In a surprise Boxing Day announcement, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has scrapped the controversial 2031 deadline for registering historic rights of way in England. The decision comes as a major victory for walking and cycling advocates who had warned that the looming cutoff date could result in the permanent loss of thousands of miles of ancient footpaths and bridleways.
The 2031 deadline, set by the previous Conservative government, mandated that all unrecorded rights of way be officially mapped by that date or face being erased from the public record. But with a massive backlog of registration requests dating back decades and many cash-strapped councils struggling to process them in time, campaigners feared that a significant portion of England’s historic path network was at risk of being lost forever.
A Reprieve for Ancient Paths
Many of the threatened routes, some dating back hundreds or even thousands of years, play a vital role in connecting people to nature and enabling access to the countryside. Once recorded as rights of way and added to the definitive map, these paths gain legal protection for public use.
Announcing the policy reversal, Defra minister Baroness Hayman emphasized the importance of preserving this “shared heritage” for generations to come:
“These well-trodden routes, many of which have been in place for hundreds of years, are a part of our shared heritage and it is critical that we bring forward these measures to protect their long-term future.”
Ramblers, a leading UK walking charity, hailed the decision as a “fantastic step forward” in ensuring universal access to nature. Its chief executive Ross Maloney said:
“Not only are these paths an integral part of our shared heritage, but they will also have a critical role to play in the future by helping people live healthier, happier lives.”
Landowners Push Back
However, not everyone is celebrating Defra’s announcement. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents rural landowners, condemned the move as the latest attack on farmers and a “backwards step”.
CLA Deputy President Gavin Lane argued that walking groups have had ample time to register historic paths and criticized the lack of consultation with affected landowners:
“Campaigners have had decades to record rights of way, and the decision to scrap the 2031 cut-off date has been made without engaging with those who will be affected, inflicting significant uncertainty on farmers and land managers.”
The CLA also pointed out that the English countryside already boasts extensive public access, with over 140,000 miles of footpaths and 3.5 million acres of open access land. But walking advocates maintain that many more miles of unrecorded paths exist that could be lost without action.
The Path Forward
With the 2031 deadline now off the table, the onus falls on local authorities to work through the backlog of registration applications, some stretching back over 40 years. But many councils say they lack the resources and funding to handle the task.
The Local Government Association said recording rights of way requires extensive research and investigation, and without proper financial support, the 2031 target was always going to be “a tall order unlikely to be met.” It called on the government to provide councils with the necessary resources to get the job done.
For now, walking and cycling enthusiasts across England are breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that the public’s right to access ancient paths and trails is no longer living on borrowed time. But much work remains to get these historic routes officially on the map and protected for generations of ramblers to come.
