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Minister
Answers : Open Access Will Not Cost Landowners |
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has welcomed a statement
by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael, which seemingly calms fears
that a financial burden would be placed on the providers of open access
land under Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
In his response to a question tabled by James Gray MP, the Minister
stated: "There is no obligation on landowners to incur any expenditure
in respect of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. He goes
on to state that the responsibility for infrastructure such signage,
footbridges and gates is entirely the responsibility of the local
authority.
CLA Deputy Regional Director NW, Sue Harrison said: "This is
an issue on which we needed clarification and we are pleased that
it has now been spelt out clearly in Parliament. The Minister says
quite clearly that there will be no cost to landowners and farmers,
which is absolutely fair and just. However, in the next sentence he
does say that costs will be incurred if they make use of the appeals
and restrictions system, which the vast majority will of course need
to use if they are to continue to manage their land without interference."
"Having gained this reassurance, the CLA will be making sure
that the Government lives up to its word, and we will be asking our
members to notify us of any costs they incur in opening up their land.
To believe that providing land for the public to enjoy will not cost
landowners a penny is stretching credibility somewhat, though it would
be nice to think that this will turn out to be the case."
The CLA says that farmers, landowners and managers with mapped access
land should make every effort to familiarise themselves with their
responsibilities under the Act, and to take advice from organisations
such as the CLA who themselves have invested so much time and money
into making sure that the implications of the CRoW Act are made clear
to all.
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