29 November 2024
The Kent Countryside Access Forum, an independent statutory body consisting of volunteers representing countryside users, landowners and businesses, has written to the Secretary of State making the case for abolishing the 1 January 2031 cut-off date for recording historic pre-1949 paths.
The definitive maps prepared in the decades after 1950 were intended to create a reliable record of our rights of way but in practice many paths were omitted. The government undertook to identify all the omitted paths but found the task too difficult and gave up in 2008. Since then dedicated volunteers have been working to get the job done but have no hope of finishing by the deadline.
Visit the Kent Countryside Access Forum website
UPDATE: The Government announced on Boxing Day 2024 that it will abolish the cut-off date as requested.