Our nine-point plan for the new Senedd

We have sent our nine-point plan for the new Senedd to our members in Wales to use when speaking to their candidates in the forthcoming election.

Here is the manifesto. (Cymraeg yma)

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The opportunity for people to enjoy open spaces and paths, for their relaxation, health, well-being, and appreciation of nature, has never been more important.  The Open Spaces Society wants everyone in Wales to be able to enjoy these benefits to the full, and we call on candidates in the Senedd election to commit to the following actions.

Public access

1       Public rights of access to be extended to woodland, watersides, and on water, thereby securing more and better access close to people’s homes.

2       A requirement to provide access points to access land to ensure that it is all legally accessible.

3       A right of responsible backpack-camping on all land mapped for access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

     Open spaces

4       A mandate on developers to provide registered town or village greens as part of development over a certain size or density, to ensure that the land is protected in perpetuity and local people have rights of recreation there.

5       A duty on local authorities to provide well-maintained, good quality, and safe open spaces close to people’s homes.

     Common land

6       A speed limit of 40 mph on unfenced roads across commons, to safeguard livestock and the public.

     Public rights of way

7       Sufficient funding to enable local authorities to meet their statutory requirements to maintain, defend, and record public rights of way.  (The current state of public paths in Wales is deplorable—yet they are highways in law, just like any road.)

8       The sustainable farming scheme to provide new and better access; those receiving funding must keep their rights of way in good order or have their grant docked.

9       A power for highway authorities to require a stile, gate, or other lawful limitation to be replaced by more accessible structures, and a power to require removal of the structures when land use changes.