Under the Highways Act 1980 public footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways can be created, diverted and extinguished by Public Path Order.
Cambridgeshire County Council uses this Act to make these sorts of changes as a result of:
1. Applications by landowners (or other parties with the landowners consent)
2. Proactively as part of small-scale improvements to the network
3. As part of large scale re-organisations, often initiated by Parish Councils or other user groups.
The legislation sets out the specific reasons for any of these actions to be taken, and to be successful an application must meet certain legal tests. For more information about what is involved in making an application under the Highways Act 1980 please contact the Definitive Map and Records Team at the address on the right. The type of PPO most commonly requested under the Highways Act 1980 is a Diversion Order; to look at an example of a completed application for a Highways Act Diversion Order, please see the document below in 'Publications'.
Public Byways Open to all Traffic can also be created, diverted or extinguished using the Highways Act 1980 but this is done by the Magistrates Court through application to the County Council. If you are considering applying to change the route of a Byway, please contact the Definitive Map and Records Team at the address on the right.