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. However, significant work and the 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 in the following survey will help us compile this report, apply for grant funding, and request more significant footpath improvement works where necessary.

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 ourselves 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 completed during your walk using a mobile device or tablet with internet access. We suggest you keep a small notepad or a hard copy of this survey (which we can provide) with you, just incase you lose your network connection.

We recommend you fill in the first three 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 various 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 location of the problem and call our office on 01297 32088. If you are unable to reach someone in our office, please contact Devon County Council directly on 0345 155 1015.

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

Before you begin your journey, please plan your route and ensure you are familiar with the footpaths you will be traversing. You can find the Footpath Reference Numbers on the Devon County Council Public Rights of Way Ma