New Paths for Communities Grant Scheme to be launched in April

From April 2012 Natural England will be running a new competitive grant scheme called Paths for Communities. The aim of the scheme will be:

•To encourage and enable local communities to work with land owners to develop and enhance local public paths in ways that deliver wider benefit; and
•To offer a network with more appeal to visitors and tourists, contributing to the rural economy through better support for local services such as shops, pubs, hotels, bed and breakfasts, equestrian and cycle businesses.

The total fund for this competitive scheme will be around £1 million a year for 2 years. Full details of the scheme and application process are not yet available, but further information can be found on the Natural England website.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Rights of Way Service is interested in hearing from any community groups who would like to put together a bid for funding under this scheme. We work closely with the Herts Local Access Forum (see http://www.hertslaf.org.uk/) which represents all user groups, landowners and other stakeholders and who are very interested in bidding to bring some of this funding to communities in Hertfordshire. contact row@hertscc.gov.uk