General information

Your reports play a crucial role in keeping our footpaths open and traversable. Whether you're telling us that a footpath is in good order or reporting a problem, your input is invaluable and greatly appreciated.

Devon County Council (DCC) is the responsible authority for Public Rights of Way, and Axminster Town Council assists with some footpath maintenance as part of the P3 scheme, but major works and administration of footpath routes remain the responsibility of DCC.

In early Spring each year, we submit an annual footpath condition report to DCC. The information contained within the following survey will help us form this report, apply for grant funding, and request more significant footpath improvement works where needed.

When action is needed more quickly, the Town Council staff and you, the residents, work together. Upon receipt of your survey, we will either undertake the work or pass it to the County Council's Public Rights of Way department - whichever is more appropriate. This collaborative effort is key to maintaining our footpaths.

How To Complete This Survey
This survey is designed to be filled in during the course of your walk using a mobile device or tablet with access to the internet. We recommend you fill in the first 3 sections of the survey (Your Information, General Information, and Footpath Identification) just before you begin your walk. The main Assessment section should be filled in as you walk. As part of the Assessment, you will be asked all sorts of questions about the location and condition of surfaces, signage, gates and greenery. Before you start walking the footpath, please familiarise yourself with the questions in this section so you know what to look out for on your journey.

If you are unable to complete this survey using an internet-enabled mobile device, a printable PDF version can be provided by the Axminster Town Council office.

Safety Issues - What should you do?
If you encounter a more pressing safety concern during your walk, please note the What3Words reference to pinpoint the problem's location and call our office on 01297 32088. If you cannot reach someone in our office, please contact Devon County Council directly on 0345 155 1015.

However, if you discover something that is dangerous to public safety and requires urgent action, such as a fallen power line, please do not attempt to resolve the problem yourself; instead, call the emergency services immediately.

Before you start your journey, please plan your route and be sure you know what footpaths you will be traversing. You can find the Footpath Reference Numbers on the Devon County Council Public Rights of Way Map.

Enjoy your walk, and thank you for helping us to keep our footpaths well maintained.

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