Is there a Right to Roam in Warwickshire?
Changes in the law are now providing pedestrians far greater access to the countryside and as a result Warwickshire County Council is detailing just what it means for local people.
While the new ‘Right to Roam’ legislation has a huge impact on ‘Open Access’ land such as mountain, moorland, heathland, downland and registered Common Land, it will impact on less than one per cent of Warwickshire’s countryside.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Clearly the new legislation will have a big impact on some parts of the country. However, in Warwickshire less than one per cent of the county qualifies as Open Access land, although with more than 1,700 miles of Public Right of Way, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Warwickshire’s rich and varied countryside.”
Warwickshire’s Countryside Access Team warns that visitors and their dogs must keep to the official line of the Public Right of Way and not roam freely over the adjoining land.
To spread the message a poster and information card has been produced by the team to help tackle a misconception that there is a general Right to Roam across agricultural land and private premises. It is hoped this will help to reduce potential confrontations with landowners.
Posters have been sent to all Parish Councils for public notice boards and the information cards will be available from Warwickshire’s Country Parks and libraries.
Further information on visiting Warwickshire’s countryside is available on-line at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/countryside