Hi - I haven't walked all of this, and it is many years since I did any of it, but some sections of these national trails (I recall the Ridgeway especially), are classed as Byways which means they are legally open to motor vehicles. Some have regulation orders banning motor vehicles at some times of year. The national trail organisation isn't responsible for the paths / routes' condition, that is down to the highway authority, nearly always the COUNTY council (i.e. Kent CC etc.). Their website should have an area called (something like ) Countryside Access, that's who to report problems to; they like to know grid references (between), and ideally which civil parish it is in.

..... Or search the Kent County Council website on 'Public Rights of Way problems' or phone their customer services and ask them how to report an issue. They usually have an online form, but they're always over busy & understaffed (because only life threatening things get public funding these days and then not always !). Most Rights of Way / Countryside Access teams have been privatised so don't be surprised if the response comes from Carillion or Ringway Jacobs (This used to be my job in Suffolk). They often deal with everything from user consultation, to signage, diversions & surface.

** Copy the local Ramblers Association in also if poss.

Thanks Robin,have already made contact,but maybe waiting in vain for a reply. Last time it was 4 months waiting for a reply from the Ramblers☹

Hi Lad 69,firstly i would contact the use the Heart of England Website using their "Contact us link" as they are responsible for maintaining the Trail along with the co-operation of other interested parties🙂

Hi Lad 69, Co-operation of the land owner is vital in such circumstances,but we all know that the Law of Trespass will never be revoked,unlike Scotland we are free to wander anywhere,but maybe not the back streets of Glasgow on a Friday or Saturday night🙂

Landranger - 4 months is completely unacceptable - when I worked for Suffolk we had an 11-day turnaround time, even if we just said we have received your request and are looking into it. The problem is that rights of way aren't life-threatening (usually), & often cause political conflict, so they don't attract glamorous funding and are often squeezed when there are cuts.
Lad69: The problem with this is exactly the same, there' no money. Heart of England Way group may have a right to maintain the trail but they won't be responsible for it, the sections that are pubic roads or rights of way will be the resp. of the local county council and the permissive bits will be the landowners'. Also

Lad69: Also it's illegal to cycle on public FOOTPATHS, if there's no parallel bridleway or byway then it sounds like what you need there is a permissive bridleway agreeing between the landowner and the county council concerned, I'd contact the CC (Highway authority) as well as HOEW). Some counties have a so-called 'parish paths' scheme, and/or headland margins paths schemes which pay the landowner for not cultivating fieldside strips but allowing public (bridleway) access. I have also heard of roadside verges being converted into grass sidewalks, in effect, by county councils, if it is wide, and safe, and cheap, enough.
RR