Footpath Policy 2026
Footpaths play a big role in everyday life – whether you’re walking to the local shops, heading to the nearest bus stop, walking children to school or simply getting some fresh air and exercise.
We’re reviewing how we plan and prioritise new footpaths across Manningham, and we’re inviting our community to help shape this approach.
Background:
We currently prioritise new footpaths using a range of factors, including how many people walk in the area, the type of road, access to public transport and how close the route is to community facilities.
While this approach has served us well, we want to better understand how you use footpaths and what matters most when balancing safety, accessibility, location and long‑term planning.
That’s why we’re inviting the community to have their say on our draft Footpath Policy.
Subscribe for updates to find out about our survey.
What’s happening?
We’ve developed a draft Footpath Policy and are reviewing how we plan and prioritise new footpaths across Manningham. We’re now inviting community feedback to help shape this approach.
Why your feedback matters
Your feedback will help shape the principles that guide future footpath planning across Manningham.
By having your say on the draft Footpath Policy and sharing your insights and experiences, you’ll help us to:
- better understand how you use footpaths
- identify what’s most important when planning and prioritising new footpaths
- ensure our approach is consistent, equitable and inclusive for everyone in our community.
| What you can influence | What's not in scope for this policy |
|---|---|
The criteria used to prioritise locations for new footpaths. | Maintenance or repair of existing footpaths. |
Which planning factors should carry the most weight (e.g. safety, accessibility, connectivity). | Selecting surfaces or designs for specific locations. |
Community values and preferences that inform footpath material selection in different settings. | Shared paths (bike / shared use paths). |
Wording and the overall approach of the draft Footpath Policy. | Decisions that impact legal obligations, safety, or access or our green wedge. |
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Help shape Manningham’s future footpaths
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Footpaths play a big role in everyday life – whether you’re walking to the local shops, heading to the nearest bus stop, walking children to school or simply getting some fresh air and exercise.We’re reviewing how we plan and priortise new footpaths across Manningham, and we’re inviting our community to help shape this approach.
Why now?
Manningham has a legacy of areas without footpaths. While we’ve been building new paths for many years, demand continues to grow.
We currently priortise new footpaths using a range of factors, including how many people walk in the area, the type of road, access to public transport and how close the route is to community facilities.
While this approach has served us well, we want to better understand how you use footpaths and what matters most when balancing safety, accessibility, location and long‑term planning.
That’s why we’re inviting the community to have their say on our draft Footpath Policy.
How do we decide which footpaths make the cut?
Council is developing a priority assessment program to ensure decisions are fair, consistent, and based on clear criteria.
The new Footpath Policy will set:
- criteria for where new footpaths should be provided
- a prioritisation process to allocate funding fairly.
We know there are are gaps in our network, and this policy is about creating a fair and transparent way to prioritise new footpaths.
Your feedback will help us make decisions that reflect what matters most to you.
Have your say
We’re sharing a draft Footpath Policy so you can see what a policy looks like and have your say on what’s proposed.
We’re also asking some broader questions about how you use footpaths in your day‑to‑day life.
Both your feedback on the draft policy and your experiences using footpaths will be considered together to help shape the final policy.
Have your say by completing our short survey by Sunday 19 April 2026.
Interpreter service
