HL Deb 23 July 2001 vol 626 cc190-1WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether tenders have been invited by the Countryside Agency for work connected with establishing the definitive map of rights of way under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; if so, when they were invited; what was the work for which tenders were sought; when they were due to be returned; and what decisions have been made; and [HL383]

What progress has been made on starting the process and procedures for establishing the definitive map of rights of way under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [HL384]

Lord Whitty

Definitive maps were first required to be produced under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. They are the responsibility of the local highway authority, which (under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) has a duty to keep the definitive map and statement under continuous review and to make such modifications as it deems necessary.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides for a cut-off date in 25 years' time for recording of certain rights of way on definitive maps and the extinguishment of those not so recorded by that date. In order to ensure that the definitive maps are as complete as possible by this date, the Government have asked the Countryside Agency to consider ways of co-ordinating the efforts of user groups in researching any as yet undiscovered rights of way.

The Countryside Agency invited tenders for work associated with completing these local highway authority definitive maps, following OJEC contractual procedures, in February 2001. Interviews were held at the end of March. The agency invited consultants to advise on the most effective way of involving voluntary groups in research on unrecorded rights of way. They were specifically asked to: estimate the extent of unrecorded rights of way; report on the issues affecting the ability of highway authorities to complete their definitive map; recommend ways of improving the quantity and quality of research on unrecorded rights of way—this might include provision of information and training; prepare research standards to encourage high quality applications to modify each definitive map; recommend other ways to improve the process of recording historic rights on definitive maps—this might, for example, include ways on making archive material more easily available to researchers; consult with and ensure that any proposals are likely to be acceptable to the bodies involved in the programme of historical research, such as local highway authorities, voluntary groups; landowning groups, the planning inspectorate and archive offices.

The contract was offered on 12 July and, if accepted, we expect work to begin in August with a view to having a scheme to support voluntary work in place by spring 2002.