While Orange residents have always been vocal about the quality of the city's roads there's been plenty of people unhappy about the state of our footpaths particularly at a time when we're encouraging less pollution from vehicles, battling obesity and promoting more exercise for improved mental health.

There are many of us who want to see footpaths as mandatory for all new estates.

When families move into to suburbs there's no better way to meet the neighbours, or to become acquainted with the area, than to go for a walk but that's difficult when there are no footpaths.

The elderly or those pushing prams are often reluctant to walk on the road, but there's not much choice if you're a little unsteady on your feet and want to avoid uneven grass, or if you're pushing a pram and rely on a smooth surface.

While developers in the city are made to ensure there's adequate parking near their businesses, it makes sense that residential developers should also be asked to provide basic infrastructure such as footpaths.

Of course it's not just new footpaths that are the issue, it's old cracked footpaths which are also causing plenty of problems and inconvenience for pedestrians.

It's good to hear Orange City Council acknowledges the amount of interest in the state of the city's footpaths and it is allowing people to find out which roads and footpaths are on the council's hit list this financial year at a public forum on Tuesday night.

To be fair councillor Jason Hamling has been asking to have the forum for some time and as he says it's not just a matter of doing the work it's also a matter of letting people know the work is being done.

Cr Hamling said the forum was also an opportunity for residents to question the council's priorities and put forward alternatives.

It's vital the community be given a chance to have some input into not only the council's footpath plans but also which roads it plans to repair, upgrade or even build.

It's also vital that people who are vocal about the state of the city's roads and footpaths turn up and have their say.

There's no point being critical of something when you haven't bothered to contribute to the solution.