§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been available for the maintenance of long-distance trails in each of the last four years; what estimate she has made of the cost per kilometre of(a) restoring and (b) maintaining long-distance trails; and what budget is available for the repair and maintenance of the Ridgeway. [85213]
§ Alun MichaelThrough the Countryside Agency DEFRA funds 75 per cent. of the cost of maintaining National Trails. The other 25% is funded by the highway authorities. The Countryside Agency states that their funding has been as follows for established National Trails:
Path and Ridgeway figures are combined due to joint management structures. This year the Ridgeway/Thames Path have received £203,705 via the Countryside Agency and £53,460 from highway authorities. This figure includes all maintenance costs and salaries.