HL Deb 02 May 2002 vol 634 cc141-2WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of the number of responses received from the consultation on the draft maps following from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, they plan to extend the proposed three-month consultation period for the provisional maps for those areas; and whether they will also extend it to future draft plans. [HL4015]

Lord Whitty

The Countryside Agency issued a revised timetable for mapping open country on 17 April, giving more time for the agency to draw on the experience of mapping in the lead mapping regions and to focus on the preparation of good quality maps for the rest of the country. The agency plans to issue a provisional map for the lower north-west region in September this year. This is later than previously envisaged but will allow the agency thoroughly to examine all the comments made on the draft map. We believe that a period of three months is quite sufficient to enable anyone to comment on a draft map. Our consultation paper on regulations for the issue of provisional and conclusive maps proposed a similar period for bringing appeals against the showing of land on a provisional map. We are considering the responses to the consultation paper and expect to make regulations in June.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much Ministry of Defence land has been shown as open to public access on the draft maps produced pursuant to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [HL4024]

Lord Whitty

The Countryside Agency issued draft maps of open country and registered common land for part of the South East and the lower North West of England in November 2001. Parts of four Army training areas and part of one research and development establishment were shown on those maps as either open country or registered common land. The agency expects to issue further draft maps for the remaining mapping regions over the next 18 months.

Land which is shown on a draft map, and which is subsequently shown on the conclusive map, may be land to which there will be no right of access because it is excepted land. Excepted land includes land the use of which is regulated by by-laws made under the Military Lands Acts of 1892 or 1900. However, military by-laws often provide for a right of access to training lands when it is safe to do so (for example, when training is not taking place), and in these cases access under those provisions will continue. Where defence training lands which are not subject to by-laws are mapped as open country or registered common land, then my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence may make directions restricting or excluding access where necessary for the purposes of defence.