Maintenance

Keeping the path open

One of our most protracted campaigns has been to try an address the difficulties faced by our County Council to fulfil their obligations to maintain the Ouse Valley footpath through Cambridgeshire. The vegetation close to the river grows vigorously, and brambles and nettles soon encroach to, and across, the path every year. This can make passage difficult and in some locations block the path completely. Constraints on public funds however has meant that Council has been unable to carry out the regular maintenance needed to keep the path clear and safe.

The crisis

Matters came to a head in 2023 when the Ouse Valley Way Marathon came close to cancellation at the last minute. Concerted efforts by the Trust, the organisers, a host of volunteers and the cooperation of the Council save the day. Further meetings of all concerned continue and it looks as if, with appropriate funding, GOVT and others can relieve the Council of the maintenance responsibility.

Erosion

Another serious issue results from the scouring of the bank under of the A14 flyover bridge at Buckden. The path is dangerously eroded here and so GOVT has applied pressure to National Highways, the County Council and the Environment Agency to find solutions. The EA proposed a natural method already used on The River Cam without the use of expensive heavy machinery, but to no avail. We remain committed to facilitating a way forward.

Re-routing

Walkers on the path heading into St Ives from Holywell are forced to brave Meadow Lane, a narrow road now dominated by heavy goods vehicles servicing the industrial businesses along its length. With overgrown verges and much fly-tipping the road is not safe to walk, and so we have planned an alternative route into the town. Once again we are currently frustrated by delays in progressing our proposal, this time by issues of land ownership and rights of way. Again we remain committed to the task and a new campaign has begun under the auspices of the newly formed Ouse Valley Way Management Group.

The Ouse Valley Way Management Group

This group, an initiative of GOVT, is formed of stakeholders including Parish Councils, walking groups, angling societies, BRJRunNTri who organise the OVW Marathon, ourselves and the County Council, has agreed a mission statement to ensure that the OVW through Cambridgeshire is:

Accessible through the year (apart from when flooded) for all reasonably able users
well maintained
nationally recognised (as a National Trail)
a major visitor attraction for visitors
well way-marked
a major asset of the proposed Great Ouse Heritage Landscape self- designation currently under consideration by the District Council and the Combined Authority
an asset for the whole community to enjoy and value

The group met for the first time in October 2025 and a wide range of commitments established, including a winter cutback of brambles and branches by CCC Highways, waymarking identification, access for machinery, location of broken fences and publicity for next year’s WOW! Day. It will meet again in six months. At last we feel are making progress with providing the care deserved by our beautiful long-distance footpath.