The garden of England, not the secret garden
Making the countryside more accessible is the aim of Kent County Council's (KCC) new10-year Countryside Access Improvement Plan.
As well as giving more people the opportunity to enjoy walking, cycling and horse riding in Kent., the plan will play a key role in reducing traffic on Kent’s roads and will safeguard and enhance public rights of way (PROW) in the face of new development.
It also aims to help towards the national priority of combating health problems such as obesity and coronary heart disease by offering low-cost and easy access to regular exercise.
KCC CEO Peter Gilroy commented: “This is an exciting first step and now will be about how we deliver it. If we are successful, it will reduce congestion, support rural business, improve people’s health and, most importantly, improve the quality of life for the people of Kent.”
Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, all local highway authorities have been required to prepare a Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
KCC's full plan aims to target seven areas:
• Well maintained countryside access To raise the standard of path furniture such as gates and bridges, reduce the numbers of stiles, and to improve signposting, so people will be more confident about using the PROW network for everyday journeys.
• Growth and development To ensure that the PROW network in areas of planned development such as The Thames Gateway will be protected and enhanced, which will contribute to the sustainability and regeneration of these areas.
• A more sensible network To develop PROW, so that the network of paths give people a real and sustainable alternative to using cars for short distances.
• Knowing what’s out there To improve the availability of information about walking, cycling and riding to help people explore the Kent countryside.
• Improving safety To increase the number of safe walking and cycling routes around schools to reduce car congestion associated with the ‘school run’, and to address any safety and personal security issues across the whole network.
• Education and respect for the countryside To make sure that both landowners and members of the public are aware of their rights and responsibilities when using the PROW network. Provide information that aims to increase the understanding and protection of the Kent countryside.
• Working smarter and improving our customer service To explore the use of new technology and react to the changing needs of the public to make sure that the PROW department delivers increasingly efficient customer service.
