The Welsh Government has decided not to proceed with land access reforms despite overwhelming support from a public consultation for its own proposals.
What does that mean? Well, put simply, in England and Wales bicycles can only legally be ridden on a bridleway and not on a footpath. The Welsh Government’s own proposals for land reform would look to emulate the models of as Scotland, for example.
Despite a 70% approval rate from a public consultation of over 16,000 people, the Welsh Government opted to halt plans for significant land reform. These proposals included the opening up of many rights of way to cyclists.
Whilst Wales may have led the way in terms of trail centres, Coed Y Brenin setting the blueprint for the rest to follow, and having some fantastic official mountain bike trails, there is a distinct lack of routes for those looking to ride legal trails that aren’t man-made.
Details are lacking as to why the Welsh Assembly have opted not to follow through with their own proposals in the face of significant support, but it would appear that, according to Welsh Minister for Environment Hannah Blythyn:
“There were strong but differing views on how best to reform access legislation. We therefore believe that now is not the right time for substantive reform.”
In a time when Scotland is celebrating 20 years since the initial review of the then current legislation regards land access that then led to the 2005 Scottish Land Reform Act, this decision by the Welsh Government, assuming similar timelines, effectively halts any land reform in Wales for another 5 years.
All is not lost though, mountain bikers made up a large proportion of the favourable feedback towards these proposals, so our voices are being heard. Welsh mountain biking needs us more than ever.
