Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management

The Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management (IPROW) is an independent society representing individuals involved in the management of public rights of way and other access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its members are principally local government officers, some are employees in a private company performing the contracted-out rights of way function, and a minority are self-employed specialists, lawyers or performing associated work in private, public or third sectors.

Rights of way in England and Wales are the minor highways — public footpaths, bridleways and byways — which are recorded by surveying authorities (usually county councils or unitary authorities) on Definitive Maps and Statements of public rights of way, as prescribed in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

Depending on the size of the highway authority, rights of way officers may be involved in any or all of the duties to maintain the legal record, assert the public right and maintain the ways so they are usable. Large authorities may have several officers, each specialising in one duty or another, smaller authorities may have officers each dealing with all duties in an area, which in a small authority may be the whole of its area.

History

The Institute was founded in 1986 and, representing a very small profession (estimated less than 5,000 practitioners) membership is correspondingly small, with membership not mandatory to practise.

Publications

The Institute publishes a quarterly journal, Waymark, for members and subscribers, and a monthly e-newsletter with occasional bulletin updates covering news of immediate interest such as case law.

Standards

The Institute has standards of performance and members are expected to conform to nationally approved standards of good practice. Members are also bound personally by a Code of Practice.

Membership Grades

Membership is available at Associate, Full, Principal and Fellow levels dependent on length and breadth of experience and demonstration of competence via references and submission of a paper or portfolio, depending on level.