The County Council has a legal duty to comply with The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

In order to achieve this, the Council is working in the following ways:

We aim to work ‘with’ rather than ‘for’ people with disabilities. Information we produce seeks to enable people with limited mobility to make an informed choice over the ease of use of countryside access available to them.

Information is made available in appropriate media for all sectors of the community. Existing barriers such as stiles are being replaced with gates. Narrow bridges are being replaced by wider bridges with handrails.

New rights of way infrastructure, whether provided by landowners or as the result of development, presumes accessibility to those with disabilities.
All construction work on Rights of Way should meet BS5709:2001. The Council seeks to carry out its work in line with the nationally recognised BT Access for All, Best Practice Guidance notes.

In order to achieve our objectives in providing a countryside that is open to everyone, we work with a number of organisations and individuals:

Landowners/occupiers are responsible for the effect of activity on the land, including agricultural activity, and they share responsibility with the council for barriers and barrier crossings (gaps, gates and stiles).

The County Council is primarily responsible for bridges and surface vegetation (other than crops).

Access along and across watercourses is managed in consultation with the Environment Agency and local drainage boards.

Nature conservation interests, especially where rare and endangered species are present, are managed in consultation with English Nature.

The County’s historical environment is managed in consultation with English Heritage.

All parties involved in the management of land and public access to it are constrained by Health and Safety legislation.

For further information please refer to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Part III (Sections 19 - 21) which sets out the requirements for not discriminating against disabled people in the provision of services unless this is justifiable.