60 YEARS ON, PATH PROTECTORS CHALLENGE COUNCILS TO PUT THEMSELVES ON THE MAP

Councils across England and Wales are today being challenged to ‘put themselves on the map’, by the Ramblers and Open Spaces Society, on the 60th Anniversary of royal assent of the Act which the created official maps of public paths (the definitive map).

The visionary 1949 Countryside and Rights of Way Act, passed 60 years ago today (16 December), ordered councils to create a definitive map (1) and record on it all their public rights of way. Inclusion on the definitive map conclusively proves that the path is a public right of way.

Six decades later, however, many major councils – such as Inner London boroughs, Ipswich, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea - have not created a map, leaving many of their paths vulnerable to closure from developers and private landowners. Some councils, such as Cardiff, Norwich and Plymouth, have still not produced maps for all of the territory; and some have backlogs of applications for paths waiting to be mapped – in some cases the backlogs are for 20 or 30 years.

The Ramblers and the Open Spaces Society are calling on councils to provide funding and resources towards ‘putting themselves on the map.’

Kate Ashbrook, Ramblers Trustee and General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society, comments: “The unique definitive-map law of England and Wales legally enshrines the public’s right to use paths, and it should be the envy of the rest of the world. It’s scandalous that many councils have spent six decades ignoring it!

“The 60th anniversary of the definitive-map legislation serves as a wake-up call to councils who are dragging their feet. We are challenging these councils to protect their paths and put themselves ‘on the map’, before another anniversary rolls round.”

She continues: ‘Justice delayed is justice denied. Public rights of way are some of the most ancient features in our landscape and we have the right to enjoy them, but if they are not shown on the map how can we know this? And if they are secret they have little protection from obstruction or development. So the definitive map needs to be funded properly, to ensure it is complete and kept up to date.’

Councils currently ‘off the map’ or whose maps are incomplete

• All Inner London boroughs (2)

• Cardiff City

• Ipswich borough

• Merthyr Tydfil County Borough

• Norwich City

• Plymouth city

• Swansea City and County

For more information call:
Kate Ashbrook, Open Spaces Society, on 01491 573535 (work), 07771 655694 (mobile), 01491 638396 (home)
The Ramblers press office 0207 339 8531/32 or 07801 749 385 ( out of hours), press@ramblers.org.uk, http://www.ramblers.org.uk/