More good news for walkers as the Government announce access to open country in Region 3, Central Southern England, will be available to walkers under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW) in time for Christmas.
Coming hot on the heals of the successful launch of the 'right to roam' in the first two regions of England on Sunday 19 September, Alun Michael, MP, Minister for Rural Affairs, announced that Region 3 would open to the public from Tuesday 14 December.
Conclusive maps of all the new areas to be opened to the public will be published on the Countryside Agency's website, with Ordnance Survey publishing paper maps in time for the launch of the new access right.
Classic down land in Wiltshire, soon to be opened for public access
Better known as the 'right to roam', access under the CRoW Act applies only to on foot to designated areas of open country - mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land. The Government are introducing the new right of access on a region-by-region basis, with the final region opening in November 2005.
The Countryside Agency has been mapping the whole of England for the last four years to identify land that qualifies as open country. Region 3 covers South Gloucestershire, Bristol, part of Somerset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The Ramblers' Association has been at the forefront of a campaign, dating back over a century, to gain wider public access to open country. The CRoW Act will bring unprecedented access to some of our wildest and most dramatic landscapes for the very first time. Allowing people a legal right to walk responsibly over open, uncultivated country will encourage walking tourism to the countryside, already estimated to be worth more than £6 billion per year.
Alun Michael said: "This Act is important to everyone who loves the countryside as it will allow people to enjoy beautiful areas that were previously off-limits. It also recognises the importance of balancing the new right with the needs of those who manage the land and to take care in sensitive nature conservation sites.
"Our intention is to open regions as quickly as possible so I'm delighted to announce that the new right of access will come into effect in central southern England on 14 December, giving those who love the countryside in that area something of an early Christmas present!"
To view the maps visit the Countryside Agency's website
More about the right to roam
