NEW rights to walk across countryside and the more remote areas of Craven are coming soon.

The Countryside Agency is holding a public roadshow to give everyone the chance to have their say on increasing access to land in parts of North and West Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Paul Mutch, senior countryside officer at the Agency, said: "Almost 150,000 hectares of land in the lower north west region could soon be opened up to the public for the first time in generations.

"That's nearly 15 per cent of the land in this region, a size equivalent to one and a half times the size of West Yorkshire.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act introduced last year will enable people to walk freely across "open country" - mountain, moor, heath and down land and registered common land.

Mr Mutch added: "The new rights will affect everyone from landowners and ramblers to people who have a small area of land close to where they live, remote moor land or a small area of common land for instance, where access is currently denied. Under the new legislation this land could be opened up.

"This is the most important legislation for 50 years that will give new rights to walk in vast new areas of countryside.

"I'd encourage everyone to take this chance to visit the roadshow to see what land has been included on the maps and then give us their views. By making sure access is mapped correctly they will not only benefit everyone now it will also benefit future generations."

The roadshow will be held at Skipton Town Hall on Wednesday January 9 from 12.30pm until 7.30pm, with public presentations at 1.15pm and 6.30pm.

Everyone, including landowners, ramblers and other interested parties, will be given the opportunity to view maps, speak to Countryside Agency representatives about them and lodge written comments on them.

Those with Internet access can view the maps at www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping

Maps are also available for people to look at in some local authority offices, libraries, national park visitor centres and Countryside Agency offices.

All comments must be received by February 12 and will be carefully considered by the Countryside Agency.

Any changes will be made in light of these comments will be shown on provisional maps, which will be published during 2002.

Once these provisional maps have been published, those with a legal interest in the land can lodge appeals about the maps with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Once appeals have been resolved, the Secretary of State will request the Countryside Agency to make any changes that are required before conclusive maps of open country and register common land are published. The public's right of access will then take effect when the Secretary of State gives the go-ahead.

Anyone wanting additional information about the consultation process should call 0845 100 3298.