Help shape Hertfordshire’s future – have your say on changes to local government

Residents, community groups, businesses and wider stakeholders are invited to share their views on how services will be delivered in Hertfordshire in the years ahead. This is a once in a generation opportunity to help shape the future of local government.

Have your say

Rights of Way

Rights of way are footpaths, bridleways and byways which have public access. They are all highways which the public have the right to pass and re-pass along.

Hertfordshire has an extensive rights of way network of over 5,200 paths totalling more than 3,000km. These paths are shown on a map and have a written description in a legal record called the definitive map and statement, which is looked after by the County Council's Rights of Way Service at County Hall, Hertford.

We have powers to divert footpaths under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (Section 257), as well as powers delegated by Hertfordshire County Council (as the Highway Authority for this area) under the Highways Act 1980 (Sections 25, 26, 118, 119) relating to the protection and assertion of public rights of way, including powers to create, divert or stop up footpaths, bridleways and byways.