THE CRAVEN area of the Yorkshire Dales has become part of a Government test bed to judge public reaction to the controversial "Right to Roam" legislation.

The Countryside Agency today announced that draft maps showing where people may - or may not - walk will be subject to a lengthy public consultation in two trial areas: the South East and the Lower North West, which will include the whole of Craven, most of Lancashire and parts of Cumbria.

Launching the new draft maps, Pam Warhurst, chair of the National Countryside Access Forum, commented: "The Countryside Agency has taken forward a complex piece of legislation and is putting the ground work in place so that people will feel confident about using their new rights and the impact on farmers and landowners will be fully understandable."

The Right to Roam legislation - officially known as the Countryside & Rights of Way Act - has been a subject of much argument since it was first mooted in the Labour Party's manifesto before it came into power almost five years ago.

Pressure groups like the Ramblers' Association have been demanding the right to walk almost everywhere on non-cultivated land. Landowners and farmers, however, fear that more ramblers could spoil grazing land - grass is a crop for livestock farmers - and put at risk sensitive environments like heather moors which, as well as being crucial for grouse shooting, are also the habitat of a wide range of other wildlife.

All "open country and common land" - defined as mountain, moor, heath and down land - will be mapped by autumn, 2004, and ramblers will have the legal right to use it by spring, 2005.

Says Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael: "The mapping process is an important milestone towards delivering the new rights of access. I hope everyone with an interest in access to the countryside will want to look at the new draft maps and let the Countryside Agency have their views."

Dales folk have until February 11 next year to make their views known. Copies of the new draft maps will be available at council offices, some libraries, national park offices and on the Countryside Agency website:

www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping