Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

24 Land management

(1) The relevant authority may by direction, on an application made by a person interested in any land, exclude or restrict access to that land by virtue of section 2(1) during a specified period, if the authority are satisfied that the exclusion or restriction under this section of access by virtue of section 2(1) to the extent provided by the direction is necessary for the purposes of the management of the land by the applicant.

(2) The reference in subsection (1) to a specified period includes a reference to—

(a) a specified period in every calendar year, or

(b) a period which is to be—

(i) determined by the applicant in accordance with the direction, and

(ii) notified by him to the relevant authority in accordance with regulations under section 32(1)(d).

(3) In determining whether to any extent the exclusion or restriction under this section of access by virtue of section 2(1) during any period is necessary for the purposes of land management, the relevant authority shall have regard to—

(a) the existence of the right conferred by section 22,

(b) the extent to which the applicant has exercised or proposes to exercise that right, and

(c) the purposes for which he has exercised or proposes to exercise it.

(4) Where an application under this section relates to land which is not access land at the time when the application is made, the relevant authority shall not give a direction under this section unless they are satisfied that it is likely that the land will be access land during all or part of the period to which the application relates.