Public rights of way enforcement

For public rights of way, the enforcing authority is the Council as Highway Authority

For further information about the enforcement of public rights of way please contact the Highway Management Group.

The Council as the Local Planning Authority is not able to take enforcement action over unauthorised blockings or diversions of public rights of way. The only cases where action could be taken are those in which the blocking of the public right of way results from a breach of the planning permission, either:

• The permission has not been carried out in accordance with the approved plans
• A condition of the planning permission has not been complied with

In such cases the Local Planning Authority's enforcement action will be against the breach of planning control and not against the blocking of the public right of way. But the effect of the action may result in the removal of the blockage.

The Council cannot take action over blocked or disputed private rights of way. Anyone affected in this way should consult a solicitor.