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A new right of way over any land which has been used and enjoyed by the public uninterrupted for a full period of 20 years can be deemed to be dedicated as a highway unless the landowner has clearly demonstrated that they did not intend such an outcome.

What can a landowner do to prevent a claim?

It is possible for landowners to protect themselves from subsequent claims that a public path has come into being by deemed dedication by making a deposit under Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980. Under the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 statements can now be made in respect of a Right of Way, or a town and village green or a Statement which covers both. The statements are valid for a period of 20 years.

Highway statement or declaration

For rights of way, under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980, landowners can deposit a statement and map acknowledging which ways (if any) they admit to having been dedicated as highways. This challenges the public’s use of any other way(s). A landowner may then within 20 years of the original statement and map, lodge a formal declaration to the effect that no additional way(s) has been dedicated. Such a declaration will be sufficient evidence to negate the intention to dedicate additional ways as highways.

Landowner statement

Landowner statements apply specifically to greens. For land which has been subject to recreational use without force or permission, landowners may now deposit a statement and map the effect of which is to interrupt such a period which brings an end to the recreational use ‘as of right’ – meaning without force, secrecy or permission. A Landowner may then within 20 years of the original statement and map, lodge a formal declaration to the effect that it will again interrupt any such recreational use.

Statements for land within the Borough are held by Bedford Borough Council. It cannot accept applications for land outside that area. If you want to make statements for such land we can advise you who to contact in neighbouring authorities.

Form CA16 which is the new application form to be used can be downloaded (see link below). You will also need to enclose a map showing the land that is the subject of the deposit and details of the ownership of the land. 

Contact Highways.Helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk for further information.

On completion please send to: Bedford Borough Council, Highways Depot, London Road, Bedford, MK42 0QG.

Register of Highways Act 1980 Section 31 Deposits and Statutory Declarations, and Commons Act 2006 S15A Landowner Statements

Biddenham

Biddenham Estate (includes land in Bedford and Great Denham)

Old Ford End Trust (includes land in Bedford and Great Denham)

Bletsoe

Ibbett (includes land in Bromham, Clapham, Felmersham, Kempston Urban, Knotting and Souldrop, Milton Ernest, Pavenham, Riseley, Sharnbrook, Wyboston Chawston and Colesden)

  • Highways Act 1980 S31 Statutory Declaration dated 21/05/2020

Knights L – TL0258 7875

Bolnhurst and Keysoe

First Stellar – TL 0660 6693

Keysoe International Ltd – TL 0737 6153, TL 0690 6149

Selley – Cherry Orchard Farm – TL509435 258972

Succession Farming – Buryfields Farm – TL 0560 3691

Cardington

Southill Estate Trinity Trust

Southill Estate

Carlton and Chellington

Collings – SP960 564 (includes land in Felmersham)

St Albans Diocesan – SP 960 563 

Tongue – New Barn Farm – SP968 544 

Clapham

Barcock – Tinsley Estate, TL026 537, TL032 534, TL040 535, TL042 526 

Meadow View TL028 533 

Colmworth

Johnson/Lammie – Hill View Farm (includes land in Colesden)

St Albans Diocesan (includes land at Knotting,  Little Staughton, Milton Ernest, Riseley, Souldrop, Stagsden, Thurleigh, Wilstead)

Vesely – Colmworth Golf Club

Cople

Bewick Homes – TL103 489

Porter – Wood End Farm

Shuttleworth Trust – Old Warden Estate – TL124 489 (includes land in Willington) 

Wildlife Trust (includes land in Pavenham and Sharnbrook) 

Dean and Shelton

Blakely – Oak Farm 

Brodie – TL0569

Horsford – Lodge Farm 

Highways Act 1980 S31 Statutory Declaration dated 10/11/2020

Wallis R – Top Farm

Felmersham and Radwell

Britton – Thursdays Farm - TL0058 1427 - TL0057 3157 3252 - SP9957 9968 8894

Great Barford

Davison Messrs E F and M J – TL119 512, TL117 528

Harrold

Robinson / Mesney / Sherborne – Orchard Lane and Brook Lane - SP949572 SP948573

Northern – Manor Farm SP932 570

Northern – Priory Farm SP928 562

Kempston Rural

Bedfordia Farm Ltd – Church Fields, Cottage Fields TL016 476

Bedfordia Farm Ltd – Green End TL013 473

Crown Estate Commissioners – TL009 465, TL004 458, TL011 461, TL013 466, TL015 455 (includes land in Wootton) 

Gauntlett, Hall, Frossell 

Knotting and Souldrop

St Albans Diocesan – see Parish of Colmworth

Little Barford

Alington – Little Barford Estates, The Creakers (includes land in Great Barford)

Little Staughton

Banks R L – Little Staughton Farms - TL045 649, TL082 629, TL097 624, TL132 600 (includes Bolnhurst and Keysoe, Riseley and Staploe)

Brightman D and M W

Hopperton - TL106 631, TL093 650, TL84 657 (includes land in Pertenhall)

St Albans Diocesan – see Parish of Colmworth

Melchbourne and Yielden

Bletsoe – Crowfield Farm – TL501 650

Paynter – Rifle Range Farm, Town Farm (includes land in Knotting and Souldrop)

Sizer – Land north of the Old Rectory – TL0167SW

Milton Ernest

Bedfordia (includes land in Bedford, Biddenham, Bletsoe, Bromham, Clapham, Kempston Rural, Kempston Urban, Knotting and Souldrop,  Oakley, Odell, Ravensden, Sharnbrook and Thurleigh)

Ibbett Ibbett maps1, maps2 (includes land in Bletsoe, Bromham, Clapham, Felmersham, Kempston Urban, Knotting and Souldrop, Milton Ernest, Pavenham, Riseley, Sharnbrook, Wyboston Chawston and Colesden)

  • Declaration dated 21/05/2020

Ibbett – Land at Green End -  Parish of Kempston

Ibbett – Land at Green End - Parish of Kempston

St Albans Diocesan – see Parish of Colmworth

Oakley

Fowler and Howell – College Farm – TL 011 529 (includes land in Bromham, Clapham)

Waterloo Trust - Westfields – SP996 543

Odell

Chamberlain - Odell Great Wood – SP598 590

Ingrey-Senn

Pavenham

Wildlife Trust - see Cople

Pertenhall

Finston – The Old Rectory

Sheard  – Hoo Farm TL 095 653

Peck  – College Farm TL 092 659

Podington

Bromborough Estate (includes land in Odell, Wymington)

Renhold

Le Fanu A J – TL104 504, TL105 513, TL102 498, TL071 599

Markham – Eastwood Riseley Farms Ltd – TL038 616

Markham/Le Fanu – TL114 505, TL042 624, TL125 541

Markham – Joyce and Sons Ltd – TL093 536, TL080 523, TL086 507

Riseley

Bullock P M – TL038 633

Church Commissioners – Wollaston Estate Harings Farm (includes land in Melchbourne and Yielden)

Heppelthwaite – Mill Farm – TL047 644

St Albans Diocesan – see Parish of Colmworth

Wallis W (includes land in Bletsoe)

Reilly – Odell Hill View Farm  – TL0462 2965

Roxton

Banks E – Land at Roxton TL154 550

Bates A R E, J Must – TL156 545

Sharnbrook

King-Harman – SP997 589 (includes land in Felmersham)

Knuffel (also includes land in Dean and Shelton)

Unilever – Colworth Estate – SP973 600 (incudes land in Knotting and Souldrop and Odell)

Wildlife Trust  - see Cople

Stagsden

Dolemore – Hill Farm – SP962 485

Newman G – Astey Wood – SP989 485

St Albans Diocesan – see Parish of Colmworth

Staploe

Banks R L – Little Staughton Farms, Land west of Cadbury Lane – TL129 592

Banks – Green Gen Limited, Land west of North Bungalow TL245 598, TL131 596         

Bates A – TL143 592

Bates A R E – TL129 584

Bates Bros (Farms) Ltd – TL153 577 (includes land in Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden)

Bates V and A – TL130 586

Bates V – TL142 589

Bates A R and E, Must R and N – TL141 576 (includes land in Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden)

Trustees of the Bates Bros – TL136 595

Brightman (includes land in Colmworth)

Squire - Bassmead Manor – TL 150 602, TL143 615

Squire  - Cottage Farm, Silver Birches – TL145 604, TL145 600

Stevington

Stanbridge – Duck End Farm

Stewartby

Arnold White Estates – Land off Manor Road TL021 450

O&H Q7 Limited – Broadmead Farm , Randall Farm, South Pillinge Farm (Land east of Hardwick Hill)

Thurleigh

St Albans Diocesan – see Parish of Colmworth

Measures – Blackburn Hall Farm 

Turvey

Spanoudakis – Abbey Farm

Turvey Estate

Willington

National Trust – Dovecote and Stables – TL 106 499

Marston Vale (includes land in Cople, Shortstown, Kempston Rural)

Saunders (includes land in Cople)

Wilstead

Marx – Vicarage Farm

Maskell

Phillips T K (includes land in Cotton End)

Satsang Beas – Haynes Park Estate

Wootton

Trustees of Land at Hall End

  • Highways At 1980 S31 Deposit dated 28/02/2022  - see Gauntlet Kempston Rural
  • Highways Act 1980 S31 Statutory Declaration dated 01/03/2022 - see Gauntlett Kempston Rural

Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden

Gibson R A – Bell Farm – TL126 556 (includes land in Colmworth and Wilden)

Wymington

Hollis R – SP949 649

St Albans Diocesan – SP951 652