News archive 2001
Minister marks "historic year" at walkers' Peak District
celebration [2 January 2001]
DEPUTY LEADER of the Commons Paddy Tipping
joined walkers at a mass rally in Derbyshire to celebrate the 50th
year of the Peak National Park and the new freedom to roam.
Army
training threatens access to valued countryside
[24 January 2001]
ARMY MANOEUVRES are threatening to banish farmers and walkers from an area of wild countryside in the North Pennines but
public opposition to the plans is growing.
Countryside Act brings freedom to roam a step closer
[30 January 2001]
A LEGAL freedom to roam is a step closer after key provisions of the new Countryside and Rights of Way Act
came into effect.
Landowner drops ?1.25million claim over new footpath
[31 January 2001]
AN OXFORDSHIRE landowner has dropped his claim for ?1.25million compensation over a footpath through
a privately-owned forest.
Ramblers cancel national walking event due to foot-and-mouth
disease [27 February 2001]
THE RAMBLERS' Association has cancelled a
national walking event due to the current foot-and-mouth alert.
Van Hoogstraten ordered to clear path [20 March 2001]
LEWES MAGISTRATES used brand-new powers to order illegal obstructions on a path across the Uckfield estate of millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten to be cleared within 28 days.
Riverside
development blocks views to Liver buildings [31 March 2001]
A WIRRAL council decision to allow developers to revoke public access to a historic Victorian waterfront path has sparked national outrage.
Van Hoogstraten ordered to clear path [20 March 2001]
LEWES MAGISTRATES used brand-new powers to order illegal obstructions on a path across the Uckfield estate of millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten to be cleared within 28 days.
Ramblers cancel
National Weekend of Walking due to foot-and-mouth [26 April 2001]
THE RAMBLERS' Association has called off a major festival of walking this summer because of the continuing foot-and-mouth crisis.
Company defies court order for 'van Hoogstraten' path to be cleared [20
April 2001]
A MAGISTRATES order to clear a blocked footpath that crosses the East Sussex estate of millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten has been snubbed.
Campaigners line up for the second battle of Hastings
[6 June 2001]
MASSIVE ROAD building projects are threatening our sensitive landscapes and campaigners are lining up for a fight.
Ramblers host fringe meeting at national conference [7 June 2001]
THE IMPORTANT role local authorities play in improving rights of way and providing access to the countryside will be
discussed at the Local Government Association annual conference.
Government urged to scrap Army plans for Otterburn [15 June 2001]
THE GOVERNMENT is being urged to drop plans for parts of Northumberland
National Park to be used for the test-firing of long-range rockets.
Ramblers welcome decision on Dartmoor quarrying
[20 June 2001]
THE RAMBLERS' Association has welcomed the recent announcement by two
companies to give up china clay quarrying rights in Dartmoor National
Park.
Public
betrayed over van Hoogstraten path [1 August 2000]
THE RAMBLERS' Association has accused
East Sussex county council of conducting a sham public consultation over
a blocked
path on a millionaire's estate.
Hastings bypasses rejected in wide-ranging study?[12 July 2001]
THE GOVERNMENT has decided to reject plans for the controversial Hastings bypasses. This is a major victory for campaigners who argued the plans would have devastated the surrounding countryside.
South Downs
park boundary to be discussed [21 August 2001]
The Countryside Agency is to hold a meeting to discuss the boundaries
for a proposed new national park.
Council bending the law to close paths [21 August 2001]
Blackburn Borough Council is using a loophole in the law to shut off footpaths to local residents.
Millionaire
landlord faces murder charges [25 September 2001]
Property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten has been charged with the
murder of a former business associate.
Otterburn
military firing range plans get go-ahead [4 October 2001]
A decision to allow a major military development at Otterburn has
come as a devastating blow to walkers.
Ramblers President
opens debate on urban walking
[5 October 2001]
RAMBLERS PRESIDENT Andrew Bennett
MP will be outlining the benefits of walking as a mode of transport in
our towns and cities at a meeting in Manchester.
Footpaths Day highlights need for investment in path network
[10 October 2001]
THE RAMBLERS' Association has held a series of events calling on local authorities across England and Wales to get their paths in order and support local business.
Walkers gather in their thousands for Strasbourg rally
[11
October 2001]
MORE THAN 10,000 walkers from 23 countries gathered
for a week of events and celebrations at the European Ramblers Rally.
Last ditch
plea on Berkshire A404 dangerous crossing [2 July 2001]
BERKSHIRE WALKERS have launched an eleventh hour plea to councillors not
to accept controversial plans which they claim will turn an already
dangerous crossing into a death trap.
Residents urged to support new A404 crossing [29 October 2001]
BERKSHIRE RESIDENTS are being urged to
support plans to divert a footpath to protect walkers from a ?death-trap?
road crossing.
Van Hoogstraten ordered to clear path [20 March 2001]
LEWES MAGISTRATES used brand-new powers to order illegal obstructions on a path across the Uckfield estate of millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten to be cleared within 28 days.
Come and celebrate the CRoW Act's first birthday! [26 November 2001]
RAMBLERS IN South Yorkshire will be holding a rally to celebrate the first anniversary of the historic Countryside and Rights of Way Act.
New forest port inquiry opens to mass opposition [26 November 2001]
A RANGE of organisations are opposing plans for a massive port development on the edge of one of England's proposed new national parks.
New paths
survey shows no improvement over past six years [11 December 2001]
THE RAMBLERS' Association has called on local authorities to get their
act together as a new survey reveals the poor state of the footpath
network.
Festival of winter walks to attract thousands [13 December 2001]
ANNUAL WINTER festival continues to attract enthusiasts in their
thousands.