Secretary of State says that applications made before the cut off day will be processed to completion.

Minister for the Environment (Michael Meacher) says that the Government intends to introduce proposals to encourage the completion of the record of historic rights of way within 25 years, subject to the provision of adequate resources to complete the task within that time scale. (Hansard, 20 Mar 00, Col 729)

Michael Meacher writes to Peter Pike MP (15 Aug 00)
"It is our intention, however, to begin funding from next year the researching of rights of way by voluntary sector bodies, with appropriate additional funding for local authorities to record them." [2]

Michael Meacher has meeting on 11 Oct 00 with NFBA, BHS and BBT in which he gives assurance that,
"The Government would make £2m available annually to the voluntary sector to assist with researching evidence and claiming new rights of way" [2]

Minister updates Parliament on funding (Hansard, 28 Nov 00, Col 886)
"However, in recognition of the time limit on completing the historic record of rights of way, we are not waiting until 2002. Some £750,000 of the £3.5 million allocated to areas of outstanding natural beauty—access to which is to be channelled through the Countryside Agency next year—is to assist non-governmental organisations to research rights of way. Those are considerable sums. Local authorities are unlikely to face a significant increase in applications for such work during the next financial year. However, an extra £400,000 for recording rights of way has been included in the local authority settlement for England that was announced yesterday." [2]

The RIA estimated that the cost to Government for resulting public inquiries would be some £56,000 a year. To date, no extra resources for processing claims have been given to the Planning Inspectorate, as no claims under the Discovering Lost Ways Project have yet been made."

Byway and Bridleway records that the amount of money that has gone to the voluntary sector for research activtites is precisely zero. [2]

316 people attended ROWRTR training sessions (sponsored by the BHS, Ramblers and OSS)

Natural Resources Wales said "We support removing the CRoW Act cut-off date provisions for the reasons given in the consultation document – namely the heavy burden it would place on local authorities and the risk of losing many unrecorded routes."

Nov 17: The Ramblers appoints a Don't Lose Your Way Project Officer.

183 people attended ROWRTR training sessions (sponsored by the BHS, Ramblers and OSS)

Consultation results published (19 Jun 18) by the Welsh Government. A majority of respondents agreed that the cut off date legislation should be repealed.

The British Horse Society launches project to make 2700 applications that add equestrian rights by 31 Mar 2021, with £100 paid towards expenses for sufficiently good applications.

163 people attended ROWRTR training sessions (sponsored by the BHS, Ramblers and OSS)

Hannah Blythyn AM, Deputy Minister for Housing & Local Government, announces creation of an Access Reform Group to consider in more detail the consultation responses to the 2018 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) consultation. She said,
"I will progress significant changes to access rights and facilitate an assumption of non-motorised multi-use on access land and the public rights of way network. This will provide users such as cyclists and horse riders with many more opportunities to access the outdoors near to where they live in line with the goals set out in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015 and complementing the provisions of the Active Travel (Wales) Act and the Environment (Wales) Act.
There are some minor technical reforms that are widely supported and uncontroversial. These amendments will reduce complexity for users and path managers and realise financial savings for local authorities and landowners. They will be progressed as soon as a suitable legislative vehicle can be identified. They include: ... Access proposal 25 Repeal some areas of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act that are proving costly and inefficient ..."

Oct 22 - Welsh Government publishes draft Bill which would repeal the Path Extinguishment Day in Wales.

The Government's intention was confirmed in Parliament: in the House of Commons on 10 Oct 2022 and in the House of Lords on 17 Oct 2022.

On 24 Oct 23, The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Commencement No. 16) Order 2023 (SI 2003/1121) brought section 53-56 into force. The Path Extinguishment Day provisions are now active. No exemption regulations were made. OSS response, Ramblers statement

On 25 Oct 23, The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Substitution of Cut-off Date Relating to Rights of Way) (England) Regulations 2023 were made (SI 2023/1126) extends the cut off date to 1 Jan 2026.