Opening up our countryside (From Western Telegraph)

Opening up our countryside

Fifty years ago, the National Park Committee held its first meeting, ushering in a new era for Pembrokeshire.

Committee chairman, Alderman J. W. Hammond, pointed out that despite the designation of a National Park in Pembrokeshire, there were no new access rights and that public paths would have to be created before the public could lawfully walk on private land in the National Park.

Since then, public access has been given to many areas of our beautiful county.

By 1960 - thanks largely to the energies of so many parish councillors - over 1,200 miles of public rights of way had been registered and this was followed in 1970 by the completion of the prestigious long distance route, the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path, achieved through legislation.

Half a century on, Pembrokeshire is gradually feeling the impact of more recent access legislation - the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act). This legislation will introduce a new right of access on foot to open country (moor and heath) and common land in Pembrokeshire.

Mapping the land affected by this new right of access has begun, with public comment on preliminary draft maps. It is likely that the second stage of consultation will begin with the issue of Provisional Maps.

However, the new right of access is not anticipated to come into force until 2005.

This legislation will also seek to adapt public rights of way to better suit the recreational needs of the public. A Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Pembrokeshire, in consultation with the public, will have a key role in delivering the improvements.

Because of the CROW Act, a Local Access Forum of representatives of the farming community and recreational been set up. The forum will advise the Park Authority and Pembrokeshire County Council on countryside access issues and help make the new legislation work. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is the main way the public can explore md enjoy the National Park and it is a hugely important resource of our tourism industry.

While the unspoilt quality of our natural environment is a major appeal for visitors, last year's foot and mouth disease crisis demonstrated that the accessibility to the countryside was of crucial importance to the tourist industry.

Some public rights of way in the Park are still in need of improvement, having suffered neglect through a lack of use and maintenance over the last 50 years. However, the Authority continues to restore these paths to keep access open.

Together with the county council, the Authority is also steadily improving public transport links to the Coast Path.

Hopefully, Alderman Hammond would have been pleased with the progress that has been made on access and would no doubt be the first to remind walkers that with rights go responsibilities and the need to respect the countryside at all times.