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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to amend the Highways Act 1980 to give local highway authorities the powers they need to install more accessible structures on public rights of way.

This Government recognises the importance of access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing. Public rights of way are a treasured national asset and play a vital role in enabling access to the countryside.

This Government recognises that physical barriers on public rights of way can limit access, particularly for disabled people, older people and those with reduced mobility. While there are currently no plans to amend the Highways Act 1980, officials will continue to keep the issue under consideration as part of wider work on improving access to the public rights of way network.