The Statements and Statutory Declarations register is a record
of statements and declarations made under section 31(6) of the
Highways Act 1980 and deposited with Suffolk County Council.
The statements and declarations enable landowners to formally
acknowledge public rights of way across their land and, in doing
so, create a presumption that they have no intention to dedicate
any further public rights of way across that land.
Under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980, a landowner may at
any time, deposit a statement and plan, indicating any ways over
their land that have been dedicated as public rights of way.
Submissions under the 1980 Act do not protect a landowner from
claims which can establish 20 years uninterrupted use prior to the
date of submission, or which are based on documentary evidence.
However, the deposit of a statement and plan does stop time running
forward for the acquisition of public rights by usage, and
constitutes an effective challenge for future claims.
Statements, plans and statutory declarations can be viewed, free
of charge, by prior arrangement with the Countryside Access Team at
Endeavour House (email:
Definitive.Maps@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk
telephone: 01473 264774) or at Ipswich Records Office, Gatacre Road
(email:
ipswich.ro@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk
telephone: 01473 584541). Copies of statements, plans and statutory
declarations can be obtained from Endeavour House with a fee
payable dependent on document size.
A paper copy of the register is held by Suffolk County Council at
Countryside Access, Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich,
Suffolk, IP1 2BX.
Further information and templates of the Statement and
Statutory Declaration can be found at
online forms and guidance.
The Statement and Statutory Declaration register (PDF,
141Kb)