Public Rights of Way
(or to the layman - Footpaths)

The first Definitive Map for Essex was prepared in 1953 based on Parish Surveys and was republished in 1963 and 1971 with a consolidation map being printed on 1 July 2002 to include all changes.

Many of the footpaths on the map were once used to pass from isolated houses and farms to get to church, work, the nearest water well, the parish water and wind mill, shops, pubs, the school, and to reach the many other necessities of daily life.  I have not mentioned recreation or excising the dog though that is probably their main use today.  I doubt they were ever used for that purpose a century ago.  One should also mention that some of the present roads did not exist and others were only farm tracks and even the main street was un-metalled until the 1920's.  It was almost certainly in a poorer state of maintenance than when the Romans stopped maintaining it 1800 years ago.  So the footpaths were essential for every day life and this explains their apparent random routes which were further complicated by the amalgamation of fields which started in the 1960's with the mechanization of farms and the move away from livestock to purely arable cropping.

Last year the Parish Council with the help of grants bought our village tractor and a flail to cut our footpaths.  The cost of this is supported by Essex County Council. Recently the Groundsmen have completed a cut of virtually all the footpaths within the Parish and some important connecting ones outside.  We hope to repeat this cut twice more this year.  This is probably the first time since the definitive map was produced that virtually all our footpaths have been open.

We must thank all the land and property owners for helping to make this possible.  As though the paths are legal rights of way without their cooperation this could not have been achieved.  The volunteers from the Friends of the Flitch Way led by Peter Lane must also be thanked for erecting over 40 footway marker posts and considerable hand clearance where the tractor could not reach.

The Parish Council will now consider seeking a grant to publish a map of the Parish paths.  This should be available on the parish website and as a paper copy to Parishioners.  If you find any problems or have any suggestions about the footpaths please contact the Parish Clerk.

There have been two recurring comments from both users and the owners of the footpaths and both concern dogs.  The amount of dog mess on the paths near the village has made some paths unpleasant to use.  Collecting dog mess in plastic bags and then throwing the bag into the nearest hedge or ditch solves one problem but does not improve the countryside.  The second complaint is of out of control dogs running through crops and disturbing wildlife.  Our footpath system is an asset we should respect as well as enjoy.

Over the last two years I have walked Rayne's and the neighbouring footpaths several times.  Though I have lived in the village all my life I have found paths that can be accessed from Rayne I never knew existed.  One of the most delightful was a Green Lane that I am told is over 1 mile long to the SW of Rayne, try and find it.  I have lost over a stone in weight over this period, not all due to the walking but it is another benefit to be gained.  When Syl reads that I shall get an extra two spuds on my plate for dinner.

Roger Jiggins for Rayne Parish Council