Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into force certain provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (“the Act”) in relation to Wales.
Apart from minor and consequential amendments, it brings into force, on 28 May 2005, the following provisions of the Act—
(a)section 2, which introduces a new public right of access to “access land”;
(b)sections 12 and 13, which relate to the effect of the right of access on the rights and liabilities of owners and occupiers;
(c)section 14, which creates an offence of displaying on access land notices deterring public use; and
(d)Schedule 2, which contains general restrictions to be observed by persons exercising their right of access on access land.
In relation to Wales, most “access land” (as defined in section 1(1) of the Act) will comprise land—
(a)shown as open country or registered common land on a map issued in conclusive form by the Countryside Council for Wales (“the CCW”) for the purposes of Part I of the Act; or
(b)which has been dedicated by a person entitled to do so under section 16 of the Act.
Maps showing the areas over which the right of access will apply have been prepared by the CCW for all areas in Wales and the electronic version of those maps in conclusive form may be inspected at the relevant local office of the CCW, the address of which can be found on the CCW’s website at www.ccw.gov.uk. Reduced-scale versions of the maps may also be viewed on that website.