Wokingham

Driving to their own homes could soon be illegal for people living in six Finchampstead, Wokingham roads under new government laws.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act aims to improve everyone's access to open spaces by extending where people can walk and where they can go.

But part of the law which has changed roads used as public paths (RUPPs) to restricted byways means residents in the six roads around Heath Ride, Wokingham could be breaking the law if they drive up to their house.

Many houses do not have it in the title deeds that they have a right to enter them from restricted byways.

Homeowners could walk, ride a bike or ride a horse but not drive to their homes.

The sale of one house - whose two elderly owners can no longer look after themselves and want to move into a retirement home - has fallen through because of the risk of being banned from using the path to get home.

Residents, Wokingham District Council and local MP Andrew MacKay have joined forces to amend the law and allow those homeowners the access they need.

The law has not been brought into force yet, but the process of turning a road from a restricted byway to a Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) is a lengthy one.

But Wokingham District Council environment leader Cllr Rob Stanton said the council would be unlikely to take action against people using restricted byways if they had put in an application and were waiting to have their road turned to a BOAT.

He added: "Although this law has not come in yet, it is affecting people already. This can be seen in the couple who could not sell their house.

"People need to get to their houses; it is not an unreasonable thing to want to do. It is not an acceptable situation when we could have a law stopping that. It's not on.

"Some affected roads, like Heath Ride, have around 60 houses and they will all need access for their cars.

"It also implicates the postman, the dustbin man and any visitors in breaking the law as well."

ic Berkshire~ Nov 8 2005