The Regulatory Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, to discuss a range of matters concerning public rights of way and legal guidance. The meeting's agenda included the review of previous minutes, guidance on legal matters, an annual progress report, and several specific investigations into proposed modifications of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way.

Guidance on Public Rights of Way and Highways Law

The committee was scheduled to receive guidance on the legal framework surrounding the continuous review of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way, as well as the procedures for making certain orders under the Highways Act 1980. This guidance, detailed in Annexes A, B, and C of the report pack, aims to inform members about the legal tests and considerations involved in decisions regarding public rights of way. The guidance covers aspects such as the definition of different types of public rights of way, the duties of surveying authorities, and the legal tests applied when making or confirming orders to modify the Definitive Map. It also outlines the procedures for dealing with public path orders, including the actions taken when an order is submitted to the Secretary of State.

Annual Progress Report

An annual progress report was presented, providing an update on requests and applications for definitive map modification orders and public path orders that were in progress and awaiting processing as recorded on the statutory register. This report, extracted from the statutory register on 31st December 2025, detailed the status of numerous applications, including those added in 2025, those determined by the committee, orders made, orders submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, orders confirmed, and those not confirmed. It also provided a comprehensive overview of the progress of public path orders, categorised by their stage in the process, from initial requests to those awaiting confirmation or submission to the Planning Inspectorate.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Definitive Map Investigations

Several investigations into proposed modifications of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way were scheduled for discussion:

Addition of Bridleway from Wennington Road to Old Moor Road, Wennington

The committee was to consider an application to record a public bridleway from Wennington Road to Old Moor Road, Wennington, in the Parish of Tatham. The report detailed extensive historical map and documentary evidence examined to determine the status of the route. The recommendation was to accept the application with a modification to recognise carriageway rights, making a Definitive Map Modification Order to record a restricted byway, and to promote this order for confirmation.

Hall Lane, Longton, South Ribble

An application to upgrade part of Hall Lane, Longton, from a footpath to a bridleway was scheduled for review. The report presented a detailed analysis of historical maps and documents, including Inclosure Awards, estate plans, and Ordnance Survey maps, to assess the evidence. The recommendation was to reject the application and not make a Definitive Map Modification Order, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to infer public rights beyond those of a footpath.

Highways Act 1980 and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Diversions

The committee was also set to discuss proposed diversions of public rights of way under the Highways Act 1980 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:

Proposed Diversion of Footpath at Bramblewood, Barnacre

An application for the diversion of part of Footpath FP0205027 at Bramblewood, Barnacre-with-Bonds, Wyre, was on the agenda. The proposal aimed to divert the footpath from passing through the private garden of Bramblewood to a route running along the edge of a pasture and then onto an access track. The recommendation was to approve the making of an Order to divert the footpath, with the authority taking a neutral stance if the order required submission to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

Diversion of Bridleway at Kirk House Farm, Over Kellet

The committee was to consider an application for the diversion of part of Bridleway BW0124027 at Kirk House Farm, Over Kellet. The proposed diversion aimed to move the bridleway away from the curtilage of the dwelling to a route that would upgrade a section of footpath to bridleway and then follow field boundaries. The recommendation was to approve the making of an Order to divert the bridleway, with the authority taking a neutral stance if the order required submission to the Secretary of State for confirmation.