Letter: Tangled paths
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Michael Meacher has announced proposals for changing the legislation on public footpaths and bridleways. One of these is to close thousands of miles of ancient, legal public paths, simply because they have not been registered on the definitive rights of way map.
These paths remain off the map purely through continuing negligence of national and local government. Mr Meacher proposes giving a 10-year period for the public to claim them. But the reason for having a definitive map in the first place is so that the public can know where the rights of way are.
How are we supposed to claim the ones missed off it? The only way to do this is by complicated research in archives of old public authority records, an operation requiring skill, knowledge and resources.
To make the claim requires a complicated procedure, designed to hinder applicants with unnecessary technical requirements. The task should be done on a large scale by people given the training and resources to do it properly.
Mr Meacher cannot but know that by allowing local authorities to obstruct applications, and now imposing a cutoff he will be closing for ever the public's ancient right to mile after mile of countryside access.
CHRISTOPHER PADLEY
Lincolnshire Fieldpaths Association
Market Rasen, Lincolnshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments