House of Lords

Session 1999-2000 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Countryside and Rights of Way Bill This is the text of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, as passed by the House of Commons and introduced in the House of Lords on 16 June 2000.
	EXPLANATORY NOTES Explanatory Notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, are published separately as HL Bill 86- EN. EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS The Lord Whitty has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998: In my view the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.
	Countryside and Rights of Way Bill
	ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES PART I ACCESS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE CHAPTER I RIGHT OF ACCESS General Clause   1. Principal definitions for Part I. 2. Rights of public in relation to access land. 3. Power to extend to coastal land. Maps 4. Duty to prepare maps. 5. Publication of draft maps. 6. Appeal against map after confirmation. 7. Appeal procedure. 8. Power of Secretary of State or Assembly to delegate functions relating to appeals. 9. Maps in conclusive form. 10. Review of maps. 11. Regulations relating to maps. Rights and liabilities of owners and occupiers 12. Effect of right of access on rights and liabilities of owners. 13. Occupiers' liability. 14. Offence of displaying on access land notices deterring public use. Access under other enactments or by dedication 15. Rights of access under other enactments. 16. Dedication of land as access land. Miscellaneous provisions relating to right of access 17. Byelaws. 18. Wardens. 19. Notices indicating boundaries, etc. CHAPTER II EXCLUSION OR RESTRICTION OF ACCESS 20. Interpretation of Chapter II. 21. Exclusion or restriction at discretion of owner and others. 22. Land management. 23. Avoidance of risk of fire or of danger to the public. 24. Nature conservation and heritage preservation. 25. Directions by relevant authority: general. 26. Defence or national security. 27. Reference by relevant advisory body. 28. Appeal by person interested in land. 29. Exclusion or restriction of access in case of emergency. 30. Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access. 31. Guidance by countryside bodies to National Park authorities. CHAPTER III MEANS OF ACCESS 32. Interpretation of Chapter III. 33. Agreements with respect to means of access. 34. Failure to comply with agreement. 35. Provision of access by access authority in absence of agreement. 36. Appeals relating to notices. 37. Order to remove obstruction. CHAPTER IV GENERAL 38. Powers of entry for purposes of Part I. 39. Crown application of Part I. 40. Orders and regulations under Part I. 41. Interpretation of Part I. 42. Repeal of previous legislation, and amendments relating to Part I. PART II PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY AND ROAD TRAFFIC Public rights of way and definitive maps and statements 43. Redesignation of roads used as public paths. 44. Restricted byway rights. 45. Provisions supplementary to ss. 43 and 44. 46. Private rights over restricted byways. 47. Amendments relating to definitive maps and statements and restricted byways. 48. Restricted byways: power to amend existing legislation. 49. Extinguishment of unrecorded rights of way. 50. Excepted highways and rights of way. 51. Bridleway rights over ways shown as bridleways. 52. Cut-off date for extinguishment etc. Creation, stopping up and diversion of highways 53. Creation, stopping up and diversion of highways. 54. Application for path creation order for purposes of Part I. 55. Effect of Part I on powers to stop up or divert highways. Rights of way improvement plans 56. Rights of way improvement plans. 57. Rights of way improvement plans: supplemental. 58. Application of ss. 56 and 57 to inner London. Removal of obstructions from highways 59. Enforcement of duty to prevent obstruction. 60. Power to order offender to remove obstruction. 61. Overhanging vegetation obstructing horse-riders. Miscellaneous 62. Making of traffic regulation orders for purposes of conserving natural beauty, etc. 63. Prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads. 64. Erection of stiles, etc.: needs of persons with mobility problems. 65. Reports on functions relating to rights of way. PART III NATURE CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION Sites of special scientific interest 66. Sites of special scientific interest. 67. Consequential amendments relating to s. 66. Ramsar sites 68. Ramsar sites. Limestone pavement orders 69. Limestone pavement orders: offence. Powers of entry 70. Powers of entry. Enforcement of wildlife legislation 71. Enforcement of wildlife legislation. PART IV MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY Management agreements 72. Power of countryside bodies to enter into management agreements. Supplementary 73. Wales. 74. Isles of Scilly. 75. Expenses. 76. Repeals. 77. Commencement. 78. Interpretation, short title and extent.   SCHEDULES:     Schedule 1 - Excepted land for purposes of Part I.     Part I - Excepted land.     Part II - Supplementary provisions.     Schedule 2 - Restrictions to be observed by persons exercising right of access.     Schedule 3 - Delegation of appellate functions.     Schedule 4 - Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part I.     Schedule 5 - Definitive maps and statements and restricted byways.     Part I - Amendments of Part III of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.     Part II - Amendments of other Acts.     Schedule 6 - Amendments relating to creation, stopping up and diversion of highways.     Part I - Amendments of Highways Act 1980.     Part II - Consequential amendments of other Acts.     Schedule 7 - Driving of mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads.     Schedule 8 - Sites of special scientific interest.     Schedule 9 - Consequential amendments relating to sites of special scientific interest.     Part I - Amendments of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.     Part II - Other amendments.     Schedule 10 - Wildlife: amendments of Part I of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.     Schedule 11 - Repeals.     Part I - Access to the countryside.     Part II - Public rights of way and road traffic.     Part III - Sites of special scientific interest.     Part IV - Wildlife.

© Parliamentary copyright 2000

Prepared 19 June 2000

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