The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 requires the County Council to keep the Definitive Map of public rights of way under continuous review and to make modifications where it appears that routes should be added, regraded or deleted.

A review of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way is currently in progress in the parish of Morchard Bishop and a consultation map was published in June 2003 detailing 15 proposals for changes to the existing Public Rights of Way network.

Parish Map overview (892 KB

Of the 15 proposals shown on the proposals map 13 Modification Orders have been made and 2 Bridleways have been added to the Definitive Map by way of Creation Agreements.

Orders have been confirmed in respect of the following proposals

As Unopposed Orders

• Proposal 1: Footpath No. 49 – from Rectory Road to Middle-the-Green
• Proposal 2:Footpath No. 50 – From Fore Street to Middle-the-Green
• Proposal 12: Footpath No. 58 – Slade Lane
• Proposal 13: Footpath No. 57, Morchard Bishop & Footpath No. 18, Down St Mary – to confirm that north end of path inn Morchard Bishop

Orders determined by the Planning Inspectorate following Public Inquiries

• Proposal 3:Bridleway No. 53 – Back Lane – Restricted Byway & Bridleway (Spur section)
• Proposal 5:Bridleway Nos. 36 Woolfardisworthy, 53 Morchard Bishop & 45, Sandford – Scotland/Swannaton Lane – Restricted Byway
• Proposal 6:Bridleway No. 54 – Butcombe/Moor Lane – Restricted Byway
• Proposal 7:Bridleway No. 55 – Middlecott/Week Lane – Restricted Byway
• Proposal 11: Bridleway No. 56 – Hall Lane
• Footpath No. 65 – Polson Hill to FP 14 (Two Moors Way)

The following Orders have been made in 2006, objected to and have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for determination. A public inquiry was held in June 2007 and the Inspector proposed modifications changing all three Orders to Public Footpaths and deleting the section of Bridleway No. 60 north east of the junction with Footpath No. 28.  Objections were made to the proposed modifications and the Inspector’s second decision is currently awaited.

• Proposal 8:Bridleway No. 60 – Windwhistle Lane
• ProposalBridleway No. 61 – Hirscombe Lane
• ProposalBridleway No. 62 – Tatepath Hill/Lane

The following Order has been modified to a Byway Open to All Traffic following the second public Inquiry in April 2007.  Objections closed on the 10^th August 2007 and further correspondence is now awaited from the Planning Inspectorate/ Inspector.

• Proposal 7:Bridleway No. 55 – Middlecott/Week Lane – modified to BOAT

The following Orders have been made in 2006, objected to and are being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for determination. A public inquiry will probably be held in 2007/2008.

• Footpath No. 64 – Old Rectory Gardens to Church Street
• Footpath No. 65 – Polson Hill (by garage) to Footpath No 14

The Order for a public footpath from Old Rectory Gardens to Church Street (Footpath No. 64, Morchard Bishop) received objections which have not all being withdrawn.  The Order will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for determination.

Reports submitted to and minutes from the PROW Committee meetings can be viewed on Agenda, Reports and Minutes.

For more information please contact PROW, Devon County Council, Lucombe House, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QW Tel 01392  382833 or by email at prow@devon.gov.uk

Nov 08