Last June I experienced problems on one of my regular short walks from home, barbed wire across the path. I reported the obstruction to LCC highway department. A month later the obstruction had been temporarily removed though no stile provided. Early this month I had an email from the council stating that the fence has been opened up and a gate erected. This morning there was substantial snow and I wasn’t inclined to take the car onto the roads so later in the day, as there was some brightening, I thought it a good idea to do a walk and check the above footpath situation at the same time.
Once off the road I was on virgin snow, nice and crunchy. Surprisingly the first stile which was in good condition had been replaced by a kissing gate. 
Walking on I could see that the obstructed fence now also had a brand new gate. Problem resolved.
On closer inspection the gate had not been fitted correctly and wouldn’t close so the orange bailing twine was being utilised. Shoddy and no doubt expensive workmanship.
Anyhow I could now proceed with the walk which I continued across fields to Gill Bridge and then quiet back lanes to pass through the grounds of Ferraris Country Hotel. The bad weather had resulted in fewer visitors than usual.
The sun was making a brief feeble appearance as I walked home past the cricket pitch.
*****
Good to see reporting achieves something, John B,
I must admit it usually does round here, but for how long with our financial restrictions?
Well, that’s hard to say, though highway authorities have a legal obligation to act. But I can understand councils dilemmas given they’ve had in the best cases a 60% cut in government funding. Yet, walking in the countryside is a money-spinner for hard-pressed rural communities, so keep paths open is a good investment, John B
I’m doing my best to keep paths open in the vicinity of Longridge, sometimes I feel I’m the only one concerned. People would rather go to the gym than have a healthy interesting local walk.
Yes they would, very difficult to get people to report problems, though the Ramblers App might have helped.
In Lancashire the LCC have a OS map based report system which is very easy to use. Simply click on the location, PRofW are clearly shown, and describe problem. You receive an e-mail reply within 24hrs.
That’s very good.
Can’t remember where now but somebody’s blog that I follow was complaining about the unsightliness of those metal gates. For me they are ok and a welcome replacement for rickety wooden stiles in bad repair with designs that would make a Yoga expert blanch at trying to surmount. I suppose many of the “quaint” and attractive vernacular stone stiles built into dry stone walls will remain anyway and long may they do so as long as they are well maintained.
I’m not certain about those gates but at least they give easy access.