The Countryside Agency says it is making good progress towards the government's target of implementing the "right to roam" by the end of 2005.

Forum Response: Countryside Agency

Pam Warhurst, deputy chair of the Countryside Agency told ePolitix.com: "We're very pleased with the strong response that we've had to public consultation on the draft maps. We received a good number of comments from all types of people on all sorts of issues, which is exactly what the consultation process is about.

"We are giving every comment careful consideration and I've no doubt that the provisional maps will be better for it. We have modified the timetable for the roll out of the remaining maps, to give ourselves time to use new sources of data (like aerial photography), and to make time to do some additional fieldwork.

"But the target date for the production of provisional maps for the whole country remains as it was and the government are committed to making the new rights available across England by the end of 2005."