Our main focus at the moment is being directed towards the provision of
Safe Inter-Village Cycle Routes and Footpaths.
Discussions are currently taking place with West Berkshire Council’s Highways Department, with the view to surveying and thereby identifying a safe cycle route to join Hermitage, Hampstead Norreys and The Downs School in
The provision of such a cycle route will then have to be costed and funding sought. We hope to be supported with this project by our neighbouring parishes and the
The condition of our existing inter village paths are being looked at with the view to bring them up to a good enough standard for walkers to use them comfortably with out being stung or scratched. However, to complete this task we need some volunteer working parties this late autumn and early winter to walk the paths.
If you are interested in keeping our paths open please volunteer to help by e-mailing us and joining our Group.
Footpath Wardens
The role of a Footpath Warden is voluntary and open to anyone who enjoys the countryside, whether it is to walk the dog, take a stroll after Sunday lunch, or to keep fit! You can run the footpath if you’d like! The footpath map is available on the Hampstead Norreys website (see link above). If we get enough volunteers, we’d hope that each volunteer could “adopt” one particular footpath as “theirs”! If you’re new to the district or if you’re not sure which routes are out there, we’ll walk you through them (physically!) to get your bearings and see which one suites you best! You can even buddy up with other volunteers and make a circular route!
Description of Role
Identify the footpath, make a note of its condition, walk this at least once every two months, and identify any work that may be required, i.e. it is overgrown through lack of use or if the route is blocked by a fallen tree.
Objective
The objective is to ensure that the footpaths are kept clear and are accessible to everyone. We would hope to make notes on what footpaths are accessible to pushchair or wheelchair users and, if possible, update the footpath map.
Commitment
The only commitment would be to walk (or run!) the agreed footpath every two months-but you can walk the route more often! – and report back on its condition.
Action and Contacts
If there are any problems regarding any footpaths, such as obstacles, footpath ploughed up, route not clear or blocked etc please contact:
West Berks Council
Miss Elaine Cox
Snr Rights of Way Officer
Email: elcox@westberks.gov.uk
Address: Council Offices, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berks. RG14 2AF
Telephone: 01635 42400
If there is no response please contact the Hampstead Norreys Parish Council clerk,
e-mail:clerk@hampsteadnorreys.org.uk
Interested?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like more information, please contact:
Ingrid Parsons on 01635 202925 or Alison Blackborow on 01635 201330