Local businesses are set to benefit from a new four-year agreement for maintenance work on Devon’s Public Rights of Way and trails network.
Local businesses are set to benefit from a new four-year agreement for maintenance work on Devon’s Public Rights of Way and trails network.
Devon County Council's Cabinet on Friday (14 February) approved the framework of appointed contractors which will start from 1 April and continue until 2029.
The framework agreement enables the authority to use smaller, local contractors with local knowledge to support any necessary maintenance work on Devon’s 5,000km (3,100 miles) of Public Rights of Way, 230km (140 miles) of off-road recreational trails such as the Tarka Trail, and 590km (over 365 miles) of minor road network.
Skilled contractors can be called upon to carry out maintenance and improvement work including vegetation clearance, tree work, path surfacing, drainage improvements, and bridge installation, as well as technical support such as site inspections and applying for permits and permissions.
Around £1.7 million is spent on this maintenance and improvement work every year – highlighting the value of the network to the local economy, environment, people’s health and meeting carbon reduction targets.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:
“Our Public Rights of Way network is of high importance to residents, business and visitors providing wide ranging benefits including for active travel, tourism, health and wellbeing, wildlife and landscape.
“Locally based contractors, particularly Small and Medium size Enterprises, provide a really important resource to enable effective maintenance – carrying out multiple work across the county for regular activities such as strimming of verges, path surfacing and drainage, installing and repairing furniture, and erecting signs and waymarking. The extent of the network and range of work means we need multiple contractors, and local knowledge is important – for example in minimising travel time and costs, accessing remote locations, and in engaging with landowners.”
The framework agreement will also be available for use at Stover Country Park and the Grand Western Canal Country Park, and may be used by local partners such as Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, and parish and town councils.
While contractors on the framework are expected to deliver the majority of the maintenance and improvement works to the Public Rights of Way network, some work may be undertaken by landowners, local partners, volunteers or our staff.
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