PEOPLE in South Gloucestershire are about to get the chance to take part in what is believed to be the country's most detailed mapping project to date, and so help put in place new rights of access for countryside walkers.
The Countryside Agency is charting all registered common land and 'open country,' heath, down moor and mountain, so they can be opened up to walkers by the target date of 2005.
The draft map, which includes Gloucestershire, is on the agency's website and at local authority offices and selected libraries.
Countryside Agency spokesman, Andy Wistow explained: "The draft map gives people with local knowledge the opportunity to comment on the land we have identified and to find out more about the exercise and what happens next."
He said the map resulted from new government legislation - the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 - which will grant walkers the freedom to walk on registered common land and open country unless there is a legal exemption in force.
The website is www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping
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