Ramblers' Association statement regarding the Appeal Hearing into access land on the estate of Sir Ranulph Fiennes
[25 November 2004]
On Thursday 25 November an Appeal Hearing at Dulverton, Somerset will commence into the mapping of a small parcel of land on the estate of Sir Ranulph Fiennes as 'access land' under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (often known as the 'right to roam').
The land appears on the Provisional Map, and the Appeal
Hearing will decide if it has been correctly mapped as 'open
country' by the Countryside Agency. The appeal is part of a
process all landowners whose land appears on the new maps have
recourse to, if they believe the land has been incorrectly
mapped. The Ramblers' Association fully supports the
process and the rights of landowners to appeal decisions where
they think it appropriate.
Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act the whole of England
and Wales are being mapped in three stages to identify all areas
of open country: a draft map (which allows landowners and all
members of the public to comment on it), a provisional map
(re-worked from the consultation on the draft map), and a
conclusive map (again re-worked from the provisional map after
appeals by landowners against the showing of their land on the
map have been determined by the planning inspectorate).
The legislation specifically excepts cultivated land or land
that is close to dwellings, it will not interfere with land
management or privacy of individuals. This is underlined by the
fact that a system of closures will operate to ensure land can
be managed efficiently.