The Common Land Forum agreed a detailed blueprint for 'second stage' legislation on commons access and management. The Forum's report was published in 1986, and is reproduced here in full.
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Common Land Forum report

In 1983 the Countryside Commission set up the Common Land Forum to explore whether the main national bodies with an interest in in common land could agree proposals for future commons legislation. The need for legislation had been identified by the Royal Commission on Common Land which reported in 1958, and legislation followed in 1965 to set up statutory registers of common land. But the Royal Commission's other main recommendations for legislation - to create public access rights on commons, and statutory arrangements for their better management - had not been implemented.

 

Under the Chairmanship of Maurice Mendoza, the Common Land Forum agreed a detailed blueprint for this 'second stage' legislation on commons access and management. The Forum's report was published in 1986, and is reproduced here in full. Although the report was never directly implemented, it remains an important influence on national and local common land policy. 

Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is now creating a public right of access to both registered common land and open country (mountain, moor, heath and down). The case for legislation on the third element of the Royal Commission's agenda - common land management - is still under consideration by Government. For the latest position, see the Defra website.