A VETERAN Herefordshire campaigner says he expects to soon begin ‘the last resort’ of legal action to compel the local authority to fix blocked public footpaths in the county.

David Howerski, south Herefordshire ‘correspondent’ for campaign group the Open Spaces Society, said that over the last six years he has served 29 legal notices or letters on Herefordshire Council over the county’ public rights of way network, which the council is legally obliged to maintain.

“I have cases which have been the subject of letters and legal notices spread over six years,” he said.

“In 2026 two legal notices have been served and a third will follow later this month. I anticipate there will be court action within 12 months to get right-of-way obstructions removed.”

This could lead to a magistrate ordering the council to take action, he explained, adding that the council could then in turn take legal action against an offending landholder “and recover the costs of the works”.

He said court action was the absolute last resort after several abortive attempts, normally over years, to get something fixed.

Meanwhile he has reported a further 75 public rights of way “defects” in the county so far this year, ranging from obstructing branches and collapsed stiles, to paths being deliberately blocked.

“All of these are evidenced in the public domain on the Fix My Street website,” he said.

Last month Mr Howerski said eight legal notices on the council over obstructions to the footpaths in the Golden Valley area had prompted the council to admit liability and reopen the paths.

Thanking Mr Howerski “for his work in helping us identify problems”, the council’s Cabinet member for local engagement and community resilience Cllr Dan Hurcomb said that improvements had been made as a direct result of the increased investment and close partnership working with parish councils, volunteers, landowners and local communities.