1-20 of 4,529 results for subject:"Rights of way"
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.685 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.012 seconds
- Search query
- subject:"Rights of way"
- We searched for
- subject_t:"Rights of way" OR subject_t:"Public rights of way" OR subject_t:"Right to roam" OR subject_ses:92857
Type
House
Session
More
Year
More
Department
More
Member
More
Primary member
More
Answering member
More
Legislative stage
Legislation
More
Subject
More
Publisher
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation on public rights of way and public access routes in the vicinity of the site.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation on public rights of way and public access routes in the vicinity of the site.
No final decision has been made on whether to use Site A MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing. This work considers a range of factors relevant to the suitability and operation of a site. Any proposal would be subject to the relevant planning and approval processes, through which potential impacts on the local area, including public rights of way and public access routes would be considered before any final decision is taken.
To ask His Majesty's Government what legislation they will use to deliver their commitment, as set out in the Environmental Impact Plan 2025, to repeal the deadline for recording historic rights of way.
To ask His Majesty's Government what legislation they will use to deliver their commitment, as set out in the Environmental Impact Plan 2025, to repeal the deadline for recording historic rights of way.
This Government remains committed to repealing the cut-off date for recording historic rights of way. This will save hundreds of miles of unregistered historic rights of way from the threat of extinguishment in 2031, ensuring that they can continue to be enjoyed by the public for years to come.
Defra is reviewing the rights of way reform programme alongside wider policies to improve access to nature for all users and, as part of that work, are considering the most appropriate legislative vehicle to deliver this commitment. Further details will be set out in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has received representations from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on ensuring that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the emerging...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has received representations from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on ensuring that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the emerging...
Officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have worked closely with those in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport during the development of the Local Outcomes Framework to ensure alignment with priorities across government. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL12556 on 11 December 2025 for more information on this matter.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to amend the Highways Act 1980 to give local highway authorities the powers they need to install more accessible structures on public rights of way.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to amend the Highways Act 1980 to give local highway authorities the powers they need to install more accessible structures on public rights of way.
This Government recognises the importance of access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing. Public rights of way are a treasured national asset and play a vital role in enabling access to the countryside.
This Government recognises that physical barriers on public rights of way can limit access, particularly for disabled people, older people and those with reduced mobility. While there are currently no plans to amend the Highways Act 1980, officials will continue to keep the issue under consideration as part of wider work on improving access to the public rights of way network.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the review of maps in England required under section 9A of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is completed by the deadline of 1 January 2031.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the review of maps in England required under section 9A of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is completed by the deadline of 1 January 2031.
The Department is working with Natural England to prepare for the review of the conclusive maps of open access land required under section 9A of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Planning for this work is ongoing, including consideration of the arrangements needed to meet the statutory deadline of 1 January 2031. Further details will be announced in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with regard to Commitment 86 of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, whether the her Department has identified a suitable legislative vehicle to repeal the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic public rights of way.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with regard to Commitment 86 of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, whether the her Department has identified a suitable legislative vehicle to repeal the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic public rights of way.
Repeal of the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic public rights of way will require primary legislation. A specific legislative vehicle has not yet been identified. The Government is keeping this under consideration and will bring forward the necessary provisions when parliamentary time allows.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered amending section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 to permit equestrians to use rights of way currently designated as footpaths; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such an amendment...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered amending section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 to permit equestrians to use rights of way currently designated as footpaths; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such an amendment...
The Government has no plans to amend section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 to permit equestrian use of footpaths and as such, has not assessed the potential im-pact of this change.
Defra has not made a specific assessment of the administrative workload associated with upgrading footpaths to bridleways through the definitive map modification order process. Applications are considered by local authorities in the first instance. Where orders are made and objections are received, they may be referred to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for determination, which can extend the time taken to reach a de-cision. Timescales vary depending on factors such as complexity and the presence of objections, and local authorities and PINS may also have a backlog of applications.
This Commons briefing paper gives an overview of some commonly raised issues about land law.
This Commons briefing paper gives an overview of some commonly raised issues about land law.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on ensuring that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the Local...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on ensuring that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the Local...
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues.
The Government has no plans at this stage to integrate local highway authorities’ statutory duties for public rights of way into the Local Government Outcomes Framework. The Local Government Outcomes Framework will include key national priorities delivered at the local level, so will not have metrics measuring all local authority statutory duties. Local highway authorities have clear statutory responsibilities for managing and maintaining the public rights of way network within their individual areas, including ensuring routes are kept free from obstruction. They are also required to prepare and keep under review a Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which assesses the condition of the network and sets out planned improvements for all users. These plans are published on each authority’s website.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of section 147ZA of the Highways Act 1980 on the rights of disabled people to access the outdoors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of section 147ZA of the Highways Act 1980 on the rights of disabled people to access the outdoors.
This Government is supportive of the provision within section 147ZA of the 1980 Act that enables an authority to work with landowners and relevant parties to replace or improve existing structures so that they can be used more easily by individuals that may experience mobility challenges. There is currently no national assessment available of the impacts of this provision. However, we will continue to improve access to green and blue spaces, ensuring that it is safe and appropriate for all users, through our various initiatives.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their plans to introduce nine new river walks and three new national forests will include the creation of new permanent legal rights of access.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their plans to introduce nine new river walks and three new national forests will include the creation of new permanent legal rights of access.
Our nine new river walks and three new national forests will both increase available natural space and make it more accessible.
We are progressing plans to deliver nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature and are currently considering several delivery options. Further details will be announced in due course.
Our three new national forests in the West of England, the Oxford-Cambridge corridor and the Midlands or North of England, once confirmed, will support delivery of environmental improvement goals including improving access to green space and better connecting people with nature. The Government will set out plans for new national forests in the coming months which will incorporate many factors, including a consideration of new permanent legal rights of access.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the Local Government Outcomes Framework.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the Local Government Outcomes Framework.
The Government has no plans at this stage to integrate local highway authorities’ statutory duties for public rights of way into the Local Government Outcomes Framework. The Local Government Outcomes Framework will include key national priorities delivered at the local level, so will not have metrics measuring all local authority statutory duties. Local highway authorities have clear statutory responsibilities for managing and maintaining the public rights of way network within their individual areas, including ensuring routes are kept free from obstruction. They are also required to prepare and keep under review a Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which assesses the condition of the network and sets out planned improvements for all users. These plans are published on each authority’s website.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83666, how new permanent legal rights of public access will be created through proposals for nine new river walks and three new national forests.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83666, how new permanent legal rights of public access will be created through proposals for nine new river walks and three new national forests.
Our nine new river walks and three new national forests will both increase available natural space and make it more accessible.
We are progressing plans to deliver nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature and are currently considering several delivery options. Further details will be announced in due course.
Our three new national forests in the West of England, the Oxford-Cambridge corridor and the Midlands or North of England, once confirmed, will support delivery of environmental improvement goals including improving access to green space and better connecting people with nature. The Government will set out plans for new national forests in the coming months which will incorporate many factors, including a consideration of new permanent legal rights of access.
I thank my hon. Friend for that important question and for the work that he does on the all-party group on outdoor recreation and access to nature. I am told that his constituency has some lovely countryside walks, and he is a worthy champion for them. Building on the success...
I thank my hon. Friend for that important question and for the work that he does on the all-party group on outdoor recreation and access to nature. I am told that his constituency has some lovely countryside walks, and he is a worthy champion for them. Building on the success...
I thank the Leader of the House for his warm remarks about my campaign to exempt search and rescue services vehicles from vehicle excise duty.
Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating this coming weekend’s 25th anniversary of the passage of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act...
I thank the Leader of the House for his warm remarks about my campaign to exempt search and rescue services vehicles from vehicle excise duty.
Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating this coming weekend’s 25th anniversary of the passage of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of total length and number of ancient and historic rights of way not yet added to the national database; and what progress is expected to be made on recording them.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of total length and number of ancient and historic rights of way not yet added to the national database; and what progress is expected to be made on recording them.
The Government intends to repeal the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic rights of way. The legislative change to repeal the cut-off date will be enacted when parliamentary time allows. This will ensure that historic routes are not extinguished simply because an authority has not processed them in time and will give councils greater flexibility to deal with applications. It will also help prevent unrecorded public rights of way from being lost as a result of delays or backlogs.
To ask His Majesty's Government, following reporting from the BBC in January 2024 that investigators had found 32,000 blockages on public rights of way, whether they will take action to remove obstructions preventing the public from using such ways.
To ask His Majesty's Government, following reporting from the BBC in January 2024 that investigators had found 32,000 blockages on public rights of way, whether they will take action to remove obstructions preventing the public from using such ways.
Local highway authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of public rights of way, including ensuring that they are free from obstructions and available for public use. They have statutory duties to assert and protect the public’s right to use these routes and to take action where obstructions are identified.
Each authority is also required to prepare and maintain a Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which assesses the condition of the local network and sets out how it will be improved for all users. These plans are publicly available on the relevant authority’s website.
Local authorities are best placed to determine local priorities and allocate resources accordingly, taking account of the needs of their communities and the condition of the rights of way in their area. The Government continues to provide local authorities with funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement, and it is for them to decide how best to use this funding, including for maintaining and improving public rights of way.
To ask His Majesty's Government what legislative vehicle they will use to implement their commitment, announced on 26 December 2024, to repeal the 2031 deadline for recording historic rights of way.
To ask His Majesty's Government what legislative vehicle they will use to implement their commitment, announced on 26 December 2024, to repeal the 2031 deadline for recording historic rights of way.
We have announced our intention to remove the 2031 cut-off date for the recording of historic rights of way, to support and enhance public access to nature. Removing this deadline will ensure that historic routes valued by communities can continue to be identified and protected for future generations.
This repeal will require primary legislation, and we will bring forward the necessary provisions when parliamentary time allows.
My Lords, I have not spoken in Committee so far, but in my four-minute contribution at Second Reading I raised two issues, which are the subject of these next two amendments. The first may be described as being in the weeds and the other in the stratosphere.
Perhaps I should begin...
My Lords, I have not spoken in Committee so far, but in my four-minute contribution at Second Reading I raised two issues, which are the subject of these next two amendments. The first may be described as being in the weeds and the other in the stratosphere.
Perhaps I should begin...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued recent guidance to local authorities on public right of access to privately-owned public spaces that are owned by (a) private companies and (b) local authorities through a private company.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued recent guidance to local authorities on public right of access to privately-owned public spaces that are owned by (a) private companies and (b) local authorities through a private company.
My Department has not issued guidance in relation to this matter.