Following the introduction of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) in 2000, all surveying Authorities are now required to keep a Register of Applications made under Section 53(5) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and made available on the Councils website for public viewing.

The registers (both paper and electronic versions) will also be available for public inspection at the Office of the Rights of Way Officer at Vancouver House between normal office working hours (9.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday). Please contact the office on 01642 - 728153 to arrange an appointment before arrival to ensure a member of staff is available to help.

The Definitive map and Statement is each local authority’s record of public rights of way and any person may make an application for a “Definitive Map & Statement Modification Order” to correct an alleged inaccuracy or omission. A claim will typically involve the addition of a new right of way or a change to the status or route of an existing right of way. They must of course be able to produce relevant evidence and anyone who wishes to make an application should seek advice first.

The register of definitive map modification order applications is a list of all claims made by members of the public, or of interest groups such as the Ramblers' Association, for alterations to the Definitive Map and Statement.  The register will be updated regularly to allow the processing of individual applications to be monitored, and to provide information relating to applications, which have already been determined as they pass through the relevant legal stages.

Registers will help to increase the knowledge among landowners, users and the general public about applications which could result in changes to the definitive map and/or the rights of way network and avoid duplication where more than one person may be thinking of applying to an authority for a change to the definitive map.

For all enquiries about the Public Rights of Way Registers, including Definitive Map Modification Orders please contact the Rights of Way Officer.