VOLUNTEER organisers of a festival which brings hundreds of tourists to the county say they are ‘deeply disheartened’ by the council’s lack of commitment to Herefordshire’s footpaths.

Herefordshire Walking Festival, which is run entirely by volunteers with sponsorship from the private sector, is set to take place for the 15th time this month.

Previously, the festival has worked in partnership with Herefordshire Council which has supported the event through footpath clearance and mending stiles and bridges although no financial support has been provided.

The council is still responsible in law for dealing with footpath problems which volunteers have identified on the planned walks but organisers of the festival claim the council is unable to devote any resources to deal with them.

It means, they say, that while volunteers such as the Ramblers can mend stiles, install new gates or carry out some clearing of undergrowth, there is no expertise available to get landowners to remove obstructions from paths or reinstate paths through crops such as oilseed rape, wheat and maize.

Arthur Lee, chairman of Herefordshire Ramblers said: “The walking festival has always been run on a shoestring.

“Herefordshire Council’s lack of commitment to maintaining the counties footpath system is deeply disheartening.

“Herefordshire spends less than 0.1% of its £328m budget on rights of way, yet tourism, of which walking is a major part, brings in millions of pounds to the local economy.

“Herefordshire Ramblers are committed to resolving the Walking Festival footpath problems to ensure that our visitors can enjoy a problem-free walk in our beautiful countryside by the time of the Festival.”

In a statement, Balfour Beatty Living Places, which looks after the maintenance of Public Rights of Way (PROW) together with Herefordshire Council, said lengthsman and P3 schemes remain in place and parishes accessing those schemes can use their grant to pay for works on the highways or public rights of way network, including the cost of associated materials.

“Due to significant government funding reductions, resources continue to be prioritised in those areas where the council has a statutory requirement such as protecting children and young people and adult social care,” the statement said.

“While it is not possible to carry out all works identified on PROW that everyone might wish for, we are confident that this should not impact significantly on the festival.

“We are working with the organisers of the Herefordshire Walking Festival to ensure the paths being used are open and accessible. We are carrying out various works in preparation for the festival including the replacement of a footbridge, repairs to various stiles and gates and ensuring that landowners clear obstructions such as crops grown across paths. We have also provided the ramblers with materials and support for their own voluntary projects.

“We hope that the weather stays fine and all the participants, visitors and local residents alike, enjoy the county’s wonderful countryside.”

The festival runs from June 18 to June 26. There are still places available, but visit walkingfestival.com to check.