In answer to a PQ on 10th March 2021 My Noble Friend Lord Gardiner of Kimble used a figure of 58,500km when the correct figure is in the region of 6,392km of paths and 13,661 ha of open access.
I would like to correct the record as below.
Financial support for the permissive access options within agri-environment schemes was withdrawn as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2010. Existing agreements under the original Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) and Higher-Level Stewardship Scheme (HLS) were allowed to run their course to expiry as intended, with final agreements ending by 2021. Since 2010, agreements providing about 2,080 kilometres of CSS and 4,312 kilometres of HLS permissive linear access paths (footpath, bridleway/cycle routes, reduced mobility access and upgrades to existing paths) have expired, in accordance with the terms of the agreements, along with around 4,000 ha (CSS) and 9,661 ha (HLS) of permissive open access. These 6,392 km of paths and 13,661 ha of open access were present on about 3,000 sites. Agreement holders with permissive access options were initially encouraged to continue offering access, if practicable, without payment, but we do not have any record of the extent to which this occurred. During 2021/22 Natural England, on behalf of Defra, will be conducting research to determine what happened to access provision after the end of Stewardship agreements to help inform future public access provision within schemes.
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