Section 31 (6) Deposits

If a path is used by the public for 20 years or more it can become a public right of way. Landowners can prevent this by, for example, erecting notices which clearly indicate that no public right of way exists, or by closing the way for one or more days a year.

Section 31(6) enables you as a landowner to further protect yourself, by depositing with the County Council a map showing the extent of your land, and a statement indicating the public rights of way that you recognise over it (if any).

This will prevent, from the date the map and statement are deposited, any ADDITIONAL ways being established as public rights of way over the land by usage, provided that a necessary statutory declaration is made within ten years.*

The list of Section 31(6) deposits can be seen by clicking on the link below. To view the map of any deposit, click on the drop down box ordered by parish.

Go to list of Section 31 (6) deposits  (48.50 KB)

View Section 31 Deposits by Parish

If you are a landowner and would like more information on this, please contact the Countryside Service directly on 01905 768289 or e-mail countryside@worcestershire.gov.uk

*It is still possible for a right of way to be established. This can only happen, however, if the right of way has risen PRIOR to your deposit by 20 years continuous and uninterrupted use, or if historical evidence is found which shows that a public right already exists or is reasonably alleged to exist. In either or both of these cases an application can then be made for a modification order to add the way to the definitive map and statement.

• Countryside Service
• Public Rights of Way
• What are Public Rights of Way
• Definitive Rights of Way Map
• Maintenance and Obstructions
• Reporting a Problem
• Recording, Changing and Closing
• Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• Local Access Forum
• County Council Working Practices
• Working Practices
• Local Contacts
• Section 31 Deposits
• Definitive Map Modification Orders
• Definitive Map Modification Order Reports
• Rosses and Guises Lanes, Wichenford