Faringdon - Notice of Modification Order to correct anomaly on Footpath No. 10

Introduction

Public footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways, open to all traffic are recorded on Definitive Maps and Statements. These maps and statements provide conclusive legal evidence of the existence of public rights. Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for the Definitive Map and Statement for Oxfordshire and has a duty to amend them when evidence suggests that they are inaccurate or incomplete. Such amendments are made by Modification Orders made under section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These Orders do not come into effect until confirmed. If there are no objections to the order, or if any made are withdrawn, the council may confirm the Order, and the Definitive Map and Statement will then be modified.

The Great Faringdon Footpath No. 10 (part) Modification Order 2024

The council has made a Modification Order under section 53 of the Act to amend the alignment of the full extent of the path running from OS grid reference SU 3000 9963 at the parish boundary (point A on the Order plan) generally north-westwards then northwards for approximately 268 metres to the existing line of Footpath No. 10 at SU 2997 9989 (point B on the Order plan), on to a route from OS grid reference SU 2998 9958 (point C on the Order plan) at the junction with Littleworth Footpath No. 8 at the parish boundary running north-westwards then north-north-eastwards for approximately 317 metres to the existing line of Footpath No. 10 at SU 2997 9989 (point B on the Order plan).

Oxfordshire County Council has made this Order because there is sufficient evidence to show that a mistake was made in the drafting of the 1996 Definitive Map which incorrectly recorded it running on the wrong line to a dead-end at the parish boundary. The evidence on which the decision is based is set out in the determination report which is available on request from countrysideaccesslegal@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Objecting to the order

Objections or representations relating to the Order must be made in writing to the Team Leader, Countryside Access - Legal Record & Research, Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, Oxford OX1 1ND, or countrysideaccesslegal@oxfordshire.gov.uk no later than 23 August 2024, and must include particulars of the grounds relied on.

To be relevant, objections or representations should relate only to evidence indicating that the rights to be recorded by the order do or do not exist. The law dictates that the council can have no regard to whether these rights are wanted, needed, or have any other potential impacts. The council does not have a choice in that regard and has absolutely no discretion to take other matters into consideration. Ultimately an objection based on anything other than evidence indicating that such rights for the public do not exist, would be disregarded, see what an Inspector considers in reaching a decision.

If there are any objections which are not withdrawn, the council must refer the Order and objections to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will appoint an independent Inspector to consider the Order and hear the objections, either at public inquiry(External link), a hearing(External link), or by written exchange of evidence. This would involve the production of Statements of Case by both the council and any objectors and be the subject of scrutiny and cross examination, potentially at public inquiry.

The Council will be willing to discuss the concerns of those objecting or making representations relating to the order. Please contact the contact the Case Officer - contact details are on the right hand side. The right of objection to an order is a statutory right, but it should be exercised in a reasonable manner. The council’s costs involved in dealing with objections to orders are normally awarded against objectors only in cases of unreasonable behaviour.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) and Data Protection Act

The County Council will consider all correspondence, objections and representations received in response to this order. They may be disseminated widely for these purposes and made available to the public. Privacy Notice Public Rights of Way, Commons and Town & Village Greens