Information for landowners

Landowner responsibilities

If you have a public right of way on land in your ownership, you are responsible for:

• Keeping the right of way free from obstruction

• Clearing any overhanging vegetation

• Maintaining gates or staggered barriers that are on the path

• Re-instating cross-field paths after ploughing

Rebutting deemed dedication

If the public's right to use a route is challenged, and they can show that the route has been used freely for an uninterrupted period of twenty years, the route is deemed to have been dedicated a public right of way at some point in the past. If the landowner has made no objection to the public using the route during this time, the route can be claimed as a public right of way.

The Highways Act 1980 enables landowners to deposit maps with the City Council showing any public rights of way on their land, together with a declaration to the effect that they do not intend to dedicate any other routes. This deposition has to be renewed every ten years. Please contact the Rights of Way Section for more information.