The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) 2000 requires that a Rights of Way Improvement Plan is prepared to evaluate current access opportunities and identify possible improvements.
The Act introduces very significant amendments to existing legislation on access to the countryside and wildlife protection.
The most well-known is the ‘right to roam’, and the introduction for the first time of a statutory right of access on foot to mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land.
The rights of way provisions in the Act bring new powers, duties and opportunities both for Cambridgeshire County Council and for local communities.
|
|
The County Council will be required to publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan, taking into account the needs of the public including people with disabilities.
A target date of January 2026 has been set for the recording on the Definitive Map of rights of way shown on historic documents. Rights of Way not registered by this date will be extinguished.
Lost Highways Project
The Countryside Services Team are currently working on a Lost Highways Project, to restore as many of the potential routes as possible. Anyone who wishes to preserve historic routes, which they believe exist, but are not currently registered on the Definitive Map should consider applying for them to be registered. |
A Local Access Forum has been established to advise the County Council on the performance of its access functions.
Traffic Regulation Orders restricting access to public rights of way may be made for conservation purposes.
Magistrates' Courts will be able to require a person who has been convicted of wilfully obstructing a highway to remove the obstruction.
Individuals will be able to seek a Magistrates' Court order requiring the County Council to secure the removal of certain obstructions.
Cambridgeshire County Council will have to consider the needs of people with mobility problems when authorising the erection of new stiles and gates on footpaths or bridleways.
The County Council will have the power to close or divert rights of way in order to prevent crime in designated areas and to protect children and staff on school grounds.
Landowners will have the right to have an application for an order to divert or extinguish a footpath or bridleway considered by the County Council or relevant District Council and will have the right of appeal if the Council decides not to make an order.
More information about the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 can be found on the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) web site.