Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are available in the event that a local authority does not give a ruling on a Definitive Map Modification Order within a reasonable timeframe.

Anyone who has applied to the local highway authority for a modification to the area's definitive map and statement and has not been advised of the authority's decision within 12 months, can apply in writing to the Secretary of State for a direction. The Secretary of State may direct the authority to decide the application by a certain date.

The decisions are made by a Planning Inspector on behalf of the Secretary of State, and a link to this guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-14-direction-apply-to-the-secretary-of-state-for-a-direction