Volunteers are playing a key role in helping Monmouthshire County Council maintain its 1560 miles of public footpaths (not including those that fall within the Brecon Beacons National Park).
The Right of Way Improvement Plan Funding programme, funded by Welsh Assembly Government and administered by Countryside Council for Wales, has enabled two teams of volunteers to support the Council’s two field wardens.
The scheme has operated since the beginning 2009. Previously the Field Wardens were unable to consider taking volunteers out as, with only one vehicle, they were unable to transport groups to sites. However, the funding has provided a second vehicle and as a result the volunteers have installed 44 new gates, repaired or replaced 76 stiles, installed 51 signage items, 11 sets of steps, 2 handrail’s, replaced the decking on 2 footbridges, installed 2 footbridges, improved the surface of 1 footpath and 1 bridleway, improved the drainage of 1 Restricted Byway and cleared vegetation from 57 Rights of Way. In this period they have between them contributed 200 days, or 1200 hours of labour towards improving the Rights of Way in Monmouthshire.
The scheme has been so successful that a third team has now been engaged.
