St Albans City and District Council has the following adopted or emerging policy documents:

• Saved Policies from St Albans Local Plan, 1994 (adopted 1994, updated to show saved and deleted policies, 2020). (List of Saved Policies.)

• Harpenden (Feb 2019)
• Sandridge (Jul 2021)
• Wheathampstead (currently with Inspector)
• St Stephen (20 Jul 2022)
• Redbourn (currently with Inspector)

Saved Local Plan

The policies below are from the saved local plan. A new local plan is in development.

Text 10.24-10.25

10.24 One of the most popular leisure activities is the enjoyment of the countryside and its scenery. The footpath, cycleway and bridleway systems give access to many of the rural areas of the District. They are assets which could be vulnerable to development of inappropriate uses on adjoining land. Many routes are classified as definitive rights of way, which means that development cannot take place across them unless provision to divert or stop up the route is obtained under the Town and Country Planning Act.

10.25 Three disused railway lines run through the District:
(i) the former Luton-Welwyn Garden City line, parts of which have been incorporated into the Lee Valley Walk from London to Luton;
(ii) the former Harpenden-Hemel Hempstead line, which has now become the Nicky Line foot- path/cycleway;
(iii) the former St. Albans-Hatfield line, which is now the Alban Way footpath/cycleway.

In addition to their recreational value, the disused railway lines are also important as landscape features and wildlife habitats. The Nicky Line and Alban Way are not definitive rights of way, but are in Council ownership. Part of the Lee Valley Walk is also in Council ownership and some stretches of this walk are definitive rights of way. The disused railway lines and the Lee Valley Walk should be retained and their future role considered under Policy Intention 23.

Saved POLICY 97 EXISTING FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS AND CYCLEWAYS

The District Council will resist applications for development which would result in the loss of definitive rights of way, the non-definitive stretches of the Lee Valley Walk, or the Nicky Line or Alban Way footpath/cycleways. A diversion of the western end of the Alban Way may be necessary.

Elsewhere, permanent diversions will be acceptable only if they compare favourably with the original route in terms of distance, gradients, ground conditions and amenity. The Council will resist any development which could endanger users of footpaths, bridleways or cycleways.

Saved Text 10.26-10.27

10.26 The existing bridleway system cannot cope with the increasing numbers who wish to use it. The result is that there is much illegal use of footpaths by riders and also trespass on land adjacent to bridleways. Routes are rarely circular. Therefore, users often have to retrace their steps or use busy roads as a return route to their starting point. In addition, routes often miss scenic viewpoints or other items of recreational interest.

10.27 Much has and is being done to improve facilities for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Grants are available from the Countryside Commission for the creation of new routes, improvement works and also the publication of footpath and bridleway guides. The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 also allows the Council to enter into management agreements with landowners to provide small scale facilities such as car parks linked to footpaths. Additional mutes have been created by voluntary groups and the Countryside Management Service. Resurfacing works have been carried out on certain bridleways to increase their durability.

Saved Policy Intention 23 Improvements to Footpaths, Bridleways and Cycle Routes

The District Council, in conjunction with the Countryside Management Service and using existing routes wherever possible, will promote:
(i) the establishment of a network of short waymarked circular footpath routes close to towns and villages;
(ii) the provision of longer distance waymarked footpaths and bridleways linking places of interest and including facilities such as small car parks;
(iii) a new footpath following the line of the River Colne (see Chapter 20, Upper Comae Valley);
(iv) the establishment of signposted circular routes for cyclists using existing cycleways and quiet lanes.

In particular, the Council will examine the potential to enhance the role of the disused railway lines (including stretches not currently in public use) and the Lee Valley Walk. The Council will also consider designating further sections of these routes as definitive rights of way.