Plans for regulating countryside access considered

Plans to look after important conservation sites and areas of high visitor pressure, when the new public right to walk on access land is introduced across England, were unveiled today by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael.

Sites which are considered especially sensitive will be given priority for on-the-ground management measures including signposts, information boards and stiles, funded by a Defra grant scheme for local authorities.

The scheme, which will be administered by the Countryside Agency, is the latest stage in the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, under which the public will have a new right of access to England's mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land by the end of 2005.

Mr Michael said: "The sites which will open once the new right of access comes into effect are very diverse, and this scheme is one in a range of options designed to manage that access effectively.

"We would encourage the lightest touch necessary in each case, and the grant scheme will help minimise recourse to more extreme measures, like legal exclusion or restriction.

"Most importantly, local access management priorities will be identified, and solutions determined, at a local level."

The Minister has written to local authorities, encouraging them to begin planning for the right of access to commence. The allocation of resources will take into account the likely use of access sites, vulnerable conservation areas, land types and existing rights.

The public right of access will commence in September 2004 in the first two regions - the Lower North West and the South East. The remaining regions will follow a rolling timetable, with every region in England scheduled to open before the end of 2005.

(gmcg)