The National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) have called the decision to repeal the cut-off date for recording historic rights of way the ‘latest attack’ on the countryside and the farming community.
The government announced its plans just after Christmas have saying it was because local authorities have struggled to record all rights of way, which are estimated to stretch over 40,000 miles, by 2031.
Minister for Access, Baroness Hayman, said: “Our countryside and green spaces are a source of great national pride, but too many people across the country are left without access to the great outdoors.
“These well-trodden routes, many of which have been in place for hundreds of years, are a part of our shared heritage and it is critical that we bring forward these measures to protect their long-term future.
“This is only the beginning to our plans to increase access to our great countryside as part of a decade of national renewal. This Government will plant three new National Forests and create nine new National Rivers Walks for families to enjoy for the generations to come.”
Deputy president of the CLA, Gavin Lane, said: “Campaigners have had decades to record rights of way, and the decision to scrap the 2031 cut-off date has been made without engaging with those who will be affected, inflicting significant uncertainty on farmers and land managers.”
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said the decision to remove the cut-off date “means these claims will continue to disrupt many farm businesses for years to come”.
Previously, the CRoW (Countryside and Rights of Way) Act 2000 set a cut-off date of January 1 2026 for unrecorded historic RoW to be registered.