THOUSANDS of comments have been sent in to the Countryside Agency regarding maps showing where new access rights will apply in parts of the North West in four years time.
Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, people will have a new right to walk over open country and registered common land, possibly by 2005.
Before the new access comes into force, maps are being drawn up to show which areas will be opened up, and people given the chance to comment on them.
One of the first areas being tackled is the Lower North West region, which includes North Lancashire.
Following three months of public consultation on the draft maps, more than 5,000 comments have been sent into the CA.
Officers are currently considering these comments and deciding whether amendments need to be made before provisional maps are published in September.
"We are giving every comment careful consideration and I've no doubt that the provisional maps will be better for it," said Pam Warhurst, of the CA.
Maps showing which areas of Cumbria will be opened up as a result of the new legislation are due to be published in October.
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