Northumberland Rights of Way Improvement Plan

Over the last few months I have been working with Northumberland County Council’s Rights of Way team to develop a new Rights of Way Improvement Plan which sets out strategic goals for footpaths, bridleways and other public rights of way in the county.

This contract has been a bit of a deviation for me but it is a great example of how consultancy can support a team to meet deadlines and progress work. I have a background in working with projects to support/enhance access to greenspaces and the countryside but I am not a Rights of Way expert. I have worked closely with the Rights of Way Officers, using their knowledge and experience, to present an accessible and inclusive document, which is a deliverable strategy for ten years, representative of user groups, links to other strategies within the Local Authority and is readable by the general public as well as those with a more detailed interest/knowledge of Rights of Way. This work builds on my knowledge of the county and has allowed me to use professional relationships to ensure it reaches and represents a wide range of audiences.

I’ve enjoyed working on this – something a bit different from my ‘usual’ work but building on my skills, experience and interest. I’ll be back to this towards the end of the year when the public consultation is completed.