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Public rights of way can only be diverted, extinguished or created by way of a Legal Order. The most commonly made types of Public Path Orders include:

  • Diversion Orders made under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 in the interest of landowners, occupiers or the public.
  • Creation Orders made under section 26 of the Highways Act 1980 if there is a public need or by agreement under section 25 whereby a landowner can dedicate a route across their land.
  • Extinguishment orders made under section 118 of the Highways Act 1980 if it is not needed for public use. However it is very difficult to show that a path is not needed.
  • Diversion or extinguishment orders made under section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in connection with development or mineral extraction.

All diversion, extinguishment and creation orders made under the Highways Act 1980 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990 adhere to the same basic procedure, as shown below. It can take some time to administer an application. Also there is no certainty that an application will result in the desired outcome, as the public have a right to object on certain grounds. Orders are subject to legal tests which must be met by the Council when deciding to make an order.

Public Path Orders process

The process for public path orders is outlined below:

  1. Public Path Order application form (PDF) (see Application guidance notes (PDF))
  2. Consultation
  3. Senior Officer decision
  4. If approved, the order is made and advertised
  5. Objection period
  6. Unopposed orders confirmed/ certified and advertised, opposed orders sent to Secretary of State for determination.

There is an administration fee to cover the full costs of making an order and the applicant must also cover all advertising costs associated with the order. There is a waiting list for dealing with orders - please contact us for details of the current situation. Orders required for development purposes under section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 may be processed more quickly.

Ordnance Survey is notified about any changes to the network but this can take a while to be reflected on their printed maps.

For further information and application forms, email Highways.Helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk.

Made Public Path orders

Bedford

Bedford: Footpath between High Street and the rear of 8-10 Howard Street Creation Order 2021 (HAC 112)

Bolnhurst and Keysoe

Bolnhurst and Keysoe: Part of Footpath No.85 Diversion Order 2024 (HAD 138 BK)

Kempston Rural

Kempston Rural: Footpath 18 and Wootton Footpath 26 Extinguishment Order

Melchbourne and Yielden

Melchbourne and Yielden: Part of Footpath No. Y17 Diversion Order 2024 (HAD 139 MY)

Oakley

See Confirmed orders

Odell

Odell: Part of Footpath 10 and Footpath 11 Diversion Order 2024 (HAD 119 ODE)

Ravensden

See confirmed orders.

Renhold

Renhold: Part of Footpath No 39 HA Diversion Order 2020 (HAD 106)

Stewartby

Stewartby: (Part of Footpath No 3) Public Path Diversion Order 2023 (Ref HAD 133 STW)

Thurleigh

See confirmed orders.

Wootton

Wootton: Bridleway No 23 and 24 and Kempston Rural: Part of Bridleway No. 34 Public Path diversion order (HAD 129 WOO)

  • Copy of Notice
  • Order made on 24/04/24
  • Notice period ends 31/05/24
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Wootton: Footpath 19 and Kempston Rural Footpath 38 Public Path Diversion Order (HAD 110 WOO)

Wootton: Petty Sessional Division of Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court Section 116 Stopping up of part of a highway (HAE 139)

Confirmed Public Path Orders

Bedford

Bedford: Part of Footpath 1 Diversion Order 2023 (HAD 130 BED)

  • Copy of Order and Copy of Notice
  • Order Made 29/06/2023
  • Notice period ends 11/08/2023 - Objection(s) and Representation(s) received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination.
  • The Order was confirmed by the Secretary of State on 23/10/25
  • Notice period ends 6 weeks from 13/11/25
  • New route effective from 30/10/25
  • Copy of Certified Order
  • Copy of Order Notice

Brickhill

Brickhill: Footpath No.9 Diversion Order 2023 (HAD 117 BRI)

Knotting and Souldrop

Knotting and Souldrop: Part of Footpath 32 Diversion Order 2024 (HAD 140 KS)

Melchbourne and Yielden

Melchbourne and Yielden: Part of Bridleway No. M20 Diversion Order 2024 (TAD 083 MY)

Oakley

Oakley: Part of Bridleway No. 7 and Clapham: Part of Bridleway No. 27 Public Path Diversion Order 2023 (HAD 126 OAK)

Ravensden

Ravensden: Part of Footpath 25 Diversion order

Ravensden: Part of Public Footpath No 49 and Footpath No 50) Public Path Diversion Order 2025

Thurleigh

Thurleigh: Part of Footpath 37 and Footpath 3 Diversion Order 2025

In force Public Path Orders

Bedford

Bedford (Former Excluded Area): Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 18/12/23. 
Notice period ends 6 weeks from 11/01/24. 
Route stopped up effective from 25/12/23

Bedford: (Former Excluded Area): Stopping up of Public Right of Way on foot between Western Street and Battison Street) HA Extinguishment Order 2019
Confirmed 07/05/2019. 
Effective from 15/05/2019

Brickhill

Brickhill: Parts of Footpath No 19 and Bridleway No 23 HA Diversion Order 2020 (HAD 104)
Order Confirmed by Secretary of State with modifications on 30/05/2023
Notice period ends 6 weeks from 08/06/23. New route effective from 06/06/23 

Brickhill: Part of Bridleway No 23 Public Path Diversion Order 2023 (HAD 121 BRI)
Order confirmed as an unopposed order on 13/04/2023
New route effective from 20/04/2023

Brickhill: Part of Footpath No 27 HA Extinguishment Order 2020 (HAE 108)
Order confirmed by the Secretary of State on 19/10/2022. New route effective from 26/10/2022

Brickhill: Footpath No 10 and Part of Footpath No 19 Extinguishment Order 2020
Confirmed 02/12/2020. New route effective from 10/12/2020

Bromham

Bromham: Part of Footpath No 9 TCPA Diversion Order 2020

Confirmed 08/04/2020. New Route effective 23/09/2020

Carlton and Chellington

Carlton and Chellington: Part of Bridleway 12 HA Diversion Order 2022
Order Made on 15/07/2022. Notice period ends 19/08/2022
Order confirmed by the Secretary of State on 27 March 2024
Route effective from 08/10/24

Colmworth

Colmworth: Part of Footpath No A2 HA Diversion Order 2020
Confirmed 19/08/2020. New Route effective 09/10/2020

Colmworth: part of Footpath No A2 HA Diversion Order 2019 - withdrawn

Cotton End

Cotton End: Shocott Spring Footpath Dedication 2023 
Statement and map (PDF)
Dedication Made 23/08/2023

Dean and Shelton

Dean and Shelton: Part of Footpaths D13 and 30. 
Order confirmed by Bedford Borough Council as an unopposed order on 23/10/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 31/10/24. 
New route effective from 20/11/24

Harrold

Harrold: Part of Footpath Nos 4 and 7 HA Diversion Order 2019
Confirmed 09/10/2019. New Route effective 21/11/2019

Harrold: Footpath No 10 Creation Order 2020
Confirmed 10/02/2021. New Route effective from 18/02/2021

Harrold: Footpath No 11 Extinguishment Order 2020
Order Withdrawn 03/03/2021

Kempston Rural

Kempston Rural: Part of Footpath No 14 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed by Secretary of State 21/09/2020. New Route effective 20/10/2020

Kempston Urban

Kempston Urban: Part of FP4 Extinguishment Order 2013

Confirmed  28/04/2021. New Route effective 05/05/2021

Knotting and Souldrop

Knotting and Souldrop: Part of Footpath No 2 HA Rail Crossing Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed 18/10/2018. New Route effective 12/07/2019

Knotting and Souldrop: Part of Footpath 32 Diversion Order 2024 (HAD 140 KS)
Order confirmed on 5/12/2024. New route effective from 12/12/24.

Little Staughton

Little Staughton: Part of Footpath No 4  HA Diversion Order 2018

Order Confirmed 26/03/2019. New Route effective 03/04/2019

Melchbourne and Yielden

Melchbourne and Yielden: Stopping Up of Vehicular Rights over part of the UC6. HA S116 Stopping Up. Now known as Restricted Byway No. Granted by Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates Court 06/02/2019.

Milton Ernest

Milton Ernest: Bridleway from Old Milton Road. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 17/01/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 06/06/24. 
New route effective from 31/01/24.

Milton Ernest: Bridleway 13 and Oakley Bridleway 7. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 19/09/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 03/10/24. New route effective from 17/10/24

Podington

Podington: Part of Footpath No 14 HA Diversion Order 2019
Confirmed 10/07/2019. New Route effective 28/01/2020

Podington: Part of Footpath Nos 7 and 8 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed by the Secretary of State 29/01/2021. New Route effective from 19/11/2021

Ravensden

Ravensden: Part of FP 49 and 50 Diversion Order 2025
Order confirmed unopposed by Bedford Borough Council on 4 April 2025
Notice period ends 6 weeks from 24 April 2025
New route effective from 24 April 2025

Ravensden: Part of Footpaths 5 and 9. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 19/10/22. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 19/10/22. 
New route effective from 26/10/22

Ravensden: Part of Footpaths 8 and 9. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 16/01/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 18/04/24. 
Route stopped up effective from 30/01/24

Ravensden: Bridleway Creation. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 16/01/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 18/04/24. 
New route effective from 15/02/24

Ravensden: Part of Bridleway No. 42 and Footpaths 8 and 11. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 16/01/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 18/04/24. 
New route effective from 13/02/24

Ravensden: Part of Bridleway No. 10 and Footpath 29. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 16/01/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 18/04/24. 
New route effective from 13/02/24

Ravensden: Part of Footpath 7. 
Order confirmed by Bedford Borough Council as an unopposed order 15/02/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 29/02/24. 
New route effective from 22/02/24.

Ravensden: Parts of Footpath No 11 and Thurleigh: Part of Footpath No 10 HA Diversion Order 2019
Confirmed 04/11/2019. New Route effective 28/01/2020

Ravensden: Parts of Footpath Nos 4 and 29 HA Diversion Order 2019
Confirmed 03/05/2019. New Route effective from 01/06/2019

Riseley

Riseley: Part of Footpath No A17 HA Diversion Order 2020
Confirmed 30/09/2020. New Route effective 02/08/2021
 

Stewartby

Stewartby: Part of FP 3. 
Order confirmed by Bedford Borough Council as an unopposed Order. 
Notice period ends 6 weeks from 29/02/24. Route stopped up effective from 25/01/24.
 

Sharnbrook

Sharnbrook: Part of Footpath No 26 Diversion Order 2020
Confirmed 09/12/2020. New Route effective from 17/12/2020
 

Staploe

Staploe: Parts of Footpath Nos. 8 & 8A Varying Order (HAV 074 STA)

Confirmed as an unopposed Order on 25/05/23.

New route effective from 20/07/2023.   

Thurleigh

Thurleigh: Rights of Way at Park End Farm HA S116 Magistrates Court Application

New Route effective from 27/01/2022

Thurleigh: Parts of Footpath Nos 10 and 15 HA Diversion Order 2019

Confirmed 11/09/2019. New Route effective 06/11/2019

Turvey

Turvey: Part of Footpath No A6 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed by Secretary of State 03/12/2019. New Route effective 28/01/2020

Turvey: Part of Footpath No A5 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed by Secretary of State 21/01/2019. New Route effective 22/03/2019

Wilden

Wilden: Part of Footpath A10. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 04/03/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 06/06/24. 
New route effective from 01/04/24 

Wilstead

Wilshamstead: Part of Footpath No 7 Diversion Order 2020
Confirmed 10/02/2021. New Route effective from 16/04/2021

Wootton

Wootton: Footpath 10. 
Order confirmed by Secretary of State on 01/03/24. Notice period ends 6 weeks from 18/04/24. 
Route stopped up effective from 08/03/24.