Public rights of way are one of the most accessible facilities for enabling sport and recreation activities. They are also unique to our heritage and identity, providing a link to our past and allowing access to our countryside today. However, thousands of routes are poorly maintained and even under threat, due to a self-imposed cut-off date of 2026 for mapping older public rights of way. Without action many of these paths will be lost, with equestrian activities likely to lose the most.

Background

• The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 introduced a cut-off date of 2026 for the recording of pre-1949 public rights of way on the understanding that they would be processed in time.
• Highway authorities do not have the resources to record these paths as many have significant backlogs of applications which will take decades to work through.
• A stakeholder working group found consensus and published ‘Stepping Forward’ in 2010, which made recommendations to speed up the mapping process.

Current status

• DEFRA has launched a consultation on reforming legislation which includes the recommendations made in ‘Stepping Forward’.
• The proposals relate to cutting red tape to help speed up the process of making public path orders.
• The intention is to keep the 2026 cut off date.

Action points

• The Alliance will respond to the consultation in support of proposals that speed up the process of making public path orders so long as the rights public are not prejudiced.
• The consultation and guidance on how to respond is available here.
   

For further information please contact Martin Key, mkey@sportandrecreation.org.uk.

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