Public helps shape the future of Countryside access

Members of the public have helped Hampshire County Council shape the future of countryside access.

After an extensive programme of research and public consultation, Hampshire County Council has published a Countryside Access Plan for the County.

The Countryside Access Plan has seen input from local residents, landowners and over 500 countryside users including walkers, cyclists horse riders and carriage drivers. Each person has told the council what they feel about the existing network of rights of way and other routes and how they think it could be improved.

The Countryside Access plan meets requirements under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 for all highway authorities to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan. The plan covers seven geographical areas: the Forest of Eversley, the Forest of Bere, the South Downs (Hampshire), the New Forest & SW Hants, the Solent (Hampshire), the Test and Itchen and the Hampshire Downs.

Hampshire County Council protects and maintains over 4,500km of footpaths, bridleways and byways which enable people to walk and explore the county. The Council also owns seven major country parks, and several nature reserves and historic sites. These, together with privately owned sites and those run by other organisations such as the Forestry Commission and Hampshire Wildlife Trust, provide a wide and diverse range of places to visit. The Countryside Access Plan will allow all these organisations to work together and make sure these places are maintained to the highest standard for everyone to enjoy.

Further information on the The Countryside Access Plan.

Paper copies are available from Hampshire County Council's main libraries or for alternative formats tel 0845 6035636.