Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage

18 November 2004

The County Council's Approach towards the Management of the new rights of access to Open Access Land. (Sometimes, misleadingly, referred to as `The Right to Roam').

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Item 14

Contact: Andrew Smith, Ext 6003

1 Summary

1.1 The following Decision is sought:

    That the Executive Member endorses the flexible approach towards the management of the new rights of access set out in this report and which is also supported by the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum.

2. Reason

2.1 Part 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 created new powers for Highway Authorities with respect to the management of the new rights of access on foot to open country and registered common land. This is land is formally called `Access Land' but is sometimes misleadingly referred to as the `right to roam'. This report outlines what these powers are and also describes the advice that has been received from the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum which is the statutory advisory group established to advise the County Council on matters relating to access to the countryside. The new rights commence in Hampshire in December this year and therefore the approach that the Council adopts with regard to the use of these new powers now needs to be considered by Members.

2.2 Managing these new rights with discretion will enable the authority to respond to the corporate aim of `Stewardship of the Environment' through protecting our environment by promoting the principles of environmental sustainability. Promoting these new rights in appropriate locations where they will provide new opportunities will also help towards `Maximising Life Opportunities' - another Corporate Aim of the County Council.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected -

3.1 The County Council could opt for taking a much more detailed and prescriptive approach which it applied consistently to all parcels of land where the new rights apply. Alternatively, the Council could choose simply to respond to local pressure for action to be taken as and when these matters are brought to the attention of the authority.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable

6. Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent - New rights commence on 14th December 2004.

Approved by: Date:

................................. ...............................

Councillor J. Waddington