§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government which lengths of the Pembrokeshire Coast Long Distance Route are not yet public rights of way and when it is expected that the work will be completed.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, approximately 15 miles of paths remain to be created as public rights of way. The local authorities concerned are negotiating agreements with the landowners for about 9½ miles of path and are preparing public path creation orders for the remaining 5½ miles. It is not possible to estimate when the path will be complete.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that Answer, I should like to ask her whether she is aware that this path was designated as long ago as 1953. Does she not think that 14 years is ample time 802 in which to get the matter completed? While, obviously, some progress is being made, will she and her right honourable friends use their best endeavours to get the path completed as quickly as possible, because thousands of walkers are anxiously looking forward to the opportunity of using it?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, as the noble Lord will appreciate, the question was entrusted to the local authorities through whose areas the route passed. While I should agree with him that negotiations have been going on for a long time, I think it is true to say that they may well be nearing their conclusion. As I intend to have my own holiday in the area I hope that perhaps by July they will be completed.
§ LORD STRANGMy Lords, is it the intention of the Government in the new Countryside Bill, which we have been so often promised but which has not yet appeared, to incorporate provisions which will accelerate this procedure?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, the noble Lord will appreciate that I cannot give him any direct reply to that question. It is perhaps the subject for another Question.