Herefordshire Council has responded to the wishes of residents and helped to set up a safer walking route from Wellington Heath to Ledbury town centre.

Under the council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan, various path users and local residents are able to have their say on how they think the rights of way network in Herefordshire can be improved.

Across the county, the council often replaces stiles with gates as part of access improvements and generally improving the path network for all users, and under the Rights of Way Improvement Plan more specific concerns can also be raised.

Wellington Heath Parish Council was asked by a number of residents to suggest a safer walking route to Ledbury because the existing one on a busy road was hazardous, especially to people with pushchairs and wheelchairs.

By one of the newly-installed gates are, from left, Hugh Ransome-Williams (Parish Councillor), Patrick Adams (chairman of the Parish Council), Phil Martin (member of the Wellington Heath village walking group), John Harrisson (Parish Councillor), Richard Willcox (Parish Footpath Officer), Tim Thompson (Herefordshire Council’s area warden) and Richard Hurley (vice-chairman of the Parish Council).

Tim Thompson, Herefordshire Council’s area warden worked with Wellington Heath parish councillors Richard Wilcox, Patrick Adams, Fanny Underhill and Alan Woods to create a safer walking route by upgrading an existing right of way.

Local landowners Mr and Mrs Bickham, Mr Mackie, Mr Wills and Mr Clegg gave permission for the upgrading works to be carried out.

This work involved widening a bridge and replacing seven stiles with gates and now the 3km route is safe for all users.

Councillor Patrick Adams, chairman of Wellington Heath Parish Council, said: “We are very happy with what has been done which is definitely a step in the right direction.

Councillor Patrick Adams, chairman of Wellington Heath Parish Council) and some of the parish councillors look at the new bridge installed on the footpath with Tim Thompson (Herefordshire Council’s area warden) and Richard Willcox (Parish footpath officer).

“The gates are marvellous and the bridge has made it far easier to use the footpath which offers a far more pleasant and less dangerous route into town than having to walk alongside the main road,” he added.