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All applications must comply with the conditions set out below.

• An offer letter must be issued and acceptance form submitted by the applicant before any work commences on site.
• The work must be completed as per the offer letter.  The Hampshire County Council case officer assigned to the project will approve the work, where appropriate this will include a site visit to ensure the work has been completed to a satisfactory standard.
• All projects must be completed, and claims for grant payment submitted, by the end of January. Grants cannot be carried over beyond this as funding is tied to the financial year.
• The agreed sum will only be paid following the submission of a properly completed claim form and associated documents (e.g. receipts, photos of the finished work). Claims for grant payment should be for the net amount, the Scheme does not pay for VAT.
• All works and activities covered by the grant offer must conform to any relevant statutory obligations, byelaws, planning consents and building regulations.
• Work that has already commenced or been completed will not be funded.
• The Countryside Access Scheme will not fund
  • Picnic benches, dog bins or research. It will not fund fencing projects or work on recreation grounds, unless the land is also recorded as a right of way or open access land.
  • We do not fund the repair or replacement of stiles, although we fully support applications to replace stiles with gates.
• Applicants must inform Hampshire County Council of any grant aid being provided for the same project from other public bodies i.e. Forestry Commission, Natural England.
• For some works or improvements to areas not recorded as rights of way or open access land, the grants are offered subject to the condition that the site will  or permit public access (Countryside Access), for at least five years subsequently (this will be detailed in the offer letter). If this is not adhered to, the money may need to be repaid to the County Council.
• The County Council may wish to refer to grants offered, either generally or for specific projects, in its publicity material and/or by erecting temporary signs on site. It is assumed that applicants agree with this practice.

Hampshire County Council may offer guidance, however the applicant will be ultimately responsible for specifications, risk assessments, insurance and health and safety.

If applying as the Parish Council, you will be carrying out improvements under your own legal powers to maintain rights of way (Highways Act 1980) – these powers apply to footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways but do not apply to Byways Open to All Traffic.

For benches, powers to provide these on or at the side of public paths are given under the Parish Councils Act 1957.

Parish Councils must obtain permission from the landowner for any work to be completed.  

If applying as the landowner, you are carrying out any practical works on your own land. It is advised that that landowner seeks support from the Parish Council for the work to be completed.

If the work is to be completed by volunteers, the applicant and/or volunteer group must have adequate public liability insurance to carry out the work.

If the work is to be completed by a contractor, the applicant must ensure the contractor has adequate public liability cover. The applicant must also take responsibility for contracting and supervising the work and ensuring that it is carried out to a suitable standard.