The 15 National Trails of England are one of its greatest assets offering the public an opportunity to walk, cycle and ride through many beautiful and historic parts of the country. They have all been created by linking existing local footpaths, bridleways and minor roads and by developing new ones where there were gaps.

Their management and high quality is undoubtedly the key to their success, however this shift by Government in response to localism and community driven projects will offer a new challenge to local government.

The Government proposes a New Deal however there is little evidence in the consultation that informs Authorities how this will work. As with many things in life, the devil is in the detail. The consultation proposes the establishment of a ‘Trail Partnership’ for each Trail; a single body that will manage and oversee the quality of provision as well as hand down the finance to local authorities.

There are claims that greater transparency and transactional efficiencies will be achieved with the move toward Trail Partnerships, but is this just a cost cutting exercise that will undermine the strategic role that Natural England and its predecessors have usefully fulfilled over the decades? Will there be any benefit to the users from this sea change?

On the face of it the Trail Partnerships will replace the role of Natural England and will become a self-fulfilling prophecy meeting the needs of users. From the perspective of a highway authority there is the risk that it will require greater input to achieve a similar end, particularly in the early life of the Trail Partnerships.

With local government facing cuts it is difficult to imagine that we will be in a position to meet the aspirations of users and perhaps those of a newly formed public body.  However local government is resilient and capable of change and perhaps these new proposals from Central Government will form the basis of a new way of working with the community and achieving beneficial results. We watch with interest.

Martin Malloy – Strategic Director, Cultural and Community Services – Derbyshire County Council & CLOA Executive Member