Temporary footway at Shepherds Path

During a recent Moyle District Council meeting, members were made aware of the request to ‘safeguard public access, in advance of planned building works at the new Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre’.

The Tourism and Leisure Services report explained: ‘Under Article 19 of the Access to the Countryside (NI) Order 1983 the Council may make an order to either divert or close a right of way for up to three months if it is satisfied it is expedient to do so and in the interests of farming, forestry or other reasons.

‘The power only becomes available once an application has been made to the Council; the Council can not itself initiate an order without being requested to do so.

‘If the Council wishes to refuse an application it is required to consult the Department of the Environment.

‘There are no statutory requirements to consult on, or give notice or advertise the making of such orders. Nor is there any provision for objections or representations to be made.

‘Such orders do not need to be confirmed therefore, but come into effect when they are made or on the date specified in the order.

‘Once an order has been made, the Council has only to ensure that a copy is displayed throughout the period of the diversion or closure at either end of the affected path.

‘There is no prescribed form for a temporary path order but the order may be drafted using the form fro permanent order, adapted as necessary to suit the circumstances and specifying the period for which it is to run.’