Statutory Declarations

What is a Statutory Declaration?

Highways Act 1980 -Section 31(6)

A statutory declaration may help a landowner or farmer protect themselves against public path claims, which are based solely on user evidence. A statutory declaration involves the landowner depositing a map, statement, and statutory declaration with the highway authority, showing which rights of way they acknowledge on their land.

What are the benefits of submitting a Statutory Declaration?

If a route has been used informally for a period of less than 20 years, it will not be possible for path users to make a claim based on presumed dedication.
Any new tracks will automatically be protected from any claim.
It will be possible to allow the continued informal use of a route, without public rights being established.

How do I make a Statutory Declaration?

Obtain a recent 1:10000 map of the area.
Examine the definitive map and statement to ascertain the public rights of way which are already recorded.
Mark on the map the precise routes of the recorded public rights of way.
Do not show unofficial diversions. The affect of the declaration will be to acknowledge the public status of such routes. The routes featured on the definitive map will continue to be public rights of way.
Draw up a statement and statutory declaration. The CLA (Country Land and Business Association), the NFU (National Farmers Union) or your solicitor will be able to assist in the preparation of the necessary documentation. Alternatively the highway authority may assist you in preparing a declaration.
Submit the statement, map and statutory declaration to the highway authority.
Subsequent statutory declarations are required at intervals of no more than six years, if the declaration, map and statement are to remain effective.

How to get in touch with the Public Rights of Way team

Register of Statutory Declarations at 18/12/2007

Parish	Unique Ref	Submission Date	Expiry Date	Description
Anston	Anston31(6)/1	20/07/2000	02/07/2010	Land at Brancliffe Grange, Shireoaks
Anston	Anston 31(6)2	31/08/2005	31/08/2015	Lindrick Golf Club
Boston	Boston 31(6)1	15/08/2007	15/08/2017	Golf course and football pitch, Phoenix Sports & Social Club off Pavillion Lane
Firbeck	Firbeck 31(6)/1	07/02/2005	07/02/2015	Land at Park Hill Farm
Hellaby, Wickersley, Whiston	Hellaby 31(6)1	01/03/2007	01/03/2017	Land south of Field Lane Morthen, on the south side of Gillot Lane, Wickersley and at Cumwell Fields Hellaby
Maltby	Maltby31(6)/1	31/07/2003	31/07/2010	Land at Maltby, Hooton Levitt and Laughton-en-le-Morthen
Maltby	Maltby31(6)/2	19/11/2004	19/11/2014	Land at Lilly Hall Farm
Ravenfield	Ravenfield31(6)/1	06/08/2002	06/08/2012	Dissused railway off Thrybergh Lane
Ravenfield	Ravenfield31(6)/2	01/10/1993	updated	Land at Ravenfield Park
Ravenfield	Ravenfield 3(6)/2	15/08/2007	15/08/2017	Land at Ravenfield Park
Swinton	Swinton31(6)/1	04/12/1996	04/12/2006	Land at Swinton Racecourse
Treeton	Treeton 31(6)/1	01/05/1994	updated	Hail Mary and Falconer Wood
	Treeton 31(6)/1	15/03/2006	15/03/2016	Hail Mary and Falconer Wood
Ulley	Ulley 31(6)/1	01/09/2003	01/09/2013	Land and Ulley Hall Farm
Wales	Wales 31(6)/1	15/01/2001	31/01/2011	Land between Mansfield Road and Stockwell Lane
Wales	Wales 31(6)/2	01/10/1992	expired	Land at Kievton Hall Farm
Wath	Wath 31(6)/1	10/05/2005	10/05/2015	Land east of Green Lane
Wath	Wath 31(6)/2	18/04/2005	18/04/2015	Land at Dearne Valley College
Wickersley	Wickersley 31(6)/1	04/02/1985	expired replaced, by hellaby 31(6)1	Land south of Gillot Lane Wickersley
Wentworth	Wentworth 31(6)/1	19/05/1992	updated	Land at Thopre Hesley, Scholes, Wentworth, West Melton, Brampton Bierlow, Swinton, Greasbrough, Rawmarsh & Hooton Roberts
Wentworth	Wentworth 31(6)/1	01/06/1998	updated	Land at Thopre Hesley, Scholes, Wentworth, West Melton, Brampton Bierlow, Swinton, Greasbrough, Rawmarsh & Hooton Roberts
Wentworth	Wentworth 31(6)/1	18/06/2004	18/06/2014	Land at Thopre Hesley, Scholes, Wentworth, West Melton, Brampton Bierlow, Swinton, Greasbrough, Rawmarsh & Hooton Roberts
Woodsetts	Woodsetts 31(6)1	01/03/2000	01/03/2010	Land at Deep Carrs, Carlton in Lindrick