Respect right-of-way closures: Agency

27 February 2001



‘Respect right-of-way closures’: Agency

By FWi staff

THE Countryside Agency has urged walkers to respect temporary restrictions on countryside access imposed because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The Ministry of Agriculture has put in place statutory powers enabling local authorities to close footpaths and rights of way where it is considered necessary.

This can be enforced in local authority areas where disease has been confirmed, and in other local authority areas with the approval of MAFF.

Farmers who provide public access to their land under MAFF environmental schemes will not be expected to do this during the present situation.

Pam Warhurst, deputy chairman, said the agency fully endorsed these steps. “We all want to see a swift end to the current foot-and-mouth crisis,” she said.

“We should all respect the need for the temporary restraint of access in many places – and given the risk involved, urge people to stay away from farms and livestock while the spread of disease remains a threat.”

Ms Warhurst was speaking prior to a conference on the new Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) act in London on Tuesday.

The aim of the conference is to give people ranging from landowners to ramblers a chance to debate the steps being taken to implement the new act.

Mapping of the areas which will eventually be open to the public has already started in the south east and north west.

The first draft maps are expected to be published for consultation in the autumn.

To coincide with the conference the Countryside Agency has published a public information leaflet called New Rights, New Responsibilities.

The short guide sets out peoples existing rights and explains how the CROW act would change rights of way law.

• The publication is free from Countryside Publications on 0870 120 6466