§ Sir F. Markhamasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs which counties have not yet published definitive or draft maps of their footpaths and bridleways as required by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949; and what steps he proposes to take to compel defaulting county councils to carry out their duties.
§ Sir K. JosephThe following county councils have not yet published definitive maps for any part of the county:
- Bedford.
- Berkshire.
- Brecknock.
- Caernarvon.
- Cardigan.
- Carmarthen.
- Chester.
- Cornwall.
- Cumberland.
- Denbigh
- Derby.
- Dorset.
- Essex.
- Flint.
- Glamorgan.
- Hereford.
- Huntingdon.
- Isle of Ely.
- Kent.
- Lancaster.
- Lincoln, Parts of Lindsey.
- Merioneth.
- Montgomery.
- Norfolk.
- Northumberland.
- Nottingham.
- Oxford.
- Pembroke.
- Radnor.
- Sussex, West.
- Warwick.
- Westmorland.
- York, East Riding.
- York, North Riding.
- York, West Riding.
- Carmarthen and Montgomery have not yet published draft maps, but the latter expect to do so this week.
My right hon. Friend is reluctant to use his powers under the Act to expedite the preparation of provisional and definitive maps, since this might result in the publication of maps which were incomplete and therefore liable to cause uncertainty. He hopes that county councils will do their best to push on with the task without obliging him to consider this step.