Parks and open spaces
How we maintain public rights of way
It's our duty to make sure that public rights of way are free from obstructions so the general public can use them freely and safely.
We inspect and survey them as part of an ongoing improvement programme. From May to October we clear as many paths as we can to keep them free of surface vegetation.
Landowner and householder responsibilities
Most public rights of way in Barnsley cross private land. Legally, landowners need to make sure that they remain open and have easy access. It's an offence for a landowner to restrict access by:
- locking gates
- erecting fencing - including electric and barbed wire fencing
- putting up misleading signs
- using farm machinery or vegetation in a way which obscures the right of way
- intimidating users in any way
Landowners have the following responsibilities regarding their land:
Vegetation
Trees, hedges, shrubs or crops overhanging a public right of way should be cut back so they don't encroach on the footpath. Any waste vegetation should also be moved off the path.
If a landowner fails to keep the right of way clear, we can remove the vegetation causing an obstruction. We may charge the offender for the cost of doing this.
Ploughing and cropping
If you have to plough a cross-field path, you're legally responsible for making sure the path is visible and fit for the public to use within 14 days of starting ploughing. You need to do this within 24 hours of any further activity during the year. The path must also remain open and visible throughout the growth of the crop.
Paths that run along the edge of a field shouldn't be ploughed or disturbed at any time.
Stiles and gates
You need to make sure that any stiles and gates on your property are maintained to a suitable standard. We can help in erecting and repairing stiles and gates as needed, but if you want to erect a new gate or stile you need our permission. We'll class any that are erected without permission as an illegal obstruction, and we may take legal action.
Bulls and livestock
It's an offence to keep a bull over 10 months old of a recognised dairy breed in a field crossed by a right of way. Bulls of other breeds are also banned, unless they're with cows or heifers.
Never keep an animal that you know to be dangerous on land crossed by a right of way.