Our walks on the wild side

QUESTION When did the Public Right of Way Act come into force and what difference does it make to the tiny footpaths in my local area that needed no such status in the past?

Most public footpaths were established on an ad-hoc basis when people rarely — if ever — travelled beyond their own village.

Before World War II, the recording of public access was a non- statutory function. the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 set out to cement it in legislation.

A public right of way became ‘the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another’. this definition has not altered.

At the time, the Government required all county councils to produce a map showing these rights. Documentary evidence such as enclosure awards, old ordnance survey maps, tithe maps, parish maps, local histories and guidebooks, maps of already admitted rights of way and local authority/parish minutes had to be consulted. the most up-to- date legislation, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, provides that paths not recorded on the definitive map by 2026 that were in use prior to 1949 will automatically be deemed stopped-up on January 1, 2026.

Unlike in England and Wales, there is no obligation on scottish local authorities to signpost or mark a right of way.

Mr A. T. Holmes, Carlisle.

QUESTION Many screen stars had amusing names, such as Nosmo King, Issy Bonn and Slim Pickens. What others are there?

FURthER to earlier answers, the careers of actors River, Rain and Joaquin were helped by their hippy parents adopting the surname Phoenix.

they were born River Jude Bottom, Rain Joan of Arc Bottom and Joaquin Rafael Bottom. Samantha Stanley,

Wolverhampton.