Countryside Access Scheme
- Description
- Objectives
- How the Scheme operates
- Uptake
- Payment Rates
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Review Plans
- Planned Future Developments
- Further Information
Description
This was a voluntary scheme operating in England and Wales with the objective of encouraging farmers to provide public access to suitable set-aside land for walking and quiet recreation. The scheme provided for permissive access only and did not create permanent rights of way.
Objectives
The scheme aimed to permit public access to routes along field margins, or to open sites on whole or part fields. Many sites provided vantage points for attractive features, or are sites of historical or wildlife interest. The access routes could serve as a link between two or more existing public rights of way, or created new circular walks of at least 1.5 kilometres; the open field sites could provide picnic and recreation areas. To ensure value for money, the scheme was targeted on land that the public was likely to want to use, either because it is attractive or because it offered opportunities for access in areas where this it was otherwise limited.
How the Scheme Operates
Farmers undertook to enter the land into guaranteed set-aside for five years, to manage the land in accordance with normal set-aside rules and, in addition, to observe access management conditions. These included providing and maintaining adequate means of entry, keeping the grass short, and keeping the public access area generally tidy and safe.
Uptake
| 1994/95 | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | Total | |
| No. SITES | 77 | 33 | 16 | 126 |
| Total AREA | 968 ha. | 499 ha. | 160 ha. | 1627 ha. |
Payment Rates
Annual payments reflected the extra management costs incurred and were made in addition to the Arable Area Payment Scheme set-aside payment. Payments were £90 per km for access routes, and £45/ha for open field sites. Payments were not made in respect of existing rights of way.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Review Plans
Defra employed local RDS Project Officers to advise potential applicants on the suitability of their land for the Scheme, and to provide on-going help for participants. The RDS carried out a survey of farmers to determine their views on CAS. An independent evaluation by external consultants was produced in 1997.
Planned Future Developments
In 1997 the scheme management was integrated with that for Countryside Stewardship, a logical step towards standardising the management of all access schemes, keeping running costs to a minimum and simplifying administration. See the Public Access web pages.
Further Information
The Countryside Access Scheme is no longer open to applications, although copies of claim forms for the scheme are still available in the Direct Access Government area of our Web site.
Further information on individual CAS sites can be obtained either from the local Defra Regional Defra Office or via the Country Walks and Rides Register.
Page last modified:
5 February, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002