Brittan warns over right to roam

27 June 2000



Brittan warns over right to roam

THE governments right-to-roam legislation could be in breach of the European Convention of Human Right, the House of Lords heard on Monday (26 June).

Former European Commission vice-president, Lord Brittan of Spennithorne said he could not see how the measure was consistent without a compensation provision.

Speaking in the second reading debate of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, he warned the legislation could be a victim of the new Human Rights Act.

The former home secretary also called for night restrictions on access to mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land, given rural crime levels.

The debate also heard cross-party calls for tighter restrictions on when dogs should be on leads. Current proposals are for March to June.