MP briefing from the Countryside Agency

30 November 2004

On 14th December a new right of access to open country and registered common land, known as 'access land', will begin in Central Southern England.

Central Southern England is the third of eight areas in England to have the new rights introduced where there will be about 68,000 hectares (263 square miles) of access land. The mapping region covers South Gloucestershire, Bristol, parts of Somerset (including West Somerset and Taunton Deane), Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The new rights are introduced on a rolling programme in England. This started on 19 September 2004 in the South East and the Lower North West and will be completed across England by the end of 2005. An estimated 1,000,000 hectacres (4,000 square miles) or 8% of the total land area of England, will be mapped as access land.

What does the new right include?

-The new right includes most open-air activites on foot. This includes alongside walking, activities such as sightseeing, bird-watching, climbing and running;

-The new right allows 'open access'. This means that people will be able to wander freely across 'access land' and will not have to stick to paths.

What does the new right NOT include?

-The new right does not include riding a horse or bicycle, or driving a vehicle, or certain other activities such as camping. But where these activities already take place (e.g. an existing bridleway), they are unaffected.

-The new right is subject to special rules about the control of dogs.

-Access may sometimes be restricted for reasons such as land or livestock management or nature conservation.

-There are a few places where the public cannot go, even if they are within mapped areas of access land - these 'excepted' areas include golf courese, buildings, gardens, quarries and arable land.

How is this land being mapped in England?

-Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) the Countryside Agency must map all areas of open country (land which appears to them to consist wholly or predominantly of mountain, moor, heath and down) and registered common land.

Where can the public find more information?

-New editions of Ordnance Survey Explorers Maps will show all known access land; they will be published in stages as the new rights extend to each region. All types of access land will be indicated on these maps with a light yellow tint covering the affected areas, surrounded by a light orange border.

-www.countrysideaccess.gov.ukwill provide both general information on where to go in the countryside and will have the most up-to-date picture of where the public can go on access land, taking account of local restrictions.

-Local information will also be available at 'access information points' (which will be marked on the website and OS Explorer Maps), and at some entry points to access land.

-A Leaflet 'Countryside Access and the new rights' published by the Countryside Agency explains where people can go and what they can do, as well as their visitor centres, libraries and members of the Outdoors Industry Assocation. The new Countryside Code, circulated in July, also gives general advice about responsible access across all types of countryside - including access land.

-A new access symbol will also be used on the ground where needed, to help indicate where access land starts and ends.