Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in Wales
2000 c. 37 · Enacted 30 November 2000 · Extends to United Kingdom
An Act to make new provision for public access to the countryside; to amend the law relating to public rights of way; to enable traffic regulation orders to be made for the purpose of conserving an area’s natural beauty; to make provision with respect to the driving of mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads; to amend the law relating to nature conservation and the protection of wildlife; to make further provision with respect to areas of outstanding natural beauty; and for connected purposes.
[30th November 2000]
C1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Annotations to the whole text
Modifications
Contents
- Part I: Access to the countryside
- Chapter I: Right of access
- General
- 1Principal definitions for Part I.
- 2Rights of public in relation to access land.
- 3Power to extend to coastal land : Wales .
- 3APower to extend to coastal land etc: England
- Maps
- 4Duty to prepare maps.
- 5Publication of draft maps.
- 6Appeal against map after confirmation.
- 7Appeal procedure.
- 8Power of Secretary of State or Assembly to delegate functions relating to appeals.
- 9Maps in conclusive form.
- 9AReview of maps (England)
- 10Review of maps (Wales).
- 11Regulations relating to maps.
- Rights and liabilities of owners and occupiers
- 12Effect of right of access on rights and liabilities of owners.
- 13Occupiers’ liability.
- 14Offence of displaying on access land notices deterring public use.
- Access under other enactments or by dedication
- 15Rights of access under other enactments.
- 16Dedication of land as access land.
- Miscellaneous provisions relating to right of access
- 17Byelaws.
- 18Wardens.
- 19Notices indicating boundaries, etc.
- 20Codes of conduct and other information.
- Chapter II: Exclusion or restriction of access
- 21Interpretation of Chapter II.
- 22Exclusion or restriction at discretion of owner and others.
- 23Restrictions on dogs at discretion of owner.
- 24Land management.
- 25Avoidance of risk of fire or of danger to the public.
- 26Nature conservation and heritage preservation.
- 27Directions by relevant authority: general.
- 28Defence or national security.
- 29Reference by relevant advisory body.
- 30Appeal by person interested in land.
- 31Exclusion or restriction of access in case of emergency.
- 32Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access.
- 33Guidance by countryside bodies to National Park authorities.
- Chapter III: Means of access
- 34Interpretation of Chapter III.
- 35Agreements with respect to means of access.
- 36Failure to comply with agreement.
- 37Provision of access by access authority in absence of agreement.
- 38Appeals relating to notices.
- 39Order to remove obstruction.
- Chapter IV: General
- 40Powers of entry for purposes of Part I.
- 41Compensation relating to powers under s. 40.
- 42References to public places in existing enactments.
- 43Crown application of Part I.
- 44Orders and regulations under Part I.
- 45Interpretation of Part I.
- 46Repeal 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
- 47Redesignation of roads used as public paths.
- 48Restricted byway rights.
- 49Provisions supplementary to ss. 47 and 48.
- 50Private rights over restricted byways.
- 51Amendments relating to definitive maps and statements and restricted byways.
- 52Restricted byways: power to amend existing legislation.
- 53Extinguishment of unrecorded rights of way : England.
- 54Excepted highways and rights of way : England.
- 55Bridleway rights over ways shown as bridleways : England.
- 56Cut-off date for extinguishment etc : England.
- Creation, stopping up and diversion of highways
- 57Creation, stopping up and diversion of highways.
- 58Application for path creation order for purposes of Part I.
- 59Effect of Part I on powers to stop up or divert highways.
- Rights of way improvement plans
- 60Rights of way improvement plans.
- 61Rights of way improvement plans: supplemental.
- 62Application of ss. 60 and 61 to inner London.
- Removal of obstructions from highways
- 63Enforcement of duty to prevent obstructions.
- 64Power to order offender to remove obstruction.
- 65Overhanging vegetation obstructing horse-riders.
- Miscellaneous
- 66Making of traffic regulation orders for purposes of conserving natural beauty, etc.
- 67Prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads.
- 68Vehicular access across common land etc.
- 69Erection or improvement of stiles, etc.
- 70Minor amendments.
- 71Reports on functions relating to rights of way. Not yet in force
- 72Interpretation of Part II.
- Part III: Nature conservation and wildlife protection
- The Nature Conservancy Council for England
- 73The Nature Conservancy Council for England: change of name. Repealed
- Biological diversity
- 74Conservation of biological diversity. Repealed
- Sites of special scientific interest
- 75Sites of special scientific interest.
- 76Consequential amendments, transitional provisions and savings relating to s. 75.
- Ramsar sites
- 77Ramsar sites.
- Limestone pavement orders
- 78Limestone pavement orders: offence. Repealed
- Payments under certain agreements
- 79Payments under agreements under s.16 of 1949 Act or s.15 of 1968 Act.
- Powers of entry
- 80Powers of entry.
- Enforcement of wildlife legislation
- 81Enforcement of wildlife legislation.
- Part IV: Areas of outstanding natural beauty
- 82Designation of areas.
- 83Procedure for designation orders.
- 84Functions of certain bodies in relation to areas of outstanding natural beauty.
- 85General duty of public bodies etc.
- 86Establishment of conservation boards.
- 87General purposes and powers.
- 88Orders establishing conservation boards.
- 89Management plans.
- 90Supplementary provisions relating to management plans.
- 90ADuty of public bodies etc in relation to management plans
- 91Grants to conservation boards.
- 91ARegulations under Part 4
- 92Interpretation of Part IV and supplementary provision.
- 93Consequential amendments and transitional provisions.
- Part V: Miscellaneous and supplementary
- Local access forums
- 94Local access forums.
- 95Local access forums: supplementary.
- Management agreements
- 96Management agreements.
- Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
- 97Duty of public bodies etc. regarding the Broads.
- Town and village greens
- 98Registration of town and village greens. Repealed
- Supplementary
- 99Wales.
- 100Isles of Scilly.
- 101Expenses. Not yet in force
- 102Repeals.
- 103Commencement.
- 104Interpretation, short title and extent.
- Schedule 1: Excepted land for purposes of Part I
- Part I: Excepted land
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13
- 13BParagraph 13B
- 13CParagraph 13C
- 13DParagraph 13D
- Part II: Supplementary provisions
- 14Paragraph 14
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17
- Schedule 2: Restrictions to be observed by persons exercising right of access
- General restrictions
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 6BParagraph 6B
- Removal or relaxation of restrictions
- 7Paragraph 7
- Dedicated land
- 8Paragraph 8
- Schedule 3: Delegation of appellate functions
- Interpretation
- 1Paragraph 1
- Appointments
- 2Paragraph 2
- Powers of appointed person
- 3Paragraph 3
- Holding of local inquiries and other hearings by appointed persons
- 4Paragraph 4
- Local inquiries under this Schedule: evidence and costs
- 5Paragraph 5
- Revocation of appointments and making of new appointments
- 6Paragraph 6
- Certain acts and omissions of appointed person to be treated as those of appointing authority
- 7Paragraph 7
- Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part I
- Law of Property Act 1925 (c. 20)
- 1Paragraph 1
- Forestry Act 1967 (c. 10)
- 2Paragraph 2
- Agriculture Act 1967 (c. 22)
- 3Paragraph 3
- Countryside Act 1968 (c. 41)
- 4Paragraph 4
- Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7)
- 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69)
- 6Paragraph 6
- Schedule 5: Definitive maps and statements and restricted byways
- Part I: Amendments of Part III of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
- 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- Part II: Amendments of other Acts
- National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (c. 97)
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13
- Countryside Act 1968 (c. 41)
- 14Paragraph 14
- Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33)
- 17Paragraph 17
- Schedule 6: Amendments relating to creation, stopping up and diversion of highways
- Part I: Amendments of Highways Act 1980
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13
- 14Paragraph 14
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16 Not yet in force
- 17Paragraph 17
- 18Paragraph 18
- 19Paragraph 19
- 20Paragraph 20
- 21Paragraph 21
- 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
- 23Paragraph 23
- 24Paragraph 24
- Part II: Consequential amendments of other Acts
- Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (c. 4)
- 25Paragraph 25
- Environment Act 1995 (c. 25)
- 26Paragraph 26
- Schedule 7: Driving of mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads
- National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (c. 97)
- 1Paragraph 1
- Countryside Act 1968 (c. 41)
- 2Paragraph 2
- Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (c. 44)
- 3Paragraph 3
- Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
- 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
- Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- Schedule 8: Amendments consequential on change of name of Nature Conservancy Council for England
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
- 3Paragraph 3
- Schedule 9: Sites of special scientific interest
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- Schedule 10: Consequential amendments relating to sites of special scientific interest
- Part I: Amendments of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- 2Paragraph 2
- Part II: Other amendments
- Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)
- 3Paragraph 3
- Conservation of Seals Act 1970 (c. 30)
- 4Paragraph 4
- Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
- 5Paragraph 5
- Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53)
- 6Paragraph 6
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)
- 7Paragraph 7
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43)
- 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
- Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
- 9Paragraph 9
- Environment Act 1995 (c. 25)
- 10Paragraph 10
- Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 (c. 61)
- 11Paragraph 11
- Schedule 11: Transitional provisions and savings relating to sites of special scientific interest
- Interpretation
- 1Paragraph 1
- Notifications given under old section 28
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Modification of operation of new section 28
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- Modification of operation of sections 28A to 28C
- 7Paragraph 7
- Modification of operation of section 28E
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- Modification of operation of section 28F
- 13Paragraph 13
- Modification of operation of section 28H
- 14Paragraph 14
- Section 29
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17
- 18Paragraph 18
- Compensation and grants
- 19Paragraph 19
- Offences and restoration orders
- 20Paragraph 20
- Powers of entry
- 21Paragraph 21
- Service of notices
- 22Paragraph 22
- Schedule 12: Amendments relating to Part I of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
- Schedule 13: Areas of outstanding natural beauty: conservation boards
- Interpretation
- 1Paragraph 1
- Status and constitution of conservation boards
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Local authority members
- 4Paragraph 4
- Parish members
- 5Paragraph 5
- Members appointed by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales
- 6Paragraph 6
- Chairman and deputy chairman
- 7Paragraph 7
- Audit
- 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
- Schedule 14: Supplemental powers of conservation boards
- Interpretation
- 1Paragraph 1
- Power to acquire land
- 2Paragraph 2
- Power to dispose of land
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- Provisions as to charges
- 7Paragraph 7
- Schedule 15: Areas of outstanding natural beauty: consequential amendments and transitional provisions
- Part I: Consequential amendments
- National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (c. 97)
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)
- 4Paragraph 4
- Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
- 5Paragraph 5
- Derelict Land Act 1982 (c. 42)
- 6Paragraph 6
- Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27)
- 7Paragraph 7
- Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)
- 10Paragraph 10
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43)
- 11Paragraph 11
- Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
- 12Paragraph 12
- Environment Act 1995 (c. 25)
- 13Paragraph 13
- Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)
- 14Paragraph 14
- Part II: Transitional provisions
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17
- 18Paragraph 18
- Schedule 16: Repeals
- IAccess to the countryside
- IIPublic rights of way and road traffic
- IIISites of special scientific interest
- IVWildlife
- VAreas of outstanding natural beauty
- VIOther