Public rights of way - enforcement
Generally speaking, the Council is not able to take enforcement action over unauthorised blockings or diversions of public rights of way in Stevenage. The enforcing authority is Hertfordshire County Council.
The Council has no general powers of enforcement over unauthorised blockings or diversions of public rights of way. As the highway authority, the enforcing authority is Hertfordshire County Council.
The only cases in which the Council can take action are those in which the blocking of the public right of way results from a breach of planning permission, either:
- the permission has not been carried out in accordcance with the approved plans; or
- a condition of the planning permission has not been complied with.
In such cases the Council's enforcement action will be against the breach of planning control and not against the blocking of the public right of way. But the effect of the action may result in the removal of the blockage.
The Council can take action over blocked or disputed private rights of way. Anyone affected in this way should consult a solicitor.