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(1) In the [1981 c. 69.] Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (in this Act referred to as “the 1981 Act”), section 54 (duty to reclassify roads used as public paths) shall cease to have effect.
(2) Every way which, immediately before the commencement of this section, is shown in any definitive map and statement as a road used as a public path shall be treated instead as shown as a restricted byway; and the expression “road used as a public path” shall not be used in any definitive map and statement to describe any way.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the public shall have restricted byway rights over any way which, immediately before the commencement of section 47, is shown in a definitive map and statement as a road used as a public path.
(2) Subsection (1) has effect subject to the operation of any enactment or instrument (whether coming into operation before or after the commencement of section 47), and to the effect of any event otherwise within section 53(3)(a) of the 1981 Act, whereby a highway—
(a) is authorised to be stopped up, diverted, widened or extended, or
(b) becomes a public path;
and subsection (1) applies accordingly to any way as so diverted, widened or extended.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any way, or part of a way, over which immediately before the commencement of section 47 there was no public right of way.
(4) In this Part—
“restricted byway rights” means—
a right of way on foot,
a right of way on horseback or leading a horse, and
a right of way for vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles; and
“restricted byway” means a highway over which the public have restricted byway rights, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the highway, but no other rights of way.
(5) A highway at the side of a river, canal or other inland navigation is not excluded from the definition of “restricted byway” in subsection (4) merely because the public have a right to use the highway for purposes of navigation, if the highway would fall within that definition if the public had no such right over it.
(6) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to any question whether the public have over any way, in addition to restricted byway rights, a right of way for mechanically propelled vehicles or any other right.
(7) In subsections (4) and (6) “mechanically propelled vehicle” does not include a vehicle falling within paragraph (c) of section 189(1) of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988.
(8) Every surveying authority shall take such steps as they consider expedient for bringing to the attention of the public the effect of section 47(2) and this section.
(9) The powers conferred by section 103(5) must be so exercised as to secure that nothing in section 47 or this section affects the operation of section 53 or 54 of, or Schedule 14 or 15 to, the 1981 Act in relation to—
(a) a relevant order made before the commencement of section 47, or
(b) an application made before that commencement for a relevant order.
(10) In subsection (9) “relevant order” means an order which relates to a way shown in a definitive map and statement as a road used as a public path and which—
(a) is made under section 53 of the 1981 Act and contains modifications relating to that way by virtue of subsection (3)(c)(ii) of that section, or
(b) is made under section 54 of the 1981 Act.
(11) Where—
(a) by virtue of an order under subsection (3) of section 103 (“the commencement order”) containing such provision as is mentioned in subsection (5) of that section, an order under Part III of the 1981 Act (“the Part III order”) takes effect, after the commencement of section 47, in relation to any way which, immediately before that commencement, was shown in a definitive map and statement as a road used as a public path,
(b) the commencement order does not prevent subsection (1) from having effect on that commencement in relation to that way, and
(c) if the Part III order had taken effect before that commencement, that way would not have fallen within subsection (1),
all rights over that way which exist only by virtue of subsection (1) shall be extinguished when the Part III order takes effect.
(1) Every way over which the public have restricted byway rights by virtue of subsection (1) of section 48 (whether or not they also have a right of way for mechanically propelled vehicles or any other right) shall, as from the commencement of that section, be a highway maintainable at the public expense.
(2) As from the commencement of that section, any liability, under a special enactment (within the meaning of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980) or by reason of tenure, enclosure or prescription, to maintain, otherwise than as a highway maintainable at the public expense, a restricted byway to which subsection (1) applies is extinguished.
(3) Every way which, in pursuance of—
(a) paragraph 9 of Part III of Schedule 3 to the [1968 c. 41.] Countryside Act 1968, or
(b) any order made under section 54(1) of the 1981 Act before the coming into force of section 47,
is shown in any definitive map and statement as a byway open to all traffic, a bridleway or a footpath, shall continue to be maintainable at the public expense.
(4) Nothing in subsections (1) and (3) or in section 48(1) obliges a highway authority to provide on any way a metalled carriage-way or a carriage-way which is by any other means provided with a surface suitable for cycles or other vehicles.
(5) Nothing in section 48, or in section 53 of the 1981 Act, limits the operation of orders under the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or the operation of any byelaws.
(6) Section 67 of the 1981 Act (application to the Crown) has effect as if this section and sections 47, 48 and 50 were contained in Part III of that Act.
(1) Restricted byway rights over any way by virtue of subsection (1) of section 48 are subject to any condition or limitation to which public rights of way over that way were subject immediately before the commencement of that section.
(2) Any owner or lessee of premises adjoining or adjacent to a relevant highway shall, so far as is necessary for the reasonable enjoyment and occupation of the premises, have a right of way for vehicular and all other kinds of traffic over the relevant highway.
(3) In subsection (2), in its application to the owner of any premises, “relevant highway” means so much of any highway maintainable at the public expense by virtue of section 49(1) as was, immediately before it became so maintainable, owned by the person who then owned the premises.
(4) In subsection (2), in its application to the lessee of any premises, “relevant highway” means so much of any highway maintainable at the public expense by virtue of section 49(1) as was, immediately before it became so maintainable, included in the lease on which the premises are held.
(5) In this section—
“lease” and “lessee” have the same meaning as in the 1980 Act;
“owner”, in relation to any premises, means a person, other than a mortgagee not in possession, who is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple of the premises, whether in possession or in reversion, and “owned” shall be construed accordingly; and
“premises” has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act.
Schedule 5 to this Act (which contains amendments relating to definitive maps and statements and restricted byways) has effect.
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations—
(a) provide for any relevant provision which relates—
(i) to highways or highways of a particular description,
(ii) to things done on or in connection with highways or highways of a particular description, or
(iii) to the creation, stopping up or diversion of highways or highways of a particular description,
not to apply, or to apply with or without modification, in relation to restricted byways or to ways shown in a definitive map and statement as restricted byways, and
(b) make in any relevant provision such amendments, repeals or revocations as appear to him appropriate in consequence of the coming into force of sections 47 to 50 or provision made by virtue of paragraph (a) or subsection (6)(a).
(2) In this section—
“relevant provision” means a provision contained—
in an Act passed before or in the same Session as this Act, or
in any subordinate legislation made before the passing of this Act;
“relevant Welsh provision” means a provision contained—
in a local or private Act passed before or in the same Session as this Act and relating only to areas in Wales, or
in any subordinate legislation which was made before the passing of this Act and which the National Assembly for Wales has power to amend or revoke as respects Wales.
(3) In exercising the power to make regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State—
(a) may not make provision which has effect in relation to Wales unless he has consulted the National Assembly for Wales, and
(b) may not without the consent of the National Assembly for Wales make any provision which (otherwise than merely by virtue of the amendment or repeal of a provision contained in an Act) amends or revokes subordinate legislation made by the Assembly.
(4) The National Assembly for Wales may submit to the Secretary of State proposals for the exercise by the Secretary of State of the power conferred by subsection (1).
(5) The powers conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised in relation to a relevant provision even though the provision is amended or inserted by this Act.
(6) As respects Wales, the National Assembly for Wales may by regulations—
(a) provide for any relevant Welsh provision which relates—
(i) to highways or highways of a particular description,
(ii) to things done on or in connection with highways or highways of a particular description, or
(iii) to the creation, stopping up or diversion of highways or highways of a particular description,
not to apply, or to apply with or without modification, in relation to restricted byways or to ways shown in a definitive map and statement as restricted byways, and
(b) make in any relevant Welsh provision such amendments, repeals or revocations as appear to the Assembly appropriate in consequence of the coming into force of sections 47 to 50 or provision made by virtue of subsection (1)(a) or paragraph (a).
(7) Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument, but no such regulations shall be made by the Secretary of State unless a draft of the instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
(8) Where the Secretary of State lays before Parliament the draft of an instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) in respect of which consultation with the National Assembly for Wales is required by subsection (3)(a), he shall also lay before each House of Parliament a document giving details of the consultation and setting out any representations received from the Assembly.
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a highway if—
(a) it was on 1st January 1949 a footpath or a bridleway, is on the cut-off date (in either case) a footpath or a bridleway, and between those dates has not been a highway of any other description,
(b) it is not on the cut-off date shown in a definitive map and statement as a highway of any description, and
(c) it is not on the cut-off date an excepted highway, as defined by section 54(1).
(2) All public rights of way over a highway to which this subsection applies shall be extinguished immediately after the cut-off date.
(3) Where a public right of way created before 1949—
(a) falls within subsection (4) on the cut-off date, and
(b) is not on that date an excepted right of way, as defined by section 54(5),
that right of way shall be extinguished immediately after the cut-off date.
(4) A public right of way falls within this subsection if it is—
(a) a public right of way on horseback, leading a horse or for vehicles over a bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a footpath;
(b) a right for the public to drive animals of any description along a bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a footpath;
(c) a public right of way for vehicles over a restricted byway or byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a bridleway; or
(d) a public right of way for mechanically propelled vehicles over a byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a restricted byway.
(5) Where by virtue of subsection (3) a highway ceases to be a bridleway, the right of way created over it by section 30 of the [1968 c. 41.] Countryside Act 1968 (riding of pedal cycles on bridleways) is also extinguished.
(6) In determining—
(a) for the purposes of subsection (1) whether any part of a highway was on 1st January 1949 a footpath or bridleway, or
(b) for the purposes of subsection (3) whether a public right of way over any part of a highway was created before 1st January 1949,
any diversion, widening or extension of the highway on or after that date (and not later than the cut-off date) is to be treated as having occurred before 1st January 1949.
(7) Where a way shown on the cut-off date in a definitive map and statement has at any time been diverted, widened or extended, it is to be treated for the purposes of subsections (1) to (5) as shown as so diverted, widened or extended, whether or not it is so shown.
(8) In this section—
“cut-off date” has the meaning given in section 56, and
“mechanically propelled vehicle” does not include a vehicle falling within paragraph (c) of section 189(1) of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988.
(1) A footpath or bridleway is an excepted highway for the purposes of section 53(1) if—
(a) it is a footpath or bridleway which satisfies either of the conditions in subsections (2) and (3),
(b) it is, or is part of, a footpath or bridleway any part of which is in an area which, immediately before 1st April 1965, formed part of the administrative county of London,
(c) it is a footpath or bridleway—
(i) at the side of (whether or not contiguous with) a carriageway constituting or comprised in another highway, or
(ii) between two carriageways comprised in the same highway (whether or not the footpath or bridleway is contiguous with either carriageway),
(d) it is a footpath or bridleway of such other description as may be specified in regulations made (as respects England) by the Secretary of State or (as respects Wales) by the National Assembly for Wales, or
(e) it is a footpath or bridleway so specified.
(2) A footpath or bridleway (“the relevant highway”) satisfies the first condition if—
(a) it became a footpath or bridleway on or after 1st January 1949 by the diversion, widening or extension of a footpath or, as the case may be, of a bridleway by virtue of an event within section 53(3)(a) of the 1981 Act,
(b) it became a footpath on or after 1st January 1949 by the stopping up of a bridleway,
(c) it was on 1st January 1949 a footpath and is on the cut-off date a bridleway,
(d) it is so much of a footpath or bridleway as on or after 1st January 1949 has been stopped up as respects part only of its width, or
(e) it is so much of a footpath or bridleway as passes over a bridge or through a tunnel,
and it communicates with a retained highway, either directly or by means of one or more footpaths or bridleways each of which forms part of the same highway as the relevant highway and each of which either falls within any of paragraphs (a) to (e) or satisfies the condition in subsection (3).
(3) A footpath or bridleway satisfies the second condition if—
(a) it extends from a footpath or bridleway (“the relevant highway”) which—
(i) falls within any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (2), or
(ii) is an excepted highway by virtue of subsection (1)(c),
to, but not beyond, a retained highway, and
(b) it forms part of the same highway as the relevant highway.
(4) A retained highway for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) is any highway over which, otherwise than by virtue of subsection (1)(a), section 53(2) does not extinguish rights of way.
(5) A public right of way is an excepted right of way for the purposes of section 53(3) if—
(a) it subsists over land over which there subsists on the cut-off date any public right of way created on or after 1st January 1949 otherwise than by virtue of section 30 of the [1980 c. 66.] Countryside Act 1968 (riding of pedal cycles on bridleways),
(b) it subsists over the whole or part of a way any part of which is in an area which, immediately before 1st April 1965, formed part of the administrative county of London,
(c) it is a public right of way of such other description as may be specified in regulations made (as respects England) by the Secretary of State or (as respects Wales) by the National Assembly for Wales, or
(d) it subsists over land so specified.
(6) Regulations under subsection (1)(d) or (e) or (5)(c) or (d) shall be made by statutory instrument, and a statutory instrument containing such regulations made by the Secretary of State shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the public shall, as from the day after the cut-off date, have a right of way on horseback or leading a horse over any way which—
(a) was immediately before 1st January 1949 either a footpath or a bridleway, and
(b) is, throughout the period beginning with the commencement of this section and ending with the cut-off date,
a footpath which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a bridleway.
(2) Subsection (1) has effect subject to the operation of any enactment or instrument (whether coming into operation before or after the cut-off date), and to the effect of any event otherwise within section 53(3)(a) of the 1981 Act, whereby a highway is authorised to be stopped up, diverted, widened or extended; and subsection (1) applies accordingly to any way as so diverted, widened or extended.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any way which is, or is part of, a footpath any part of which is in an area which, immediately before 1st April 1965, formed part of the administrative county of London.
(4) Any right of way over a way by virtue of subsection (1) is subject to any condition or limitation to which the public right of way on foot over that way was subject on the cut-off date.
(5) Where—
(a) by virtue of regulations under section 56(2) an order under Part III of the 1981 Act takes effect after the cut-off date in relation to any footpath which, at the cut-off date was shown in a definitive map and statement as a bridleway,
(b) the regulations do not prevent subsection (1) from having effect after the cut-off date in relation to that footpath, and
(c) if the order had taken effect before that date, that footpath would not have fallen within subsection (1),
all rights over that way which exist only by virtue of subsection (1) shall be extinguished when the order takes effect.
(6) In this section “cut-off date” has the meaning given in section 56.
(1) The cut-off date for the purposes of sections 53 and 55 is, subject to regulations under subsection (2), 1st January 2026.
(2) The Secretary of State (as respects England) or the National Assembly for Wales (as respects Wales) may make regulations—
(a) substituting as the cut-off date for the purposes of those sections a date later than the date specified in subsection (1) or for the time being substituted under this paragraph;
(b) containing such transitional provisions or savings as appear to the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales (as the case may be) to be necessary or expedient in connection with the operation of those sections, including in particular their operation in relation to any way as respects which—
(i) on the cut-off date an application for an order under section 53(2) of the 1981 Act is pending,
(ii) on that date an order under Part III of that Act has been made but not confirmed, or
(iii) after that date such an order or any provision of such an order is to any extent quashed.
(3) Regulations under subsection (2)(a)—
(a) may specify different dates for different areas; but
(b) may not specify a date later than 1st January 2031, except as respects an area within subsection (4).
(4) An area is within this subsection if it is in—
(a) the Isles of Scilly, or
(b) an area which, at any time before the repeal by section 73 of the 1981 Act of sections 27 to 34 of the National Parks and Access to the [1949 c. 97.] Countryside Act 1949—
(i) was excluded from the operation of those sections by virtue of any provision of the 1949 Act, or
(ii) would have been so excluded but for a resolution having effect under section 35(2) of that Act.
(5) Where by virtue of regulations under subsection (2) there are different cut-off dates for areas into which different parts of any highway extend, the cut-off date in relation to that highway is the later or latest of those dates.
(6) Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument, and a statutory instrument containing such regulations made by the Secretary of State shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
The [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980 (in this Act referred to as “the 1980 Act”) has effect subject to the amendments in Part I of Schedule 6 (which relate to the creation, stopping up and diversion of highways); and Part II of that Schedule (which contains consequential amendments of other Acts) has effect.
(1) An application for the making of a public path creation order under section 26(2) of the 1980 Act for the purpose of enabling the public to obtain access to any access land (within the meaning of Part I) or of facilitating such access, may be made—
(a) by the Countryside Agency to the Secretary of State, or
(b) by the Countryside Council for Wales to the National Assembly for Wales.
(2) Before making a request under subsection (1), the body making the request shall have regard to any rights of way improvement plan prepared by any local highway authority whose area includes land over which the proposed footpath or bridleway would be created.
(1) This section applies to any power to stop up or divert a highway of any description or to make or confirm an order authorising the stopping up or diversion of a highway of any description; and in the following provisions of this section—
(a) “the relevant authority” means the person exercising the power, and
(b) “the existing highway” means the highway to be stopped up or diverted.
(2) Where the relevant authority is required (expressly or by implication) to consider—
(a) whether the existing highway is unnecessary, or is needed for public use,
(b) whether an alternative highway should be provided, or
(c) whether any public right of way should be reserved,
the relevant authority, in considering that question, is not to regard the fact that any land is access land in respect of which the right conferred by section 2(1) is exercisable as reducing the need for the existing highway, for the provision of an alternative highway or for the reservation of a public right of way.
(3) Where—
(a) the existing highway is situated on, or in the vicinity of, any access land, and
(b) the relevant authority is required (expressly or by implication) to consider the extent (if any) to which the existing highway would, apart from the exercise of the power, be likely to be used by the public,
the relevant authority, in considering that question, is to have regard, in particular, to the extent to which the highway would be likely to be used by the public at any time when the right conferred by section 2(1) is not exercisable in relation to the access land.
(4) In this section “access land” has the same meaning as in Part I.
(1) Every local highway authority other than an inner London authority shall, within five years after the commencement of this section, prepare and publish a plan, to be known as a rights of way improvement plan, containing—
(a) the authority’s assessment of the matters specified in subsection (2),
(b) a statement of the action they propose to take for the management of local rights of way, and for securing an improved network of local rights of way, with particular regard to the matters dealt with in the assessment, and
(c) such other material as the Secretary of State (as respects England) or the National Assembly for Wales (as respects Wales) may direct.
(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) are—
(a) the extent to which local rights of way meet the present and likely future needs of the public,
(b) the opportunities provided by local rights of way (and in particular by those within paragraph (a) of the definition in subsection (5)) for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the authority’s area,
(c) the accessibility of local rights of way to blind or partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems, and
(d) such other matters relating to local rights of way as the Secretary of State (as respects England) or the National Assembly for Wales (as respects Wales) may direct.
(3) An authority by whom a rights of way improvement plan is published shall, not more than ten years after first publishing it and subsequently at intervals of not more than ten years—
(a) make a new assessment of the matters specified in subsection (2), and
(b) review the plan and decide whether to amend it.
(4) On such a review the authority shall—
(a) if they decide to amend the plan, publish it as amended, and
(b) if they decide to make no amendments to it, publish a report of their decision and of their reasons for it.
(5) In this section—
“cycle track”—
means a way over which the public have the following, but no other, rights of way, that is to say, a right of way on pedal cycles (other than pedal cycles which are motor vehicles within the meaning of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988) with or without a right of way on foot; but
does not include a way in or by the side of a highway consisting of or comprising a made-up carriageway (within the meaning of the 1980 Act);
“inner London authority” means Transport for London, the council of an inner London borough or the Common Council of the City of London;
“local highway authority” has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act;
“local rights of way” in relation to a local highway authority, means—
the footpaths, cycle tracks, bridleways and restricted byways within the authority’s area, and
the ways within the authority’s area which are shown in a definitive map and statement as restricted byways or byways open to all traffic.
(6) In subsection (5) the definition of “local rights of way” has effect until the commencement of section 47 with the substitution for the references to restricted byways and to ways shown in a definitive map and statement as restricted byways of a reference to ways shown in a definitive map and statement as roads used as public paths.
(1) Before preparing or reviewing a rights of way improvement plan, and in particular in making any assessment under section 60(1)(a) or (3)(a), a local highway authority shall consult—
(a) each local highway authority whose area adjoins their area;
(b) each district council, and each parish or community council, whose area is within their area;
(c) the National Park authority for a National Park any part of which is within their area;
(d) where any part of the Broads is within their area, the Broads Authority;
(e) any local access forum established for their area or any part of it;
(f) the Countryside Agency or the Countryside Council for Wales (as appropriate);
(g) such persons as the Secretary of State (as respects England) or the National Assembly for Wales (as respects Wales) may by regulations prescribe in relation to the local highway authority’s area; and
(h) such other persons as the local highway authority may consider appropriate.
(2) In preparing or amending a rights of way improvement plan, a local highway authority shall—
(a) publish a draft of the plan or of the plan as amended,
(b) publish, in two or more local newspapers circulating in their area, notice of how a copy of the draft can be inspected or obtained and how representations on it can be made to them, and
(c) consider any representations made in accordance with the notice.
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000