How to Report a Blocked Footpath in County Durham

A fallen tree, locked gate, builder’s materials or fast-growing hedge can turn a useful walking route into a dead end. If you’re dealing with a blocked footpath in County Durham, report it properly so the council can identify the route and decide what action is needed.

The strongest reports include an exact location, clear photographs and a description of the obstruction. Start with Durham County Council’s Public Rights of Way team, then follow up if the problem remains unresolved.

Key Takeaways

• Use Durham County Council’s Public Rights of Way reporting form for blocked countryside paths.
• Provide a grid reference, map pin or What3Words location, plus photographs.
• Check that the route is recorded as a Public Right of Way.
• Report immediate danger urgently and avoid putting yourself at risk.
• Escalate through the council, your councillor or the Ombudsman if no action follows.

Check what kind of path is blocked

A public footpath is one type of Public Right of Way (PROW). County Durham also has bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic. Some routes run beside fields, through woodland or across open countryside, whilst others connect villages and railway paths.

The reporting process is different from reporting a damaged pavement in a built-up area. A pavement obstruction normally falls under the council’s highways service. A blocked countryside route should go to the Public Rights of Way team.

Use Durham County Council’s Public Right of Way reporting form if the issue affects a footpath, bridleway, byway, railway path, wildlife reserve route or picnic area route.

The council can check whether the route is recorded on its definitive map. If it is a recorded public right of way, the authority can investigate the obstruction and arrange appropriate action. An unrecorded route may still have public rights, but you may need advice about how to have it formally claimed or added to the record.

Don’t assume that a path is private because it crosses farmland. Equally, don’t enter private land to inspect a blockage. Report what you can see from a safe and lawful position.

How to report a blocked public footpath

The online form is the most direct option, but you can also contact Durham’s PROW team by email at prow@durham.gov.uk or telephone 03000 265 342.

Before submitting your report, gather the details below:

1. Give the precise location. Include the footpath name or number if you know it. A grid reference is useful, but a dropped map pin, What3Words location, nearby postcode or detailed directions can also help.
2. Describe the obstruction. State whether the problem is a fallen tree, overgrown hedge, fence, gate, vehicle, skip, building material, flooding, landslip or another hazard.
3. Add photographs. Take images from both sides of the blockage where possible. Include a safe object for scale if the path has become narrow.
4. Explain the effect on walkers. Say whether people can pass safely, whether wheelchair or pushchair users are affected, and whether walkers must enter a road or private land.
5. Record when you found it. A date helps the council understand whether the obstruction is temporary or persistent.

A short, factual report is usually more useful than an angry message. For example, write: “A metal fence blocks the marked footpath beside the eastern boundary of the field. Walkers cannot reach the stile. Photographs were taken on 18 July 2026, facing north from the public lane.”

If vegetation is the problem, guidance on reporting overgrown hedges on Durham footpaths can help you organise photographs and location details before contacting the council.

Never climb a dangerous gate, cut a fence or confront a landowner. A report should resolve the problem without creating another risk.

What to do when the obstruction is dangerous

Some blockages are inconvenient. Others could cause serious injury. A precarious tree, unstable wall, deep washout or landslip needs urgent attention, particularly if the route is busy or walkers have no safe way around it.

Mark the report as urgent and explain the immediate danger. If there is an immediate threat to life, call 999. For a dangerous obstruction affecting a road or pavement, check Durham’s highway obstruction guidance, which sets out the appropriate contact route.

Don’t place yourself beside a collapsing tree or enter floodwater to collect evidence. A photograph from a safe distance, combined with a precise location, is enough for an initial report.

Temporary diversions can sometimes help, but don’t create your own route across a field, garden or road. A short detour may lead walkers into traffic or onto land without permission. The council or landowner should provide clear information where a formal diversion is needed.

If Durham County Council doesn’t act

Keep your report reference, email, photographs and any replies. If you hear nothing after six weeks, contact the PROW team again and ask whether the obstruction has been added to the work list.

When following up, repeat the location and explain how the blockage continues to affect public access. Ask for a clear response about the council’s next step, rather than sending several separate reports about the same issue.

If the problem continues, contact your ward councillor and the parish council. Local representatives can ask the relevant council service for an update, particularly when the obstruction affects school routes, access between villages or a well-used walking path.

You can also use Durham County Council’s complaints procedure if the service has failed to respond or investigate. Keep the complaint focused on the handling of your report, such as unreasonable delay, missing communication or failure to explain a decision.

If the council’s complaints process does not resolve the matter, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman may consider a complaint about administrative failure. The Ombudsman normally expects you to complain to the council first, and complaints should usually be made within 12 months of becoming aware of the problem. This guide to escalating an unresolved council complaint explains the evidence to keep and the points to cover.

As a last resort, Section 130A of the Highways Act 1980 allows a member of the public to apply to a magistrates’ court for an order requiring an obstruction to be removed. This route involves formal notices and evidence that the path is public and significantly obstructed, so seek advice from a walking rights organisation before proceeding.

Local accountability starts with a clear report

A blocked path can shut a village off from its safest walking route, but the first step is practical: identify the route, document the obstruction and send the details to the correct Durham County Council team.

Follow up after six weeks, keep a written record and involve your councillor if the issue stalls. Local concerns about access and public services also sit within the wider debate about representation, which you can follow through Reform UK’s official website.

Conclusion

When a footpath disappears behind a hedge or blocked gate, good evidence gives your report the best chance of action. Use the PROW form or contact the dedicated team, provide an accurate location and describe the risk clearly.

If nothing changes, follow the council’s complaint process before seeking help from your councillor or the Ombudsman. A careful report protects walkers and helps keep County Durham’s public paths open.