Law Book Review: Phillip Taylor MBE review: Public Rights of Way: The Essential Law Published By Wildy’s

An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator Public Rights of Way is a particularly complex area of law, as author Angela Sydenham duly reminds us in this important recent title from Wildy, Simmonds & Hill.

BOOK REVIEW – PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

The Essential Law By Angela Sydenham ISBN: 978 0 85490 208 8 Wildy, Simmons & Hill Publishing www.wildy.com

MORE COMPLICATED THAN YOU MIGHT THINK: PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY SUCCINCTLY EXPLAINED

An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator Public Rights of Way is a particularly complex area of law, as author Angela Sydenham duly reminds us in this important recent title from Wildy, Simmonds & Hill. Certainly, public rights of way continue to present many a legal challenge, especially for farmers and landowners, as well as their tenants, not to mention planning officials on local authorities and, generally, members of the public, walkers, ramblers and so forth, who understandably get confused by this body of law as do purchasers and prospective purchasers of land. Further complications emerge from the fact that the relevant legislation in this area continues to hover on the brink of change. Fortunately, the book is distinguished by its outstanding clarity, which means that while the subject is admittedly complicated, the book is a relatively easy read. Widely known and highly regarded for her expertise in this highly specialised subject, Angela points out that a number of changes to the recording of public rights of way will be introduced (presumably in the near future, with luck) in Sections 20 to 26 and Schedule 7 to the Deregulation Act 2015. Its provisions, as the author informs us, were originally expected to come into force in April 2016. (You can always blame ‘the Brexit effect’). From March 2019, the relevant regulations were still awaited! The inbuilt advantage of this book is that despite these awkward delays, the prospective legislation in nonetheless covered. A quick glance at the helpfully detailed table of contents gives readers a good idea of the depth and breadth of this subject as covered in the book, from rights of the public and creation of rights of way, to discussions on highway authority, the planning inspectorate and much more besides, including coastal areas and sites of special scientific interest. Notably, Angela has formerly served as Chief Legal Adviser to the Country Landowners Association and has written several books on the law relating to rural property and will be known and remembered by a wide range of law students. She has also contributed to the section on commons in Halsbury’s Laws of England. Clear, concise and practical, this book should be considered indispensable for practitioners in this area of law, and for any and all parties concerned with, or affected by, the wide range of issues raised. The publication date of this paperback edition is cited as at 5th April 2019. The law is as stated on 1st March 2019.