Protecting against future claims

Landowners may protect themselves against future claims for public rights of way and village greens

What it means to you

If you are a landowner or act on behalf of one, you can send us a map of your land with a statement describing any public rights of way which you acknowledge already exist on your land.

Then, you can send us a declaration stating that you have not dedicated any more ways to the public.  You need to do this within 20 years for new deposits or 10 years for deposits made before 1 October 2013.

This can protect you from claims that might be made in the future to record more public rights of way over the land.  (But it cannot protect you from any claims for rights of way that may have come into being before the Statement was submitted.)

You can also send us a map and statement which brings to an end any use of your land as a Village Green. In legal terms, that means any recreational use of the land ''as of right' (without force, secrecy or permission).  To find out more on our on town and village greens page.

We charge for this service (see below).

How to apply

To make or renew a deposit or statement, you will need to fill in the official application form and send it, with a map and a cheque made payable to Oxfordshire County Council, to:.

Countryside Records
Oxfordshire County Council
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND

Before you apply, please read the guidance and the frequently asked questions below

From 1 April 2022, the council’s charging structure will change for this service. The initial fee (for a deposited statement) will rise but there will only be a small additional fee for a subsequent declaration under section 31(6) if made within 60 days of the council’s acceptance of an initial statement and plan. Otherwise, the full fee applies. The revised charging is: -

Highways Act 1980 section 31(6)
Receipt and processing of deposited map and statement or declaration for a single parcel (of any size) £290
Additional fee for each additional unconnected land parcel £20
Receipt and processing of declaration that follows an initial deposit and statement £50*

* if made within 60 days of the council acceptance of initial deposit and statement: otherwise, the full fees above apply

Commons Act 2006 s15(a)(1) Landowner Statement (or combined s31(6) and s15(a)(i) deposit)
Receipt and processing of deposited map and statement or declaration* for a single parcel (of any size) £350
Additional fee for each additional unconnected land parcel £25

* If made within 60 days of the council acceptance of initial deposit and statement: otherwise, the full fees above apply

The figures above are VAT exempt.

Search for a statement

You can search our register of statements, maps and supporting declarations by landowners.

More information

For more information or to make a deposit, please contact us.