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Maps of Open Country and Registered Common Land
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 grants a new right of access to the public to areas of Open Country (mountain, moor, heath and down) and Registered Common Land for the purposes of open-air recreation. The new right is for access on foot and came into effect on 19th September 2004.
Before the new right came into effect it was important that the new areas, which would be subject to the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, had been mapped correctly so that everyone knew where they could walk.
The Countryside Agency published a Draft Map for the lower north-west of England (Mapping Area 2) in November 2001. The maps for Wirral were displayed at Birkenhead Central Library for public consultation. The Merseyside Local Access Forum was also consulted on the Draft Map
The Countryside Agency took all of the public’s comments into consideration and a Provisional Map was published on 18th November 2002.
A three-month consultation period was then allowed for anyone with a legal interest (i.e. landowners, tenants, or anyone holding grazing rights, porting rights, or private rights of way) to appeal to the Secretary of State over decisions to include land recorded on the Provisional Map.
Information on the appeals process can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website at: www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/access.
The Conclusive Map of Open Country and Registered Common Land for the lower north-west of England was published at midday on 2nd June 2004.
The Conclusive Map for Wirral is available for inspection during normal office hours at:
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Technical Services Department
Cheshire Lines Building
Canning Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
Merseyside
CH41 1ND
Contact: Caroline Vale (0151 606 2004)
An appointment is not necessary, but telephoning in advance would be helpful.
All of the maps for the lower north-west of England are available to view on the Countryside Agency’s mapping website: www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping
The maps are not walking maps and must not be used as definitive evidence about where people can walk. The Conclusive Map only shows Registered Common Land (shaded green) and Open Country (shaded yellow). They do not show categories of land excepted under the new right or land with access rights apart from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. The Conclusive Map also does not show land dedicated under the 2000 Act or land where restrictions are in place. Further information about this is available on the Countryside Agency’s website: www.openaccess.gov.uk
The new access rights came into effect following the Secretary of State making a commencement order for the lower north-west of England.
The Conclusive Map for the lower north-west of England (Mapping Area 2) will remain current until it is reviewed by the Countryside Agency. This review will not occur later than 10 years after its issue.
Conclusive Map locations for the other Merseyside Authorities and Halton Borough Council
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Department of Regeneration and Development
Yorkon Buildings
Archway Road
Huyton
L36 9FB
Contact: Bernard Maloney (0151 443 2289)
Liverpool City Council
Highways Management Regeneration
Kingsway House
Hatton Gardens
Liverpool
Contact: Brian Mason (0151 2253740)
St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Environmental Protection Department
4th Floor
Wesley House
Corporation Street
St Helens
WA10 1HF
Contact: Peter Coulton (01744 456388)
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Balliol House
Balliol Road
Bootle
L20 3NJ
Contact: Val Hough (0151 934 2406)
Halton Borough Council
Environment and Planning Directorate
Grosvenor House
Halton Lea
Runcorn
WA7 2GW
Contact: Janet Whelan (0151 424 2061)