§ 101. Mr. H. Daviesasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the growing tendency in the Leek division and elsewhere in the country for landowners and others to close footpaths and ancient rights of way; and what he is doing to see that these rights of way are preserved for the people.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have no evidence of such a tendency. The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, in connection with the footpath survey affords machinery for settling disputes about footpaths and bridle ways. Once a footpath is shown on the definite map for which the Act provides, the existence18W of a public right of way over it is established conclusively, and local authorities have powers enabling them to deal with obstructions on such a path.