SHOULD MOTOR VEHICLES HAVE ACCESS TO GREEN LANES? LORDS TO CONSIDER ACCESS ISSUES

SHOULD MOTOR VEHICLES HAVE ACCESS TO GREEN LANES? LORDS TO CONSIDER ACCESS ISSUES

The Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 will take evidence on countryside access and rights of way on Tuesday 21 November. The Committee will hear from witnesses including the Ramblers Association, Land Access and Recreation Association and the Green Lanes Protection Group.

The first two sessions will focus on the effect Part 6 of the 2006 Act has had, which reduced access rights for motor vehicles on a number of country routes. The third session will look at a number of access issues, including the role played by Natural England in promoting access to the countryside.

At 11:05am the Committee will hear evidence from:

• Dr Michael Bartholomew, Chairman, Green Lanes Protection Group
• Dr Diana Mallinson, Honorary Secretary, Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement

At 11.40am the Committee will hear evidence from:

• Mario Costa-Sa, Chair, Trail Riders Fellowship
• Alan Kind, Secretary, Land Access and Recreation Association

At 12.15pm the Committee will hear evidence from:

• Alison Hallas, Policy and Advocacy Officer, The Ramblers
• Stephen Russell, Policy and Advocacy Officer, The Ramblers

Topics which will be covered over the session include:

• Whether the approach towards access adopted in the NERC Act struck an appropriate balance between the needs of motor vehicle users and those of other groups who use public rights of way.
• Whether the current legal framework strikes the right balance between countryside access and nature conservation.
• How well Natural England is fulfilling its objective of promoting access to the countryside and open spaces.
• The impact of government funding reductions—and continuing funding uncertainty—on England’s National Trails network.
• The work that Natural England has done to establish and promote the England Coast Path.

The evidence sessions will begin at 11:05am, Tuesday 21 November in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords