The Rights of Way Committee of Northumberland Council met on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, to consider evidence regarding the existence of public rights of way in Haydon and Melkridge. The committee resolved to add an alleged public footpath to the Definitive Map and Statement, and to modify the Definitive Map and Statement to record two alleged restricted byways, one of which will also be recorded as a byway open to all traffic.

Alleged Public Footpath No. 75, Parish of Haydon

The committee considered evidence regarding the existence of public footpath rights over a route between the U8239 road and Public Footpath No. 65 in Brigwood, Haydon Bridge. Despite objections from landowners concerning safety on Brigwood private road, land ownership, and the impact on existing infrastructure such as a flood wall and a Northumbrian Water manhole, the committee found sufficient evidence to indicate that public footpath rights had been reasonably alleged to exist over the route. The decision was made to accept the officer's recommendation, meaning the route will be included in a future Definitive Map Modification Order as a public footpath.

Alleged Restricted Byway No. 42, Parish of Melkridge

The committee reviewed evidence concerning alleged public vehicular rights over a route between the U7038 road and alleged Restricted Byway No. 24 in Melkridge. The recommendation, which was accepted unanimously, was to:

• Record the route W-X-Y-Z as having reasonably alleged public vehicular rights.
• Acknowledge that the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 appears to have extinguished public motor vehicular rights over the X-Y section of the route.
• Acknowledge that, by virtue of common law, public motor vehicular rights would also appear to have been extinguished over the W-X part of the route.
• Include the Y-Z part of the route in a future Definitive Map Modification Order as a byway open to all traffic.
• Include the W-X-Y part of the route in a future Definitive Map Modification Order as a restricted byway.

Alleged Restricted Byway No. 43, Parish of Melkridge

The committee also considered evidence regarding alleged public vehicular rights over a route between the U7041 road and alleged Restricted Byway No. 24 in Melkridge. The committee unanimously agreed with the officer's recommendation to:

• Record that sufficient evidence shows, on a balance of probability, that public vehicular rights existed over the route A-C.
• Record that sufficient evidence shows that public vehicular rights have been reasonably alleged to exist over the route C-B.
• Acknowledge that the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 appears to have extinguished public motor vehicular rights over the whole route A-C-B.
• Include the route in a future Definitive Map Modification Order as a restricted byway.

Councillor Sharp declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the review of alleged Public Footpath No. 75, Parish of Haydon, and left the meeting during its discussion and voting. Councillor Riddle chaired this item in the absence of the Vice-Chair. Councillor Sharp returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair for subsequent items. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jackson and Councillor Swinbank. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 June 2026 were confirmed as a true record.