Public Rights of Way Warden

Published: 09 January 2025

Johnathan Rowlands was your Public Rights of Way (PROW) Warden until he retired in July 2024. I took over the role in October 2024, having previously line-managed Devon’s ten PROW Wardens since 2013. I have worked in the PROW Team for over 20 years and have 25 years’ experience in the profession so our paths might have crossed in the past (apologies for the pun) but confess I am still getting to know the geography of the Teignbridge area and who does what, where and how.

For my part, I am responsible for the inspection, maintenance and enforcement of the Public Rights of Way, off-road cycleways and unsurfaced road network in your Town or Parish, with more detail in the three points listed below.

The best way to report any issues on the network is to use our Online Reporting system, where you can report almost any type of highway issue. By using that method, your report is directed to the most appropriate person, other team members can see the report when I am away from work and you can check for updates online. You can also access the system from a mobile phone to report issues as you find them.

Online reporting system: Report a problem - Roads and transport

You can email me directly but I cannot guarantee to be at work or to respond quickly to your message so would urge you to use the above system. If you do need to email then it is best to use our mailbox address (prow@devon.gov.uk) and copy me in on the message.

Where there is an immediate danger to life the issue should be reported to the Police – more information on when it is appropriate to contact the Police can be found at this link: Report a crime | Devon & Cornwall Police

Notes:

1. Parish Paths Partnership (P3) Scheme towns and parishes – Jon Boyd (Projects and Partnerships Officer) oversees the P3 scheme. Jon can be contacted through our mailbox address which is prow@devon.gov.uk. Further information about the P3 Scheme can be found at this link: Parish Paths Partnership scheme - Public Rights of Way

2. Coastal towns and parishes - I am also responsible for maintenance of the South West Coast Path / King Charles III England Coast Path.

3. Dartmoor National Park towns and parishes - Dartmoor National Park Authority is responsible for the general management and maintenance of the unmetalled Public Rights of Way Network. However, I am still responsible for metalled PROWs, off-road cycleways and unsurfaced roads within the Park. The link below contains more information about public rights of way and access land within DNPA’s area, including a link to report problems directly to the National Park Authority: Open access and rights of way | Dartmoor

Whilst I might struggle to make it to evening meetings, I would be very happy to meet with Parish and Town Council representatives during the daytime to look at specific maintenance issues. Where an issue falls between my role and the P3 scheme, I am sure that Jon and I could meet with you together.

I look forward to working with you over the coming years.

Kind regards,

Steve

Steve Gardner
Public Rights of Way Warden (Teignbridge Area)