We maintain over 4,500 km of footways and shared cycleways across Lincolnshire. Our approach follows national asset management principles and focuses on keeping the network safe, accessible, and in good condition for pedestrians and cyclists.
We use a combination of preventative treatments, localised repairs, and full reconstruction. Choosing the right treatment at the right time helps us get the best value from public funds and reduces disruption
There are four footway hierarchies in Lincolnshire:
- Hierarchy 1 - footways in main shopping streets and pedestrianised shopping areas in town centres
- Hierarchy 2 - footways on main pedestrian routes just outside town centres, link footways to car parks, and local shopping streets with 10+ shops within 100m
- Hierarchy 3 - footways linking local access routes through urban areas and busy rural footways
- Hierarchy 4 - low-usage footways such as estate roads, cul-de-sacs, and rural paths between villages
This hierarchy system ensures that the busiest and highest-risk footways receive the most frequent inspections and the quickest response to defects.
Routine inspections
We carry out safety and service inspections on every footway & shared cycleway at least once a year. Inspection frequencies are directly linked to the hierarchy, ensuring that well-used footways are inspected more regularly.
Inspection frequencies by hierarchy
- Hierarchy MRN/1 - 12 times per year
- Hierarchy 2 - 4 times per year
- Hierarchy 3 includes Hierachy 4 slabbed/modular - 4 times per year
- Hierarchy 4 ,5 & 6 - Once per year
This combined approach ensures that inspection resources are focused where they have the greatest impact on safety, accessibility, and liability management.
How we decide which footways to treat
Our footway programme is planned using a structured asset management approach. This ensures we prioritise the right locations and use resources effectively.
Our strategy includes:
- Footway condition surveys - regular Footway Network Surveys (FNS) help us understand condition and identify emerging issues
- Prioritising safety and liability - flagged footways (raised or uneven slabs) and high amenity footways are prioritised because they present the highest risk to pedestrians
- Preventative maintenance first - we aim to maintain the network in a steady state by treating footways before they deteriorate, this approach is significantly more cost-effective than waiting for a footway to fail.
- Reactive maintenance - In addition to planned inspections, we also carry out reactive maintenance when defects are identified on the network.
- Repairs are prioritised and scheduled when defects meet our intervention criteria, which are designed to ensure public safety and manage risk effectively.
If you notice a problem on a footway, such as uneven slabs, trip hazards, or surface damage, please report it through FixMyStreet so our highway inspectors can assess it.