevent the surveyor from continuing along the definitive line

Any sign or notice that deters use of the path
Any beast or human deterring the use of the path

Restarting Trafford Ramblers Footpath Team

It is now over a year since I took on the role of local footpath officer for the Ramblers Trafford Group.

My predecessor - June Mahon MBE had set up the original team of Path Inspectors and the Path Maintenance Working Party. Under her leadership the Footpath Teams had a proven reputation as guardians of the Trafford path network.

I had not fully appreciated the extent of the work that she undertook in supporting the team of Inspectors but over the last year I’ve gradually got to grips with the role – learning about the Definitive Map, public rights of way, and everything else that comes with the job.

The Footpath Inspectors Group meet to discuss and share their experiences twice a year. I am indebted to the long-standing Inspectors for their endless patience in explaining and sharing their experience with me.

At our first meeting we collectively formed a simple plan to reinvigorate the work of the Footpath Group.

We recruited new inspectors and now have coverage to be able to survey all the 110kms of the path network in Trafford.

It also allowed some Inspectors, who had given many years of long service, the opportunity to step back and take a well-earned rest.

The Footpath Inspectors do an excellent job surveying the Public Rights of Way (PROW) within their given parish in Trafford. They share their resulting reports identifying any problems and issues with the Highways Authority.

I joined the regular four monthly meeting with the Highway Authority agents – AMEY alongside Martin Hampar. AMEY have been open in discussing any issues and providing detailed information and help to support our efforts in maintaining access to the path network for everyone.

Martin Hampar of the Peak & Northern Footpath Society has worked alongside the Footpath team for several years. His personal guidance to me has been invaluable over these first few months in finding my way through the legal rights and other aspects and statutory background to highways.

I also need to mention Edgar Ernstbrunner who invited me to his home and spent an afternoon with me patiently explaining the spectrum of issues that need to be addressed regarding the path network in Trafford and introducing me to ‘The Blue Book’ the bible of all things Paths.

The footpath working party had been dormant for some time, so I approached previous members to find out who was willing and able to take up the shears and spades again and found other new volunteers.

We identify targets for the work party from the outcomes of the path surveys completed by the Footpath Inspectors.

We aim for a working session every month (second Wednesday of the month) of a couple of hours to undertake vegetation clearance. With the addition of other new members, we have now undertaken our first few projects. The results are very satisfying, and it is a joy working with other team members on these projects and seeing the results.

With the council under challenging financial constraints, our volunteer work really helps keep the paths open and accessible to everyone.

Acting as a point of contact for others and monitoring planning applications that affect PROWs are other areas of responsibility for the Footpath Officer.

There is still so much more for me to learn but I am enjoying it – and it’s given me a good reason to explore parts of the area I’d never really noticed before.

Footpath Secretary. Tony Reynolds.

Please contact for further information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Footpath Award 2014

The RTG Path workers have won the President’s Volunteer Award for “Protecting where we walk”!

The RTG Path workers (inspectors and path maintainers) have won the Ramblers President’s Volunteer Award* for “Protecting where we walk”.

On Mon 14th April 2014, Penny Maitra from Trafford Council came along at the start of one of our path maintenance sessions, to congratulate us all on winning the Ramblers Award for “Protecting Where we Walk”. RTG Chair Dr Angela Hilton very kindly, and at short notice, came too. Attached is a picture of Angela, Penny M and the rest of us that day, with Angela in the centre holding the clear star shaped trophy.

The Footpath Team has been established for some years, reporting to the Greater Manchester and High Peak Area, and is one of the twin pillars of the group, Footpaths and Walking. Footpath Inspectors make an annual survey of Rights of Way in the borough and assess the paths for easy of use against local government standards. The FP Team report their findings to Trafford Council and works with the Council Officers to make best use of the Council's allocated resources to keep paths in Trafford in good condition for the benefit of all users be they pram pushing mums, children walking to school, commuters on the way to work, cyclists and horseriders (on appropriate routes) or anyone who enjoys walking locally for health. As well as the work in keeping existing path is good order, the FP Team assist Trafford residents when they want to claim new Rights of Way or simply need advice on what to do about a problem they encounter with a path.

Details: Category: Trafford; Published: 18 January 2022

New Right of Way

Timperley

New Right of Way in Trafford

Ramblers Trafford Group (RTG), which is part of Greater Manchester and High Peak Area, is celebrating the creation of a new Right of Way (ROW) footpath in Trafford.

The footpath, at the side of the Bridgewater Canal, although used by many local people over the years, had, until recently no public access rights. On 19 May 2023, that changed when an Order was confirmed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to create a formal Right of Way footpath protected in law for all users on foot. The path is named ROW Footpath Altrincham 36.

The new ROW footpath runs in a northerly direction between the Bridgewater Canal and the Metro Tram light railway line, from the gate on Timperley Metro Tram station to meet an existing ROW footpath at Baguley Brook.

The combined new ROW Footpath and the existing ROW footpath provide a continuous, natural surfaced path, with mature trees, shrubs and associated wild life from Timperley Metro Tram Station to Brooklands Metro Tram station. This route will be appreciated by walkers who want a more “country” environment for walking than the hard surfaced towpath on the opposite side of the canal offers with its busy cyclist traffic, jogger and runners, (admirable though the hard surfaced towpath is for these activities).

It may seem strange that there has been a ROW footpath near Brooklands station but it did not go further than Baguley Brook. This was due to different authorities managing the area and the dividing line was Baguley Brook. One authority logged its path as a ROW the other did not.

RTG former Footpath Secretary, June Mabon, worked over almost ten years to bring the application for the new ROW Footpath to success. The local highway authority Trafford Council was closely involved in the wording of the Order and discussion were held with landowners the Bridgewater Canal Company and the Metro Tram Company . Evidence of Use Statements were very helpfully provided by local residents including records of use going back to 1976. A last minute objection, although subsequently ruled inapplicable, both delayed progress and meant the Order had to be referred to the Secretary of State’s office. The pandemic held up progress still further but finally it has all come good and local walkers are already taking the new Altrincham 36 footpath under their wing and monitoring its use and upkeep. Well done Ramblers!

June Mabon - 31 July 23