National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

33 Periodical revision of maps and statements

(1) The authority by whom a definitive map and statement have been prepared under the last foregoing section shall from time to time review the particulars contained therein having regard to events which have occurred at any time between the relevant date specified in the definitive statement and such date as may be determined by the authority for the purposes of the review (in this and the next following section referred to as " the date of review "):

Provided that in the case of a map and statement which have previously been reviewed under this subsection, the foregoing provisions of this subsection shall have effect with the substitution, for the reference to the relevant date specified in the statement, of a reference to the last preceding date of review.

(2) The events so occurring as aforesaid to which an authority shall have regard in carrying out a review under the last foregoing subsection shall include the following events, that is to say—

(a) the coming into operation of any enactment or instrument, or any other event, whereby a highway required to be shown, and shown, on the map has been authorised to be stopped up, diverted, widened or extended ;

(b) the coming into operation of any enactment or instrument, or any other event, whereby a highway shown on the map as being a highway of a particular description required to be shown thereon has ceased to be a highway of that description;

(c) the coming into operation of any enactment or instrument, or any other event, whereby a new right of way has been created, being a right of way to which this Part of this Act applies ;

(d) the expiration, in relation to a way in the area of the authority, of any period such that the enjoyment by the public of the way during that period raises a presumption that the way has been dedicated as a public path; and

(e) the discovery by the authority of new evidence such that, if the authority were then preparing a draft map under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, they would be required by those provisions to show on the map, as a highway of a particular description, a way not so shown on the definitive map, or on the revised map last prepared in accordance with the following provisions of this section, as the case may be.

(3) A review under subsection (1) of this section shall be carried out at such time as the authority carrying out the review may consider appropriate, so however that the date of review shall not in any case be a date later than the expiration of five years after the relevant date, or the last preceding date of review, whichever is the later:

Provided that nothing in this subsection shall affect the validity of any review carried out under the said subsection (1) or of any document prepared or thing done in consequence of such a review.

(4) Subject to the following provisions of this section, on completing a review under subsection (1) of this section the authority shall prepare a revised map and statement, consisting of the definitive map and statement, or of the revised map and statement last prepared under this section, as the case may be, subject to such modifications (if any) of the particulars contained therein as may appear to the authority to be requisite having regard to the review, and shall include in the revised statement a note of the date of review.

(5) If after carrying out a review under subsection (1) of this section it appears to the authority as respects the whole or any' part of their area that a revised map and statement prepared in accordance with the last foregoing subsection would not differ from the definitive or last revised map and statement, the authority shall cause notice of that fact, specifying the date of review and how much of their area is affected by the notice, to be published in the London Gazette and in one or more local news papers circulating in the area of the authority, and shall not be required to prepare a revised map and statement in consequence of that review in respect of so much of their area as is specified in the notice:

Provided that if within such time (not being less than twenty-eight days) as may be specified in the notice any representation is made to the authority that as respects the whole or part of so much of their area as is specified in the notice a revised map and statement prepared as aforesaid would differ from the definitive or last revised map and statement—

(a) the authority, after considering the representation and affording to the person by whom it was made an opportunity of being heard by a person appointed by the authority for the purpose, shall determine whether the representation is well founded and shall serve notice of their determination on the person by whom the representation was made;

(b) any person aggrieved by a determination of the authority under the last foregoing paragraph may, at any time within fourteen days after the service upon him of the notice of determination, serve notice of appeal against that determination on the Minister and on the authority;

(c) where notice of appeal is duly served under the last foregoing paragraph, the Minister, after giving to the appellant and to the authority an opportunity of being heard by a person appointed by him for the purpose, shall either dismiss the appeal or direct that effect shall be given to the representation ;

(d) if the authority determine that a representation is well founded or the Minister directs that a representation shall have effect, the authority shall be required to prepare a revised map and statement in consequence of the review, so however that where the representation relates to part only of their area they shell not by virtue of that representation be required so to prepare a revised map and statement for any other part of their area.