Diptford Footpaths

P3 Scheme - Parish Paths Partnership

The Parish Paths Partnership (P3) is a working and funding partnership between Devon County Council, South Hams District Council and the Parish Council.

• Local volunteers, co-ordinated by Cllr Sue Franklin, 'look after' the existing public rights of way (ROWs) in the parish. ROWs include footpaths, bridleways and byways and we can also look at the unsurfaced county roads in the area, many of which are used for recreational purposes.
   
• In return for this the P3 scheme is funded by Devon CC. A small set amount per mile of each type of ROW is paid, together with a variable amount for any 'special projects' which are identified.
   
• Volunteers are asked to walk or ride the various routes, noting the condition of each path and any obstructions, on at least an annual basis.
   
• Volunteers, if confident or in the case of strimmers, qualified to do so, can undertake basic clearance work, but in the main contractors are used.
   
• The co-ordinator, working closely with the local Rights of Way Warden, provides Devon CC with annual surveys of each path, together with information as to what work has been undertaken, plans for the future and financial returns.
   
• Membership of the P3 scheme does not confer any legal liability on the volunteers, nor does it alter in any way the landowner's responsibilities under the various Highways Acts. P3 works closely with landowners, and has been able to provide new and acceptable path 'furniture' such as new gates and stiles, and increasing we are trying to provide access for the less able by installing kissing gates instead of stiles where appropriate.
   
• There are no areas in the parish of Diptford subject to additional access rights under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act, the so called Right to Roam, and therefore no additional routes will be provided under this Act. However, by using a network of the ROWs and UCRs, a variety of walks and rides can be enjoyed.
   

May 2006 Report to Parish Council

The Annual Grant from Devon County Council in 2005 was £375 being made up only of the set mileage rate and £25 allowed for administration.

I attended a training course on the use of strimmers and there are now three of us accredited and able to use these tools on the path network. All our paths have been classed as "Easy to Use" in the annual County Council inspection, but we continue to undertake inspections and improvements where we can. I should like to thank all landowners who have co-operated in the scheme and all walkers who have used the paths

• Footpath 1 - Village Hall to Moorcott, was closed for a short while to enable the large ash tree, which had become dangerously unstable, to be made safe. A Footpath sign has been erected at Diptford School showing the path.
• Footpath 2 - Holsome Lane to Holsome Farm Lane. At long last the consultation process has been completed to enable the diversion of this path to be made official. The legal route has now been signed and will in fact follow the route which has been walked for the last 40 + years, from the kissing gate along the headland to Holsome Farm Lane.
• Footpath 4 - Murtwell to Parish boundary - the Rights of Way Warden has agreed that the gateways here should be hardened in the new financial year, to alleviate the accumulation of mud in the winter.
• Footpath 5 - Greyhills Cottage to Crabadon Lane opposite Ashwell Lane. We have recently replaced an awkward 3 step stile with a latching kissing gate, and the gate and stile at Crabadon Lane have been replaced with a 2 in 1 gate incorporating a pedestrian gate within the main gate. This should enable this useful path to be used more easily.
• Footpath 57 - Moreleigh Road to Curtisknowle Road opposite Chapplelands/Cleave Lane. All stiles here are in good condition and the path will be kept clear through a corn crop this year.
• Bridleway 3 - Broadley Farm to Gara Bridge. This well used bridleway is in good condition.

Sue Franklin P3 Co-Ordinator