Public Path Orders

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: 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.

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)

Brickhill

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

  • Notice and Copy of Order and Order Map
  • Order Made 21/09/2023
  • Notice Period ends 24/11/23 - Objection(s) received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination.

Carlton and Chellington

Carlton and Chellington: Part of Bridleway 12 HA Diversion Order 2022 (HAD 124)

  • Notice and Order Map
  • Order Made on 15/07/2022
  • Notice period ends 19/08/2022 - Objection and Representation received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Melchbourne and Yielden

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

Milton Ernest

Milton Ernest: Bridleway from Old Milton Road to BW No 7 HA Creation Order 2021 (HAC 122)

  • Notice and Order Map
  • Order Made on 16/06/2021
  • Notice period ends 10/09/2021 - Representation received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Oakley

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

  • Copy of Order and Copy of Notice
  • Order Made 06/07/2023
  • Notice period ends 11/08/2023 - Objection(s) and Representation(s) received  
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Milton Ernest: Bridleway 13 and Oakley: Part of Bridleway 7 Diversion Order (HAD 115 OAK)

  • Copy of Notice and Copy of Map 
  • Order Made on 02/03/2023 
  • Notice period ends 10/03/2023 - Objections received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Ravensden

Ravensden: Part of Footpath No.7 Diversion Order 2023 (HAD 113 RAV)

Ravensden: Part of Bridleway No 42 HA Diversion Order 2020 (HAD 055F S119)

  • Notice and Order Map
  • Order Made on 02/12/2020
  • Notice period ends 15/01/2021- Objections received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Ravensden: Parts of Footpath Nos 8 and 9 HA Extinguishment Order 2020 (HAD 055F S118)

  • Notice and Order Map
  • Order Made on 02/12/2020
  • Notice period ends 15/01/2021- Objections received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Ravensden: Bridleway at Brook Farm HA Creation Order 2020 (HAD 055F S26)

  • Notice and Order Map
  • Order Made on 02/12/2020
  • Notice period ends 15/01/2021- Objections received
  • Order submitted to Planning Inspectorate for determination

Ravensden: Part of Bridleway No 10 and Part of Footpath No 29  HA Diversion Order 2020 (HAD 055E)

Renhold

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

Stewartby

Stewartby: (Part of Footpath No 3) Public Path Extinguishment Order 2023 (Ref HAE 124 STW)

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

Wilden

Wilden: Part of Footpath No A10 HA Diversion Order 2021 (Ref HAD118)

Wootton

Wootton: Footpath No 10 HA Extinguishment Order 2021 (Ref HAE123)

Confirmed Public Path Orders

Bedford

Bedford: (Former Excluded Area) Public Right of Way on Foot between Maitland Street and Costin Street) HA Extinguishment Order 2020 (HAE 107)

Ravensden

Ravensden: Parts of Footpath Nos 45 and 9 HA Diversion Order 2020 (HAD 055G)

In force Public Path Orders

Bedford

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

Bedford: Part of Footpath No 18 TCPA Diversion Order 2016
Confirmed 23/11/2016. New route effective from 21/06/2018

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

Bletsoe

Bletsoe: Part of Bridleway No 10, HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed 04/06/2018. New route effective from 25/06/2018

Bromham

Bromham: Part of Footpath No 9 TCPA Diversion Order 2020
Confirmed 08/04/2020. New Route effective 23/09/2020

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

Colmworth: Part of Footpath No 4 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 10/12/18. New Route effective from 17/12/18

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 Footpath No S2 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 04/06/2018. New Route effective from 10/08/2018

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 SOS 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

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.

Oakley

Oakley: Bridleway No 11 Extinguishment Order 2018
Confirmed 20/04/2018. New route effective from 28/04/2018

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: 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

Ravensden: Parts of Bridleway Nos 40, 41 and Part of Footpath No 45 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 18/10/2018. New Route effective from 16/11/2018

Riseley

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

Riseley: Footpath No 70 Creation Order 2006 - Order formally withdrawn by a resolution of authority dated 22 November 2018

Sharnbrook

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

Sharnbrook: Part of Footpath No 3 HA Extinguishment Order 2017
Confirmed 02/02/18. New Route effective from 10/02/18

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

Turvey: Part of Bridleway No 12 Diversion Order 2016
Confirmed 18/03/2016. New Route from 17/08/2018

Wilden

Wilden: Part of Footpath No 6 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 04/06/2018. New Route effective from 17/08/2018

Wilden: Part of Footpath No 7 HA Extinguishment Order 2018
Confirmed on 04/06/2018. New Route effective from 02/07/2018

Wilden: Part of Footpath No 40 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 04/06/2018. New Route effective from 17/08/2018

Willington

Willington: Part of Bridleway No 4 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 04/06/2018. New Route effective from 11/12/18

Wilstead

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

Wilstead: Part of Footpath No 8 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 29/06/2018. New Route effective from 04/10/2018

Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden

Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden: Part of Footpath No 33 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 04/06/2018. New Route effective from 02/07/2018

Wymington

Wymington: Part of Footpath No 1 HA Diversion Order 2018
Confirmed on 06/09/2018. New Route effective from 21/09/2018

Wymington: Part of Footpath No 1 TCPA Diversion Order (No 2) 2017
Confirmed 02/02/2018. New route effective from 12/04/2018