Public rights of way applications backlog concerns campaigners

All historic rights of way must be recorded by 2031, according to rules set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

But countryside campaigners are concerned the paperwork-heavy process is so slow that some paths may never be recorded.

Paul Howland, a volunteer with walking charity the Ramblers in Hampshire, has lodged more than 100 applications with his local authority, requesting specific paths be added to the official map.

“What we’re doing is recovering old paths that have often been in place for centuries,” he said.

“Once [a route is] determined it’ll be there forever, for my children and grandchildren and for future generations, and that makes it all worthwhile.”