We celebrate our Herefordshire volunteer’s law degree

Our local correspondent for south Herefordshire, Dave Howerski, has obtained a law degree from the Open University.   

Dave was inspired to study for this through his voluntary work for the society, campaigning for public paths, threatening legal action, and persuading Herefordshire Council to carry out its statutory duty to protect and maintain them. 

Dave, who was appointed by the society in 2021, lives in Eaton Bishop, about four miles west of Hereford.  He has had many careers, as both a parachute instructor and professional skydiver. In 2018 he became a member of Eaton Bishop Parish Council and took the role of footpath officer, where he discovered the poor state of the public paths, and determined to do something about it.   

He joined the Open Spaces Society, which champions paths and open spaces, and soon learned that the best way to fight for these vital assets is to know the law. 

Thus, he began studying for his law degree. 

Says Dave: ‘It has been invaluable to me to learn the law relating to public paths and open spaces, and I am grateful to the Open Spaces Society for introducing me to the world of rights-of-way activism.   

‘Now I am pressing Herefordshire Councillors to increase the public-rights-of-way budget which is pitifully small for the job to be done.  That budget is currently £533,000, whereas the Herefordshire tourism industry is worth £633 million per year.  It is obvious that putting money into rights of way is an excellent investment, and I shall continue to argue for this, and to threaten legal action where appropriate.   

‘The Open Spaces Society is not afraid to take malfunctioning councils, and obstructing landowners, to court,’ says Dave. 

Adds Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘We congratulate David Howerski LLB (Hons) on his degree and are delighted that he is such a force to be reckoned with in tackling paths and public access in Herefordshire.  All strength to his elbow.’