Public rights of way

What is a public right of way?

These are roads and paths over which the public have the right to travel:

• Public footpaths are for pedestrians only
• Public bridleways are for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists
• Public byways are generally for pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and motorised vehicles.

Can I check if a path is a public right of way?

• If you wish to check whether a path is a public right of way please contact us .
• We will then check the status of the route on the highways register, to determine if it is highway maintainable at the public expense. (If the path is not recorded on the highway register then the council does not have any responsibility to maintain it.)
• If this is not the case, we will forward your inquiry to the government land registry to ascertain whether a right of way exists over privately owned land.

Enforcement of public rights of way

The council can take enforcement action over unauthorised obstructions or diversions of public rights of way over a public highway.

However, we are generally not able to take such action over unauthorised blockings or diversions of public rights of way over private land. The exception to this is if the blocking of the public right of way results from a breach of planning permission, either:

• If the permission has not been carried out in accordance with the approved plans, or
• If a condition of the planning permission has not been complied with.
• In such cases the council can act against a breach of planning control, not against the blocking of the public right of way. Nonetheless, the effect of the action may result in the removal of the blockage.

Contact us & further information

E-mail: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 5004
Minicom: 020 7364 6885

Pid Nos: 613, 614