About Pudsey Paths Partnership

It started with a pair of gloves, a set of loppers and a vision – to tackle overgrown footpaths, neglected ginnels and forgotten rights of way. But this was never just about tidying up. It was about reclaiming the ancient threads that weave Pudsey together – and ensuring they serve everyone in the community.

Realising the need to grow beyond a lone effort, Cllr Smith worked to formalise the project, inviting other volunteers to get involved. One of the most touching steps was contacting the families of the original Pudsey Footpaths Group, a highly active team from the 1980s and 1990s. These were the path-clearers and campaigners who walked so others could follow – literally mapping, walking and preserving public access at a time when many old ways were vanishing under development and disuse.

Today’s Pudsey Paths Partnership proudly carries that legacy forward with a modern mission. The group focuses on connectivity – not just keeping paths open, but ensuring they are accessible and purposeful. They work to improve links between schools, bus routes, care settings and housing, with a special emphasis on helping those with mobility issues.

Referrals often come from local housing teams, casework, and Retirement Life residents, highlighting just how vital these spaces are for older people and carers who rely on safe, walkable routes for independence.