Public rights of way
Where can you roam?
There are 155 km of public rights of way in the Borough of Hertsmere, of which there are several different types including:
- footpaths, for use by walkers,
- bridleways, for use by horse riders, cyclists and walkers,
- BOATs (Byways Open to All Traffic) have footpath, bridleway and vehicular rights.
- RBs (Restricted Byways) have footpath and bridleway rights and also rights for non-motorised (i.e. horsedrawn) vehicles.
The rights of way network in Hertsmere is managed and maintained by Hertfordshire County Council and any problems should be referred to them at County Hall in Hertford.
The Definitive Map and Statement of Rights of Way
The Definitive Map records the position and legal status of all public rights of way. The Definitive Statement is a list of all rights of way shown on the definitive map and includes a description for each entry. Both of the documents are maintained by Hertfordshire County Council and together they form a legal document. The information in these two documents is supplied to the Ordnance Survey who use it to show public rights of way on their maps. The Definitive Map and Statement are conclusive evidence that a public right of way exists, but there may be other rights of way which are not shown. It is possible for these to be added to the Definitive Map and Statement. The definitive map for Hertsmere can be viewed at the Civic Offices in Borehamwood, at your local library or at County Hall in Hertford.
Hertsmere’s responsibilities for rights of way
Hertsmere Borough Council has limited powers to make Orders and to create, extinguish, divert and modify rights of way in the Borough. However, the council has limited resources and only uses these powers in relation to route implementation as part of the Watling Chase Greenways Project and as part of planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.