Sir, Last year the Hadrian's Wall Long Distance Path was opened and it has already demonstrated its contribution to activity in the regions, including Cumbria, through which it passes.

It serves to underline the benefit of walking and huge economic value (many millions of pounds) to the local area, a factor so clearly demonstrated by the loss of money during the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001.

It is the poor maintenance and frequent obstruction of public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways etc) which demonstrates the public amnesia of the county council. This continues to leave Cumbria, the "Mecca" of walking, at the bottom of the league in England, with the worst record (excluding the Lake District National Park) for rights of way maintenance in the country.

There may, however, be some light at the end of this dark tunnel. Two new means of encouragement have developed.

The first is a consequence of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) Section 63 and Sections 130a-130d of the Highways Act 1980. This enables anyone to serve notice on the county council requiring the removal of an obstruction. Failure to respond is followed by the matter proceeding, very simply, to the magistrates court, where an order to do so follows. The appropriate forms can be obtained from the DEFRA website or from DEFRA offices, and other sources (eg Ramblers Association). This, in appropriate cases, can be a very powerful tool.

Obstructions may range from bales across a path, overgrowth of hedges, failure to maintain a safe stile, locked gates, barbed wire across or alongside a path or stile, and a myriad of others.

The second possibility arises from the new scheme of rural payments, the successor to farm subsidies. Since January 2005 payments to farmers/landowners are no longer linked to production; instead they are linked to compliance to good farming practice and compliance with current legislation including that relating to public rights of way.

The implication is that obstructing a public right of way may lead to the rural payments being reduced or withdrawn.

It can certainly be seen that it is in the interests of the landowner to have problems brought to their attention. This can be done by reporting either to the Cumbria Rights of Way Officers (in Cumbria, Capita Symonds, Kingsmoor Carlisle) or to DEFRA, or even to the landowner if known.

While there seems to be a reluctance among the British public to make complaints, it can be that by doing so one may save the landowner some money and make a contribution in the longer term to the economy and well being of Cumbria as a whole.

P.E. Robin, Kendal