Following the introduction of the Countryside Rights of Way Act
(CROW) in 2000, section 53B of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981 now requires authorities to set up a register of applications
made under section 53 of the 1981 Act to modify the Definitive map
or Statement (Schedule 5, paragraph 2).
The Definitive map and Statement is each local authority’s record
of public rights of way. The legislation became operative from 31st
December 2005.
Registers will help to:
- increase the knowledge among landowners, users and the general
public about applications which could result in changes to the
definitive map and/or the rights of way network;
- avoid duplication where more than one person may be thinking of
applying to an authority for a change to the definitive map;
- increase certainty by making sure that people know about ways
which landowners do not intend to dedicate as public rights of
way.
Applications may involve footpaths, bridleways and byways open
to all traffic. They may involve the Definitive Map and Statement,
or the Definitive Map, or the Statement alone. The Register is
intended to be retrospective in so far as recording those
applications for orders where the procedures under Schedule 15 have
not yet been completed ie where applications have not yet been
investigated by the County Council and a decision taken as to
whether to make an order or not.
Definitive Map Modification Order register (PDF
24kb)