Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013

3 Existing routes maps

(1) Each local authority must—

(a) prepare an existing routes map, and

(b) submit it to the Welsh Ministers for approval.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, “existing routes map”, in relation to a local authority, means a map showing the active travel routes and related facilities in the local authority’s area.

(3) In preparing its existing routes map a local authority must consult—

(a) all persons who have requested the local authority that they be consulted about its existing routes map, and

(b) any such other persons as it considers appropriate.

(4) In preparing its existing routes map a local authority must have regard to guidance given by the Welsh Ministers as to—

(a) the consultation and other steps to be taken in preparing it,

(b) the matters to be shown on it, and

(c) its form.

(5) A local authority must submit its existing routes map to the Welsh Ministers for approval⁠—

(a) before the end of the period of 1 year beginning with the day on which this section comes into force, or

(b) if the Welsh Ministers by direction given to the local authority specify a date after the end of that period as the date by which it must be submitted to them, no later than that date.

(6) When submitting an existing routes map to the Welsh Ministers under this section a local authority must also submit to them—

(a) a statement of the extent (if any) to which any of the active travel routes shown on it do not conform to standards specified in guidance given under section 2(6), and

(b) an explanation of why the local authority has nevertheless decided that it is appropriate for them to be regarded as active travel routes.

(7) When submitting an existing routes map to the Welsh Ministers under this section on any occasion other than the first, a local authority must also submit to them a report specifying how the level of use of active travel routes and related facilities in the local authority’s area has changed since the previous occasion on which an existing routes map was submitted to the Welsh Ministers under this section by the local authority.

(8) If the Welsh Ministers decide not to approve an existing routes map submitted to them by a local authority under this section, they may by direction given to the local authority require the local authority—

(a) to revise (or further revise) it, and

(b) to submit it to them for approval no later than the date specified in the direction.

(9) In determining whether to approve an existing routes map submitted to them by a local authority under this section the Welsh Ministers must—

(a) consider whether the local authority has complied with subsections (3) and (4) in preparing it, and

(b) consider the content of the statement and explanation submitted under subsection (6).

(10) Once an existing routes map prepared by a local authority has been approved by the Welsh Ministers, the local authority—

(a) must keep it under review,

(b) may revise it, and

(c) must submit it to the Welsh Ministers for approval on each occasion on which the local authority’s integrated network map is submitted for approval under section 4.

(11) The Welsh Ministers may by direction given to a local authority specify an occasion different from that specified in subsection (10)(c) as the occasion on which the local authority must submit an existing routes map to the Welsh Ministers for approval.