With the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the previous government introduced a deadline for all rights of way in England to be registered on the definitive map. Many routes are incorrectly classified as footpaths or still missing from the official map, so not protected under law for horse riders, cyclists or carriage drivers to use. Definitive Map Modification Order applications must be made with supporting evidence, and approved by the County Council’s Rights of Way Department or PINS to add routes to the map or upgrade them to higher rights of bridleways or restricted byways.
We started submitting DMMO applications in May 2008. Removal of the deadline enables us to continue submitting applications to add or upgrade lost routes to the definitive map where there is historical and/or user evidence.
We welcome any suggestions of routes that are currently used by horse riders and/or carriage drivers which are not on the Definitive Map but you believe might be old public routes. Please see our DMMO page and the ROAM map for a list of applications made.
Please see our Map Modification page and this Guardian article for more details here.