LANDOWNERS are being urged to check draft land access maps, published this week, or face living with the consequences.

As the leading authority on access to private land, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has issued the reminder following publication of maps for the upper north west.

This includes part of Northumberland (south of the A69), part of County Durham (including Teesdale, Wear Valley and Derwentside) and part of North Yorkshire, including Harrogate, Richmond and the part of Craven district within the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

They show the areas that the Countryside Agency considers to be Open Country and Registered Common Land, and the CLA says that if landowners do not check the maps they will have to live with the consequences.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 will grant the public a new right of access to large areas of countryside, and it is the responsibility of landowners to inspect these maps to ensure that only eligible land has been included.

But as landowners will not automatically receive details of how their land has been mapped, the onus is on them to ensure they inspect the maps at either a main library, one of the CLA roadshows or on the internet at www.countryside.gov.uk.

The CLA is also making them available for inspection at its offices in Dalton Hall, Stable Yard, Burton-in-Kendal.

Antony Haslam, CLA North-East regional director, said, "I cannot stress enough how important it is for landowners to carefully examine the draft maps of any land in which they have an interest.

"This is the first opportunity they have to see what plans the government has made for their land."

The CLA has also stressed the need to integrate access with other land management activities, which provide livelihoods for thousands of rural businesses.

"The CLA has an important role to play in guiding the government in implementing the legislation," added Mr Haslam. "It is essential that this Act does not simply become one that provides rights for users and responsibilities for land managers.

"Access must be managed to ensure that we do not damage the countryside - our precious national asset and the very land the public so keenly wishes to visit."

An opportunity to view the maps is offered at the following CLA roadshow events.

Alston town hall, Friday, January 10, 12.30-7.30; Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, Wednesday, January 15, 12.30-7.30; Hexham racecourse, Saturday, January 18, 10-4; Hawes Countryside Museum, Saturday, January 25, 10-4; Masonic Hall, Kirkby Stephen, Thursday, January 30, 12.30-7.30.