Public Rights of Way (PRoW) are protected by law and can only be altered by legal order. The Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way, together with a document called the Definitive Statement, lists the precise location of all PRoWs within Essex. Essex County Council, as the surveying authority for the county of Essex, maintains and updates the Definitive Map and Definitive Statement.
The Definitive Map and Definitive Statement are conclusive in law as to the location and existence of PRoWs, but the documents are regularly updated to reflect changes that have resulted from legal orders. Legal orders can be used to create a new PRoW, modify an existing PRoW or remove a PRoW from the list.
Anyone can request a change to the Definitive Map and Definitive Statement, provided they are able to make a reasonable case for the alteration to take place. Essex County Council has a statutory obligation to consider all proposed alterations to the Definitive Map and Statement.
Changes to the Definitive Map and Statement may be made either by Public Path Order, under the Highways Act or the Town and Country Planning Act and are concerned with matters of landowner choice and planning applications respectively. Other evidence based changes can be made under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. All such claims based on evidence are processed as part of the Definitive Map Review, which is undertaken by the Law and Administration team, who can be contacted for more information.
Creating a brand new public right of way
Information about modifications to the Definitive Map
Information about the diversion of footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways.
Details about public path schemes.