Explanatory note

Under section 11 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (“the Act”), the National Assembly for Wales may by regulations provide the procedures to be followed in the preparation of maps, in accordance with section 4(2) of the Act, which will show all open country (as defined by the Act) and all registered common land in Wales. The public right of access under section 2 of the Act is defined by reference to these kinds of land, subject to certain exceptions and additions set out in the Act.

Regulation 3 sets out the procedures and requirements for the preparation of draft maps by the Countryside Council for Wales (“the Council”) under Part I of the Act, including provision as to the form and scale of draft maps which are to be at a scale of not less than 1:10,000 (or, if it is not possible to achieve that scale using the base map technology reasonably available to the Council, the largest scale practicable using that base map technology) but provides a power for copies to be prepared and published on different scales, if appropriate.

Regulation 3(3) requires larger scale maps or insets to be prepared where it is necessary or desirable to do so in order to show the boundary of section 4(2) land accurately.

Regulation 3(5) requires draft maps (including inset maps) to be prepared in electronic form unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so.

Regulation 4 establishes the procedures for the issue and publication of a draft map after it has been prepared.

Regulation 5 requires the Council to publicise the provisions of draft maps generally.

Regulation 6 establishes the procedures relating to consultation on draft maps which have been issued.

Regulation 7 makes provision relating to the confirmation of draft maps, whether with or without modifications.

These Regulations do not relate to the issue of draft maps which have been confirmed and issued in provisional form under section 5(d) or (e) of the Act or to the right of appeal against the draft maps as so confirmed and issued, or as to the issue of maps in conclusive form, the procedures for all of which will be the subject of further Regulations.