Braintree Council has opened a consultation about how to manage Halstead’s River Walk.

The council spent £158,000 laying new paths on the picturesque route beside the River Colne between June 2011 and January 2013.

However, it is unclear who should do what in terms of maintaining the area.

In the consultation document, the council said: “The lack of any management plan presents problems.

“Management can appear disjointed lacking clear direction, creating conflicts, and causing confusion over both what is being done and why.”

Some of the tasks in need of allocation include annual meadow mowing, swale cutting, woodland thinning, scrub coppicing and hedge cutting.

The council also wants to commission surveys into the range of species on the site, including butterflies and moths, birds and plants.

In addition to deciding on a management structure the council wants to hear from those living near the site and from people who use the walk about what they want from the area.

Halstead River Walk runs from the public space at Nether Court, north of the River Colne, to the path and river bank running south of the River Colne upstream of the town centre.

Events will be taking place at Queen’s Hall on March 14, from 10am to 1pm, and on March 18, from 6pm to 8pm.

The consultation can be viewed at braintree.gov.uk/riverwalk.