Can landowners show that they do not intend to dedicate new rights of way across their land?
To prevent use by members of the public creating new rights of way across their land, landowners can send the county council (as the highway authority for County Durham) a map and description of their property and any rights of way crossing it. This is known as a “Section 31 Deposit” as it is made under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980.
