To ensure that applications for diversions in the interests of owners, lessees or occupiers of land are processed fairly and in accordance with the above legislation, Cambridgeshire County Council has set out the following criteria which must be met for an Order to be made:

• a suitable alternative path must be provided
• the proposed new routes of paths must be substantially as convenient to the public as the original routes
• the Parish Council must not object to the proposals
• no objections received to the proposals during the statutory consultation period prior to making an order
• the proposed new route must not be less convenient for maintenance than the original
• the maintenance burden on the County Council of the new route must be no greater than that of the original
• a minimum width of 2m must be provided for the new route of a public footpath, and a minimum of 4m for the new route of a public bridleway
• all works needed to bring the new route of the path into a suitable condition for use by the public must be carried out at the expense of the landowner to the Countryside Services Team’s specifications

These criteria will be applied in conjunction with consideration of the specific circumstances of the case.
For example, objections received at the consultation stage may be resolved by negotiation or by altering the proposal, or overruled if significant public benefit is considered to be inherent in the proposal.