Public access land under runway 24 approach

[slogen51]

Post under development

Just testing if a Countryside public rights of way (CRoW) map link works

http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.or ... NYXAuanNw/


This is the area area at the 24 end where the landing lights are situated and has been used for years as a spot to take photographs- on the Ordnance Survey map the area is marked simply as Access Land 'which is normally available for access on foot's

The survey suggests visiting Natural England for up to date information- that is the link above- which does not show anything to restrict access

Recently access to the land has been made impossible by erecting a razor wire fence with no obvious gate or stile

You can access the CRoW maps at http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.or ... BIS9nQSEh/

British Grid coordinates are :-
Easting: 575625
Northing : 283125

(The Stig is correct!)

[dervish]

It is possible that it is excepted land as a representation of Open Land on the OS Conclusive Maps for CRoW don't show exceptions (so land near airports, military establishments, around a house..blah blah blah as usual any chance of simplicity broken up by the people we pay to make it simple!).
The County Council will have the full information for the two areas of Open Land recorded on the Conclusive Map for that area along with any orders to permit stopping up of an area if the status has changed (such as if the MoD / US DoD requested an exception more recently - the Conclusive Maps aren't due to be reviewed/updated for a couple of years IIRC)

[Proteus]

9/11 stopped all the public rights of way and footpaths through here.

[DanBeeden]

Just to clarify (as it seems hard to believe!), are you saying that the whole of the field on the east side of the A1065 where the runway lights are has been fenced off and topped with razor wire? Right the way from the forest entrance down towards the traffic lights near the entrance to the road leading to the viewing area? Incredible if so.....

[slogen51]

Simply highlighting some thing that was mentioned to me so I looked it up on a map - the land is marked as open access by foot on OS maps. A fence is fine but there should be provision for a gate or stile? There can be privacy within the space i.e a mine etc. It is possible the access is obscure and not obvious to the public.

The natural England website does not show any exceptions.

Ultimately the council must be contacted for clarification

[slogen51]

Use your right to roam

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-ac ... ht-to-roam

Your grand parents fought for the rights

[Snoop 95]

Use your right to roam

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-ac ... ht-to-roam

Your grand parents fought for the rights

Which of these provisions would you say plane-spotting comes under?
"You can use access land for walking, running, watching wildlife and climbing."

[Yorky]

Watching wildlife - Eagles....ok facetious comment i know but i couldnt resist it on a hot monday morning working from home...

[BOLLO]

Is it not Lord Ivors land and he can do what he wants with it ???

[Proteus]

i live down here and after 9/11 the rights of way are no longer rights of way, DOD/MOD put pay to the old rights of access, years ago Linda’s Percy used to exercise her rights annually with a fully armed escort.

[Proteus]

i live down here and after 9/11 the rights of way are no longer rights of way, DOD/MOD put pay to the old rights of access, years ago Lindis Percy used to exercise her rights annually with a fully armed escort.

[slogen51]

The CRoW act is circa 2000 and regardless who owns the land it is marked as open access

https://www.walksaroundbritain.co.uk/openaccess.html

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (the CRoW act) gave people the right to walk on most areas of open country in England and Wales - which is defined as mountain, moor, heath, down and common land. This is called Open Access land.

What you can do on Open Access land

On Open Access land in England and Wales you can…
walk
sightsee
bird-watch
climb
run

However, despite being labelled as a "right to roam", it isn't really - not like in Scotland. It is a right to roam on land which has been designated Open Access, and not any land. Even in Open Access land, there are exceptions - and temporary restrictions may apply at certain times of the year.

According to the OS that land is marked as open access land without any exceptions posted.

Next week I shall contact the council.

[Boneyard1]

Thank you Slogen 51 for your interesting post! Hope the council can help!

[slogen51]

I doubt it

I don't mind fences to keep animals off the road and to keep dogs out but it is all to easy for open access land to be fenced off and no obvious access provided. The barbed wire is fresh and particularly vicious - hope the owners have good insurance as a passer-by / child could easily get a nasty cut.

It might be that the land is legitimately fenced off but a sign should be erected as the land is marked as open access on the OS map.

This was all brought to my attention by another spotter - I like the majority assumed it was legal - but having looked at the maps I think a question should at least be asked.

I am not super bothered as you can still take photos from the forest and other areas , it is more a point of principal that affects all roaming and was a major issue a few decades back hence the 2000 Act of Parliament.

[Boneyard1]

Good luck!

[Pune]

I doubt it

I don't mind fences to keep animals off the road and to keep dogs out but it is all to easy for open access land to be fenced off and no obvious access provided. The barbed wire is fresh and particularly vicious - hope the owners have good insurance as a passer-by / child could easily get a nasty cut.

It might be that the land is legitimately fenced off but a sign should be erected as the land is marked as open access on the OS map.

This was all brought to my attention by another spotter - I like the majority assumed it was legal - but having looked at the maps I think a question should at least be asked.

I am not super bothered as you can still take photos from the forest and other areas , it is more a point of principal that affects all roaming and was a major issue a few decades back hence the 2000 Act of Parliament.

As a visitor who can only get down that way a couple of times a year this is an interesting thread to follow, good luck slogen51 with your endeavours, love to know the outcome..
Cheers
Pune

[plmc135]

Looks like information on Natural England website, in particular the following case no 2008010085, covers areas around Lakenheath.

http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.or ... NYXAuanNw/

Select view map on right hand side for better details.

[Boneyard1]

Çheers plmc 135!

[Yunglee]

Looks like information on Natural England website, in particular the following case no 2008010085, covers areas around Lakenheath.

http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.or ... NYXAuanNw/

Select view map on right hand side for better details.

Looks like case 2008010085, in relation to Lakenheath, only covers the Heath (to the east of the airfield) and not the area under the approach.

http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.or ... NYXAuanNw/

[Vulture 01]

Surely there's more to this than just the acts mentioned so far. After 9/11 a lot of extra legislation went through, almost on the nod. Certainly, I think the rules around civilian airfields changed, and with it the airfield owner/operators ability to make life awkward increased. Add that to 'national security' issues and I think you might be on a loser.
I only did A level Law so do not consider myself to be any sort of an expert here. But, as they say, if you get three lawyers together and you get four opinions!