The Bedford Borough Definitive Map and Statement are the legal records of all the county's public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic).
Email Highways.Helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk to arrange to see the Definitive Map and Statement. The Map is published at a scale of 1: 5000. The Statements are published on A4 pages, one statement per page.
They are available for public inspection at:
Bedfordshire Archives
Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
We also maintain working copies of the map that detail any changes made to the rights of way network since the last consolidation. This is held at:
Highways and Transport
Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
Town and Parish Councils also have copies of the maps for their area.
Definitive Map Extracts per A4 - £3.80
Definitive Map Extracts per A3 - £7.40
Definitive Map Extracts per A1and above - £18.15
Definitive Map per path - £1.35
Confirmed Orders (per page) – 5.75
Changes can be made to the map and statement and fall into two main categories:
A member of the public may apply to the Borough Council for a modification order in respect of a public footpath, public bridleway or Byway Open to All Traffic and produce evidence to show that the application falls into one of the following categories:
To apply for a modification order you have to follow the procedure laid down in the Wildlife amd Countryside Act 1981, however please contact The Definitive Map Team via Highways Helpdesk email Highways.Helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk in the first instance.
Preparation of the map started in the early 1950s after the passing of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The Map is mainly based on surveys undertaken by parish councils and documentary evidence. Various stages Draft Map, Modified Draft Map and Provisional Map were followed before the Definitive Map for North Bedfordshire was published in May 1982.
Under the terms of the above Act urban areas could and were excluded from the survey that led to the production of The Definitive Map. The urban area of Bedford was excluded and this is detailed on The Definitive Map.
Since the map was first published it has been further consolidated. The consolidation process allows us to republish the maps on a modern Ordnance Survey base incorporating any changes that have been made to the network.