To help people find out where they can go without risk of passing on the foot and mouth virus the Countryside Agency has launched new maps and information
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New Countryside Agency web pages to tell people where they can safely visit - 16 March 2001

To help people find out where they can go in the countryside, without risk of passing on the foot and mouth virus, the Countryside Agency has launched on its web site today (16 March) new maps and information on a county by county basis. The new pages have been developed in response to the public's need for clearer guidance.
Together with new government advice published today on countryside activities and visits, people can click on the map to clarify what they can do and where they can go in the English countryside.


Rural advocate and chairman of the Countryside Agency, Ewen Cameron, said: "The dramatic drop in visitors to the countryside is affecting businesses throughout rural areas irrespective of whether foot and mouth is located nearby. This week we have called for visitors to the countryside to think twice about not coming. To help make that decision they need clear advice and we support efforts by the government's new rural task force to set out clear guidance to the public. 


"It is vital that people support the campaign to get rid of this dreadful disease and do not use footpaths that are closed, or go anywhere near livestock or farmland that has been used by farm animals in the infected areas. But it is equally crucial to many rural economies that people do not avoid other heritage attractions, parks, country towns, villages and seaside resorts - nor local restaurants, pubs and cafes or shops and markets, well away from foot and mouth. 


"These new county by county maps on our web site at www.countryside.gov.uk have been created so people can identify easily the area they are interested in visiting and then link to detailed information about rights of way closures, local information and contact points." 

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New web pages tell people where they can safely go 


Information has been sourced with help from public rights of way officers, county surveyors, the Forestry Commission, National Trust, English Nature, the RSPB and other organisations. Our maps on the Countryside Agency web site link to the relevant local authority and to information on local foot and mouth restrictions. 


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Note to Editors: For further information please contact the Countryside Agency press office on 0207 340 2906 / 7 / 9 or visit our web site: www.countryside.gov.uk 

Weekend and out of hours, contact Isobel Coy on mobile no: 07973 94 28 92 


Nearly 70% of visitors go to the countryside to visit heritage attractions and theme parks, local restaurants and pubs, or to fish, swim or sail. 
Tourism is worth £12 billion a year in the English countryside (£9 billion on day trips), supports 380,000 jobs in rural England and underpins 25,000 mostly small businesses. 
There are 105,000 miles (169,000 kms) of rights of way in England. 
The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues relating to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the countryside.