Update 17 March 2010. This consultation has now closed. A copy of our final response is linked from the Promoting Walking transport policy page (at the bottom of the page). Thanks to all the volunteers that provided helpful comments on the draft.
The government has proposed to make certain Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping datasets available for free and without restriction on re-use in the context of the broad long-term strategic options for Ordnance Survey and as part of its Making Public Data Public initiative. OS's parent department, Communities and Local Government (CLG), is currently consulting on various options for taking this forward, with options that include continuing the status quo, a major release of licensing constraints on large-scale data, and the compromise option of a "staged transition".
Both the options for change involve the release of a selection of products that include Explorer, Landranger and Street View mapping and various other datasets such as gazetteers and local government boundary information. These datasets would be available to view, download or via an API (Application Programming Interface) system enabling web applications and "mash-ups" to be built on top of the existing base maps.
These developments could be extremely beneficial to the Ramblers, removing the need to pay for licenses when we use OS maps in print and online, resolving some of the issues around intellectual property for planned web-based collaborative projects and hopefully addressing the ongoing problem of local authorities using copyright to restrict access to official mapping such as definitive maps.
The changes will however also have implications for the future structure of OS, and there are potential worries about the sustainability of the income stream for ensuring the base mapping remains of the highest quality and the possibility that the continued availability of paper maps will be endangered.
The CLG consultation document can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconsultation
Ramblers staff have drafted a response:
Download as PDF
Download as Word document
Comments from volunteers are invited on our response by close of business on Monday 8 March 2010.
Please let us know if you are responding on behalf of an Area or Group or as an individual volunteer, and let us know your Area and Group and your position or volunteer role.
Responses should be sent to Des de Moor, Senior Everyday Walking Officer, des.demoor@ramblers.org.uk.
