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The aim of a ROWIP is to assess:
- the extent to which local rights of way meet the present and likely future needs of the public;
- the opportunities provided by local rights of way for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the authority’s area;
- and the accessibility of local rights of way to blind and partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems.
There is no legal duty to implement ROWIPs. Their value comes from the fact that they encourage new ways of thinking about, and improving, both statutory and permissive rights of way networks and their linkages with green space and where people live. A well written ROWIP that meets the needs and aspirations of the public it serves should help a local authority to more effectively:
- unlock various funding sources; foster volunteering in the community;
- and integrate management of, and improvements to, the network with a range of overlapping environmental, social and economic objectives.
The results of this research are written up in this national evaluation and in separate annexes covering each of the individual regions. These documents include:
- assessments of completed ROWIPs;
- information on key findings and issues;
- and recommendations to Natural England.
The views expressed in the reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Natural England. Natural England's viewpoint is that this research shows that ROWIPs have generally been successful and that many of them are growing on into ambitious implementation plans that tap new sources of funds.
Natural England supports:
- the ROWIP process;
- the proactive way of working for local authorities;
- and the network improvements that are being made that are benefitting users across the country.