horse 
 
 
Horse and pony - Equiworld site index.Horse chat message boards.Horse breeds, types and breeding gallery.Search for horse information on Equiworld.Horse information and equestrian news archive.horsehorse  
[Dressage]-[Driving]-[Endurance]-[Horse-Trials]-[Polo]-[Show-Jumping]-[Showing]-[Side-Saddle]-[Vaulting]-[Western]


horse Minister Answers : Open Access Will Not Cost Landowners

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has welcomed a statement by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael, which seemingly calms fears that a financial burden would be placed on the providers of open access land under Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

In his response to a question tabled by James Gray MP, the Minister stated: "There is no obligation on landowners to incur any expenditure in respect of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. He goes on to state that the responsibility for infrastructure such signage, footbridges and gates is entirely the responsibility of the local authority.

CLA Deputy Regional Director NW, Sue Harrison said: "This is an issue on which we needed clarification and we are pleased that it has now been spelt out clearly in Parliament. The Minister says quite clearly that there will be no cost to landowners and farmers, which is absolutely fair and just. However, in the next sentence he does say that costs will be incurred if they make use of the appeals and restrictions system, which the vast majority will of course need to use if they are to continue to manage their land without interference."

"Having gained this reassurance, the CLA will be making sure that the Government lives up to its word, and we will be asking our members to notify us of any costs they incur in opening up their land. To believe that providing land for the public to enjoy will not cost landowners a penny is stretching credibility somewhat, though it would be nice to think that this will turn out to be the case."

The CLA says that farmers, landowners and managers with mapped access land should make every effort to familiarise themselves with their responsibilities under the Act, and to take advice from organisations such as the CLA who themselves have invested so much time and money into making sure that the implications of the CRoW Act are made clear to all.


.



Find out more, visit the links page or find answers on the message board.

horse


Copyright 1994 to 2024 Equiworld at Hayfield, Aberdeen, Scotland - 30 years on the web. Archived Version.