Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, has agreed to extend the current Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) until March 2029. This decision was made to allow for ongoing reviews, recent public consultation, the adoption of new policies, and to assess the impact of impending local government reorganisation and devolution.

Rights of Way Improvement Plan Extension

Councillor Judy Roberts agreed to extend the current Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) from its original expiry in 2025 until March 2029. This decision was based on several factors outlined in the report, including the ongoing review of the public rights of way (PRoW) network, user needs, strategy, and operations. A public survey conducted in Spring 2025 provided valuable insights into user perspectives. Additionally, several PRoW-related policies have been adopted since the original RoWIP was published, and these align with the existing plan. A significant consideration for extending the plan is the impending Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Oxfordshire, which is expected to result in boundary changes and potentially new administrative structures. Officers believe that not amending the plan at this stage allows the council to better understand and manage the impact of these changes before producing a new or amended RoWIP post-LGR.

The report highlighted four key reasons for extending the current RoWIP:

• Continual Review: The council consistently reviews its PRoW network, user needs, strategy, policy, and operations.
• Public Survey: A survey conducted in Spring 2025 gathered feedback on PRoW issues, satisfaction levels, and suggestions for the future plan.
• Adopted Policies: New policies related to PRoW have been implemented since 2015, which are compatible with the existing RoWIP.
• Local Government Reorganisation (LGR): The anticipated changes to local government structures in Oxfordshire necessitate a period of assessment before a new, comprehensive plan can be developed.

The decision to extend the plan was made to maintain the validity of the current RoWIP while incorporating the impact of recent policy adoptions and preparing for future structural changes. The report noted that the extension incurs no additional cost to the council. The plan's extension aligns with the council's commitment to a greener, fairer, and healthier Oxfordshire, supporting objectives related to greenways, access to local facilities, and physical activity. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000¹ mandates highway authorities to prepare and review such plans.