Newington - Footpath No. 4 (part) Public Path Diversion and Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2026 Ref: 03907

Oxfordshire County Council has powers to make Orders to divert public rights of way under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 (‘The Act’). The diversion Order is made in the interests of the public. The existing and proposed routes are shown on the Order plan.

The effect of the Order is to divert the section A – B onto the route running between C – B.

The current legal line of Footpath No. 4 runs from the end of the private road at The Lydes into the gardens and houses and into the field at point B. The new footpath C – B runs east from the A329 on the field-edge alongside the southern side of The Lydes, then meets the existing line of Footpath No. 4 at point B.

The walked route which is currently in use on the ground follows the narrow concrete walkway next to The Lydes which is understood to have been in place since the houses were constructed in around 1950. The route of the path was shown wrongly when the path was first recorded in the 1950s, because the then new houses were not shown on the Ordnance Survey base mapping that was used to depict public rights of way.

The diverted route of the path will have a recorded width of two metres and will run along the field-edge. A hand-gate will be erected where the path meets the road at point C.

The Council has consulted with key interest groups and the relevant parish council. It appears to the Council that the Order complies with the legal provisions contained in the Act and that it is expedient that the public right of way should be diverted. The making and advertising of the Order provides an opportunity for objections or representations to be made. Any responses must be received by the date set out in the Notice. The Council will then consider how to proceed. If any objections are made and not withdrawn, the Council may refer the Order and objections to the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for determination. An Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate will then either take written representations or hear the objections at a Public Inquiry or Hearing. The Inspector can confirm the Orders, confirm them with modifications, or refuse to confirm the Orders. If no objections are received the County Council may confirm the Order itself, but it has no power of modification. The right of an objection to an Order is a statutory right, but it should be exercised in a reasonable manner. The costs involved in dealing with objections to an Order may be awarded against objectors in cases of unreasonable behaviour.

Further information about public path order procedures and the relevant legal provisions are available in our Guidance Notes at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/modificationsanddiversions and Natural England’s ‘’A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way’’ (reference NE112) at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/definitive-maps-of-public-rights-of-way-change-the-legal-records.

Data Protection Act and GDPR: 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.