§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made of the number of public rights of way that are(a) blocked and (b) otherwise difficult to negotiate because of crops or encroaching vegetation. [73569]
§ Mr. MeacherA national rights of way condition survey carried out in 1994 by the Countryside Commission found that on average 26 per cent. of rights of way were blocked or difficult to use, 2 per cent. were blocked and 4 per cent. were difficult to use because of crops or other cultivated surface, and 3 per cent. were blocked and 4 per cent. difficult to use because of overgrown or overhanging natural vegetation.