Rights of way restrictions

It is sometimes necessary to temporarily close or permanently restrict the use of a right of way.  This may be due to a safety issue, to protect the surface from serious damage, for an event such as a village fete, or while maintenance work is being done.

Permanent and seasonal restrictions

Cambridgeshire has nearly 10% of the byway mileage in England. Some are subject to Traffic Regulation Orders.pdf (TROs), which restrict some recreational motor use to protect vulnerable surfaces, either throughout the year or by season and may be extended in especially wet conditions.

A list of current TROs can be viewed below:

Temporary restrictions

It can become necessary to temporarily close public rights of way.  In these cases, suitable diversion signs should be provided to direct you around the closure.

Voluntary restraints

When the surface of a right of way has been damaged, often by motor vehicle use, a ‘voluntary restraint’ may be used. This consists of placing notices on site, asking motor vehicles not to use the route while the route recovers or improvement works are carried out.

Adhering to voluntary restraints allow a right of way to return to a state where it becomes suitable for motor use again, without the need for implementing a temporary or permanent TRO, which may require physical barriers to prevent use.

Route that currently benefit from voluntary restraints: Glatton Byway 6 following improvement works.