« MAPS – SURVEY - CATTLE - CONTACTS – KEY
The Parish Council has arranged for a new map of the footpaths and brideways in and around Eynsham, using Oxfordshire County Council's definitive statement dated 21 February 2006. For a preview of areas covered click HERE; for individual maps click on:
1. Central & South - 2. North - 3. West.
Although they are designed to be printed at A3 size, they are still readable at A4 and of course you can view them
comfortably on screen. We hope they will suggest new directions for your walks – and increase your enjoyment of them.
SURVEY: Over winter 2006/7 members of the Footpaths Sub- Committee covered the footpath network and made an inventory of problems such as broken stiles and gates, missing sign- posts, impassable vegetation, etc. The completed inventory was passed to the County Council – which is responsible for the maintenance of rights of way – with a request for repairs to be implemented. Contacts below
OCTOBER 2007: it was very pleasing to hear from Daniel Weeks and Jonathan Beale, the OCC Field Officer and Assistant Field Officer, that some problems are already earmarked for attention. Path reference numbers are as shown on the
maps:
* No.4 - being looked at (poor signage and impassable in places)
* No.6 - new bridge planned off the Cassington Road
* No.8 - booked in for clearance of undergrowth
* No.11 - replacement of two gates and clearance of undergrowth
* No.13 - replacement of gate onto A40 with 2-way opening gate
* No.14 - replacement of worn- out stiles
* No.23 - booked in for clearance of undergrowth
CATTLE: The Ramblers website has some useful tips about cattle in fields:
'A bull of up to ten months old can be kept in a field crossed by a public path.
Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation. Treat untethered bulls with caution. Back away slowly, and report the incident to the police if you consider the situation unlawful as well as dangerous. Other livestock can often be deterred from following you too closely by turning to face them with both arms raised. Don't brandish a stick, as this may excite them, and use an ordinary speaking voice rather than shouting. Don't walk between a cow and her calf. If you are threatened by cattle when walking a dog, you should let the dog off the lead - it's better that they go
after your dog than you.'
CONTACTS: Keeping rights of way in good condition is an ongoing, collaborative task so please get in touch if you would like to help with the survey – or, of course, if you find a particular problem such as a fallen tree obstructing a path. The County Council has a clearing schedule, to which they add the paths and bridleways which are reported year on year. It is therefore important to report paths that are overgrown, as well as those with obstacles and hazards.
If you know the path number, you can report directly to Daniel Weeks at dan.weeks@ oxfordshire.gov.uk; tel: 01865 810225. If not, please contact a member of the Footpaths Sub- Committee. Current members are Margaret Jones, Sue Osborne, Paul Staley and Jackie Tinson; click here for contact details.
In future years the Parish Council hope to suggest further improvements and developments, but the immediate priority is to ensure that paths and bridleways within the Parish conform to the County Council's definitive statement.
DEFINITION of terms used in the key:
*Footpath (FP): A highway over which the public have a right on foot only, other than such a highway at the side of a public road.
*Bridleway (BR): A highway over which the public have a right of way on foot and a right of way on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the highway.
*Restricted Byway (RB): A highway over which the public have right of way on foot, on
horseback or leading a horse and for vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
*Roads Used as a Public Path (RUPPs) were re-designated under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 and are now Restricted Bridleways.
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