Public Rights of Way Report - Chiltern Evergreen3

7 IMPACTS OF THE CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAYNETWORKINTRODUCTION7.1 This section considers the impacts of the proposed changes to the public rightsof way network on members of the public generally, to persons whoseproperties adjoin the existing and proposed public rights of way and anyimpacts on the land served and crossed by the right of way.7.2 The tests which are being relied on in the assessment of impacts of publicrights of way as a result of the Scheme are:• whether it is reasonably practicable to make the crossing safe for use bythe public,• the arrangements being made for ensuring that appropriate barriers andsigns are erected and maintained;• whether the diversion is reasonably convenient to the public takingaccount of length of diversion, difficulty of walking and purpose of theroute;• the effect that the diverted way will have on rights of way network as awhole;• the safety of the diversion, particularly where it passes along or across avehicular highway; and• the effect that the proposal will have on land served by the existing pathand on the land over which the new path is to be created.7.3 When considering the length of the proposed diversion, a distance of 1.0kilometre or more is deemed to be significant to walkers.CONSIDERATION OF THE TESTS7.4 In respect of the tests, the first two relate to whether it is reasonablypracticable to make the existing crossing safe for use by the public, and thearrangements being made for ensuring that appropriate barriers and signs areerected and maintained. These are common to all of the proposed changes tothe public rights of way network and are dealt with together. In respect of allthe other tests, these are considered on a case by case basis in the subsequentsections.ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT41CHILTERN RAILWAYS