The Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural
Communities Act 2006 will take evidence on countryside access and
rights of way on Tuesday 21 November. The Committee will hear from
witnesses including the Ramblers Association, Land Access and
Recreation Association and the Green Lanes Protection Group.
The first two sessions will focus on the effect Part
6 of the 2006 Act has had, which reduced access rights for motor
vehicles on a number of country routes. The third
session will look at a number of access issues,
including the role played by Natural England in promoting access
to the countryside.
At 11:05am the Committee will hear evidence
from:
-
Dr Michael
Bartholomew, Chairman,
Green Lanes Protection Group
-
Dr Diana
Mallinson, Honorary
Secretary, Green Lanes Environmental Action
Movement
At 11.40am the Committee will hear evidence
from:
-
Mario Costa-Sa,
Chair, Trail Riders
Fellowship
-
Alan Kind,
Secretary, Land Access
and Recreation Association
At 12.15pm the Committee will hear evidence
from:
-
Alison
Hallas, Policy and Advocacy
Officer, The Ramblers
-
Stephen
Russell, Policy and
Advocacy Officer, The Ramblers
Topics which will be covered over the session
include:
-
Whether the approach towards access adopted in the
NERC Act struck an appropriate balance between the needs of
motor vehicle users and those of other groups who use public
rights of way.
-
Whether the current legal framework strikes the
right balance between countryside access and nature
conservation.
-
How well Natural England is fulfilling its
objective of promoting access to the countryside and open
spaces.
-
The impact of government funding reductions—and
continuing funding uncertainty—on England’s National Trails
network.
-
The work that Natural England has done to establish
and promote the England Coast Path.
The evidence sessions will begin at
11:05am, Tuesday 21 November in Committee Room 1 of the House of
Lords.
