The Rights of Way Committee of Northumberland Council met on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. The meeting was scheduled to discuss several applications concerning public rights of way across the county. Key items included an application for village green status in Hexham, and reviews of the definitive map and statement of public rights of way concerning alleged restricted byways in the parishes of Kyloe and Lowick, and alleged public bridleways in the parishes of Haydon and Hexham Town. Additionally, the committee was set to consider alleged byways open to all traffic and restricted byways in the parishes of Henshaw and Wark.

The Fields, Hexham, Application for Village Green Status

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for village green status for land known locally as The Fields, located between Southlands, the Leazes, and Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham. This application followed a non-statutory public inquiry, where an Inspector had recommended that the application be rejected. The committee was asked to determine whether to accept or reject the Inspector's recommendation and, if not rejecting it, to decide whether to register all or part of the land as a village green. The report outlined the statutory criteria for registering land as a town or village green, including evidence of lawful sports and pastimes by a significant number of inhabitants of a locality for at least 20 years, use as of right, and timely application. The land in question is privately owned, and the landowner had objected to the application.

Review of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way - Alleged Restricted Byways Nos. 34, 36, 53 & 54, Parishes of Kyloe and Lowick

This agenda item concerned the review of the definitive map and statement regarding alleged restricted byway rights. The committee was asked to consider evidence for two routes:

• Route 1: A route between the C18 road, west of Catton Ridge, in a general north-easterly direction, partly over existing public footpaths, to a point on the U34 road, west of Fenwick Wood.
• Route 2: A route between the U1049 road at Holburn, in a northerly, easterly, then northerly direction, mostly over existing footpaths, terminating at the same point on the U34 road, west of Fenwick Wood.

The report noted that Route 1 had been the subject of a previous application that was not confirmed by the Secretary of State, but this new application included additional evidence. The committee was asked to consider evidence supporting and rebutting the existence of these rights, with recommendations for their inclusion in a future Definitive Map Modification Order as a public bridleway (Route 1) and a restricted byway (Route 2).

Review of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way - Alleged Public Bridleways Nos. 74 & 67, Parishes of Haydon & Hexham Town

This item focused on the review of the definitive map and statement concerning alleged public bridleway rights. The application concerned a route between existing Parish of Haydon Public Bridleway No. 42 at Coastley Burnfoot farm and a point on the C234 road, south of the Toll House, West Boat, Warden. The report detailed evidence gathered, including historical maps and landowner responses. The recommendation was to agree that there was sufficient evidence to show that public vehicular rights had been reasonably alleged to exist over parts of the route, but that the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 might have extinguished motor vehicular rights. Consequently, the recommendation was to include the route in a future Definitive Map Modification Order as a restricted byway.

Review of the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way - Alleged Byway Open to All Traffic No. 68, Henshaw & Wark Parishes

This agenda item concerned the review of the definitive map and statement regarding alleged byway open to all traffic rights over a route between the U7041 road, east of Scotchcoultard, and the U5057 road, east of Coldcotes Farm. The report outlined evidence supporting and rebutting the existence of these rights. The committee was recommended to agree that sufficient evidence existed to allege public vehicular rights over parts of the route, but that the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 might have extinguished motor vehicular rights over certain sections. The recommendation was to include parts of the route as byways open to all traffic and other parts as restricted byways in a future Definitive Map Modification Order.

The meeting also included standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, minutes of the previous meeting, and disclosure of members' interests.