(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into force certain provisions of Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (“the Act”) in relation to Wales on 31 May 2005, 15 July 2005 and 21 November 2005.
The provisions commenced by this Order improve and strengthen the management of the estimated 33,000 kilometres of public rights of way in Wales by—
(a)enabling local highway authorities to consolidate their definitive maps where they are fragmented as a result of previous local government reorganisations and by making minor amendments to the procedures applicable to public path and modification orders generally. These provisions come into force on 31 May 2005 (article 2);
(b)enabling local highway authorities to close or divert footpaths, bridleways and, in due course, restricted byways, for the purpose of protecting schoolchildren and staff by assisting authorities to provide improved security at schools where public paths cross land occupied for the purposes of a school. These provisions come into force on 15 July 2005 (article 3); and
(c)requiring local highway authorities to compile and maintain three new registers relating to public path and modification orders and by enabling the National Assembly for Wales (“the National Assembly”) to prescribe the content of those registers. These provisions come into force on 21 November 2005 (article 4).