View e-Petition
We, the undersigned, petition the Council to suspend any further planned cuts to the Rights of Way budget and, when financial conditions improve, restore the funding already cut.
More details from petitioner:
Shropshire Council has slashed the Rights of Way budget by 40% this year and plans further cuts in subsequent years. This jeopardises years of work and investment by the Council, Ramblers and other volunteers that has resulted in Shropshire’s Public Rights of Way being a credit to the County. Without continued investment in maintaining the entire network, many Rights of Way will be lost.
Local people and tourists value Shropshire’s Rights of Way for enabling:
- Enjoyable exercise for people all ages and all abilities; leading to improvements in mental and physical health.
- Financial return from walking-related tourism; a major part of the Shropshire economy.
- A legacy for future generations.
The Council says that it will maintain “promoted” and “priority” paths; our wish is to be able to walk on all the Rights of Way as legislation requires, not just routes chosen by the Council.
Submitted by Rambling A
Open from 06 Jul 2011 to 04 Nov 2011
Signatures: 528 [Go to signatures]
Council response
In view of there being more than 1000 signatories to this petition, both on-line and off-line, the petition has been referred to Council on 24th November in accordance wtih the Council's Petitions Scheme. Mr Rodney Whittaker will speak for the Ramblers Association and will be allowed 5 minutes to outline their case, after which there will be a debate of up to 15 minutes duration.
Update after Council on 24th November 2011:
At the Council meeting on 24th November 2011 Mr Whittaker, of the Ramblers Association opened the debate on the Petition. A number of members then spoke, followed by the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing.
It was then proposed by Mrs H Kidd, seconded by Mr A Mosley, that the reductions in the rights of way budget be referred to the appropriate scrutiny committee to investigate measures and ways of working with partners to both promote tourism across Shropshire and negate the impact of the budget reductions on the rights of way network.
On being put to the vote, the motion was defeated, with a substantial majority voting against.
It was then proposed by Mr S Charmley, seconded by Mrs C Wild that no action be taken on the petition.
On being put to the vote, the motion that no action be taken on the petition was carried by a substantial majority.
(A more detailed account of the debate can be found in Minute 69 - Public Question Time, of the Minutes of 24th November 2011.)
Rambling A, the e-Petition Creator, joined by:
- Ms Diana Goodban on 01 Nov 2011
- Mrs Sally Murdoch on 31 Oct 2011
- Mr Gordon Murdoch on 31 Oct 2011
- Mr Alan Edwards on 30 Oct 2011
- Mrs Anne Sumner on 26 Oct 2011
- Mr Charles Green on 21 Oct 2011
- Mr Alan Braddock on 18 Oct 2011
- Mr john Williams on 17 Oct 2011
- Mr Nick Deane on 17 Oct 2011
- Mr Paul Hutchinson on 17 Oct 2011