Watch out for sneaky government legislation.

[ardcarp]

I heard (from somewhere) that the government is thinking of passing legislation to close all public footpaths that are not 'registered' by a certain date. This is awful. We are blessed with many footpaths, bridlepaths and other rights of way, most of which are marked on OS maps. This seems to be a sneaky plan to keep the public off land owned by Tory friends. Keep a look out, everyone.

Ah. Here it is: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...-2026-deadline

[oddoneout]

There was an article in the local rag about this asking for help from walkers to get paths mapped.
Perhaps, like the registering of commons, it's all part and parcel of the drive to remove potential planning permission obstructions? Although these days there doesn't seem to be anything that can effectively block planning permission, so perhaps it's to stop the unwanted and tiresome public disturbing those who have expensive properties in the countryside and want to repel invaders?

[Bryn]

Yes, the Ramblers Association are calling for assistance (and membership) in getting as many such paths registered as possible. Unfortunately, when I looked at their online map for my local area, nearly all the paths shown as in need of registration are either already full metalled pubic roads or non-existent as paths (the latter shown as passing through Crown Estate commercial woodland that I know like the back of my hand. Walkers are encouraged there but only three of the several 'paths' shown on the Ramblers' Association actually exist, even as remnants, one being the route of a disused public road running parallel to the current A329 London Road.

[ardcarp]

We live in a rural area which is rich in 'right of way' footpaths. We know other areas are not so lucky. One estate, large and well-known from a past BBC programme, succeeded somehow in having all its rights of way footpaths closed. This was some legal process which nobody really understands, and which nobody knew about until after it happened. As my heading suggests, keep a lookout.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm disposed to believe anything bad about Boris & Co Very Ltd but surely this isn't the threat that the ardcarp envisages? I read it as having no bearing on currently-recognised 'official' public footpaths.

The official consultation document indicates that the problem is with ancient rights of way that have ceased to be recognised and used. Even though they've been for all practical purposes abandoned and forgotten and may even have been impassable for years, the common law still has to recognise the subsisting right if anyone at all goes to law demanding reinstatement and reopening. Bit of a minefield for developers! Or even for small freeholders like me - I have a public right of way along a shared dead-end driveway (the footpath then continues between other properties), but would hate to have someone claiming and proving there was another public right of way through my garden in the year dot. Not totally impossible as the house dates from c.1800

The proposal is that if no one takes any action within the set period to get an ancient but unused right of way formally recognised, its theoretical 'public' status cannot be revived thereafter. Bygones will indeed be bygones.

[oddoneout]

A problem in this neck of the woods, which I suspect is repeated elsewhere, is that increasingly cash-strapped local authorities have been unable to maintain paths sufficiently to enable access so walkers can't and then don't use them. External funding of some kind has been made use of for paths in the area - signposting and numbering and doing necessary clearance - in and around town, nice little booklets produced and some guided walks arranged(pre-Covid but starting up again now), but issues are again arising where lack of maintenance makes the routes less appealing. Some are also suffering from increased use making the ground conditions challenging, and resources not being available to rectify the problem. The paths are a mix of old and newer, the latter in many cases being the result of residential development adapting existing paths across the land built on. In theory they are maintained, together with the public open spaces, by service charges on residents of the various estates, but in practice that doesn't always happen.

[Jazzrook]

More sneaky government legislation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/01/boris-johnson-rigging-the-system-power-courts-protest-elections

JR

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One of the problems about public rights of way is the way these are shown on OS maps. Footpaths have always been clearly and accurately marked on 1:25,000 maps, but it wasn’t until the late 1960s that actual rights of way were added, based on local authority records. These records weren’t particularly accurate, so you see theoretical rights of way plunging of precipices, while the real footpaths follow a more sensible route. So the right of doesn’t get used at all, but the nearby footpath does, creating something of a can of worms. I have a Satmap 20 GPS device, which confirms these anomalies time and again.

[Dave2002]

More sneaky government legislation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/01/boris-johnson-rigging-the-system-power-courts-protest-elections

JR

Very interesting - and somewhat concerning. Thanks for the heads up.

[french frank]

Very interesting - and somewhat concerning.

Delete 'Somewhat'. And at the Labour party conference, where 80% of the CLPs voted in favour of PR, the motion was scuppered by the unions.

[Bryn]

Delete 'Somewhat'. And at the Labour party conference, where 80% of the CLPs voted in favour of PR, the motion was scuppered by the unions.

Delete "unions" and substitute "union-member-funded management training schemes masquerading as unions". In many industries, that is now, sadly, pretty much the reality.

[french frank]

Delete "unions" and substitute "union-member-funded management training schemes masquerading as unions". In many industries, that is now, sadly, pretty much the reality.

I'm happy with your amendment, Bryn. Why can't they see they're playing into the hands of the Tories with their boundary changes, plus FPTP, to favour themselves? Jonathan Freedland pretty much had it right. Unlock Democracy recently did a survey of members, including this question:

Which part of the Elections Bill worries you the most?

The introduction of voter ID
Ending the independence of the Electoral Commission
Potential new restrictions on charity campaigning
Reintroducing FPTP for Mayoral and council elections
Opening up UK elections to more overseas donations
All of the above

[ardcarp]

All pretty scary.

[Jazzrook]

All pretty scary.

Just wonder what percentage of the Great British Public are aware of the government's undemocratic plans.
Apart from Jonathan Freedland's article there seems to have been little discussion of them in the mainstream media.

JR

[oddoneout]

Just wonder what percentage of the Great British Public are aware of the government's undemocratic plans.
Apart from Jonathan Freedland's article there seems to have been little discussion of them in the mainstream media.

JR

Covid has provided a very useful (unfortunately) screen behind which to hide all the various undesirable moves. As to why it's not reported, well my perception is that little of what happens in this country is now reported anywhere, presumably to avoid the ire and action of those who wield control over the press and BBC. So much for a free press, only applies when writing about other countries?
The powerlessness (whether real or perceived) of the populace to change any of the dictatorial or plain incompetent dross being generated by the government is a great enabler for those actions, even where people do notice and dislike what is going on. The resulting resignation acts as a convenient (for the administration) damper on action.
I have continued to send emails to the constituency MP, (much less so than previously I have to say due to the sheer volume of things to object to or comment on)but suspect he has blocked me as I have had no response of any kind for a long time, even when I have sent a query.