Shropshire Star

Shropshire Star comment: Pathways lead to our wellbeing

For Shropshire’s ramblers, it must seem that when it comes to a call on public money, they are among the first ones to get trampled under foot.

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Ask a councillor to prioritise those things to which they ascribe value and importance, and it will be education, social services, and so on at or near the top.

Looking after Shropshire’s network of footpaths and rights of way? None of them would put that at the head of the list. In all likelihood, it would be in the deep south of the bottom half.

It is an impression which is reinforced by where the council is directing its money, and where it is seeking to make savings. Already there is a £50,000 funding cut earmarked for rights of way, and a team which looks after footpaths and stiles could be doomed, unless outside cash is found.

A potential way of easing the impact is through voluntary funding. Already volunteers from Shropshire Ramblers help out by doing their bit to maintain paths and so on.

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Peter Carr, who chairs the Ramblers, is understanding of the council’s predicament and says they will continue to do what they can to work in partnership with it and help. However, he does say that the cuts route is short-sighted and in the longer term will actually lead to increased costs.

People take for granted Shropshire’s network of paths and open spaces which are to be treasured and enjoyed, especially in these health-conscious times when we do the nation and its NHS budget a favour if we strive our best to keep fit.

They are a quiet and easy-to-overlook generator of cash for the local economy through ensuring the county continues to attract visitors, and continues to have pleasant places for them to explore, and walk.

It is difficult to put a monetary value on quality of life, but it is not difficult to assert that if footpaths become overgrown, and the infrastructure such as gates and stiles falls into disrepair so that the paths become less attractive, then the quality of life for everyone who enjoys the countryside is diminished.

Salopians love their paths and green spaces and it looks as if they will have to demonstrate that love by increasingly shouldering the burden of looking after them.