Countryside opens up to ramblers

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Countryside opens up to ramblers

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tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45420
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 04 2:49 pm Post subject: Countryside opens up to ramblers

Large areas of countryside in the South are being opened to ramblers for the first time on Tuesday.

The region is the third in the UK to have thousands of acres of private land made accessible to walkers under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.

The so-called "right to roam" laws were launched at a Bournemouth ceremony followed by a group walk led by TV presenter and birdwatcher Bill Oddie.

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael called it a "very special day".

I am confident the respect and love walkers have for the countryside will prove that this is a wise, fair and beneficial piece of legislation
Nick Barrett
Ramblers Association
"Southern England has a wealth of wonderful open countryside which everyone has the right to enjoy," he said.

"The CRoW Act gives everyone the opportunity to do just that but I hope people make the most of it, bearing in mind that it is important to respect the needs of land managers."

The south region is composed of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Berkshire, part of Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

Any private land considered moor, heath, mountain or downland or registered common land will now be open to walkers.

Ramblers groups have called these maps the most exciting development since the creation of national parks after World War II.

But opponents - including some landowners - say there has been little consultation, decisions on what constitutes open access land have been bizarre in some cases and the appeals process has been time-consuming and costly.

The new laws do not give people a right to roam anywhere. Areas like gardens and cultivated land are not included and there are restrictions on some areas at certain parts of year.

Mr Oddie said: "At last no more straddling barbed wire, limbo-ing under electric fences or being shot at by game keepers - all of which I have experienced in pursuit of wildlife.

"It's wonderful to have access to so many new places, but with freedom comes responsibility. Responsible roaming, that's what it's all about."

The first two areas to be opened up were south-east England and the lower north-west in September.

Nick Barrett, chief executive of the Ramblers Association, said: "For many, the joy of walking is about getting off the beaten track - everybody in this country now has a right to do just that and I hope people will take the opportunity to discover these beautiful areas for themselves.

"I am confident the respect and love walkers have for the countryside will prove that this is a wise, fair and beneficial piece of legislation."

Story from BBC NEWS:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/4092403.stm

Published: 2004/12/14 12:44:17 GMT

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 04 8:18 pm Post subject:
Interesting, but why will barbed wire and electric fences no longer be a problem. From what I understand livestock can still be held in the field, and doesn't need new fencing.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 04 9:36 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

Interesting, but why will barbed wire and electric fences no longer be a problem. From what I understand livestock can still be held in the field, and doesn't need new fencing.

As I understand it that would also be classed as cultivated land and be out of bounds.

I've tried looking at the Governments web site about the CRoW land and couldn't find much in the way of what land was open in the South East and what was not. I'll take another look but I bet there's still not much info on where you can roam and where you cannot. Not that we see many people on the current open footpaths round here.

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