INITIAL attempts at drafting maps for new walking spots in parts of North Yorkshire have been criticised by the Country Landowners' Association.

The Countryside Agency has been forced to delay the mapping process and the publication of first drafts for the Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate and

Richmondshire from October to Christmas.

The delay was caused after more than 6,000 people bombarded the agency with comments on the newly-drafted maps, which will pinpoint new walking routes under the 'Right to Roam' legislation.

"The first attempt at draft maps for the Bradford, Calderdale, Craven,

Kirklees and Peak District areas resulted in horror and confusion all round," says the CLA Yorkshire regional director, Dorothy Fairburn.

"The drafts even made it look like there was public access to some

people's gardens.

"It's to be hoped the Countryside Agency's mapping methods have

changed as a result of lessons learned," she added.

"It's in everyone's interests to make this new legislation workable.

"Other parts of England have seen even the second-attempt provisional

maps riddled with errors.

"There's growing concern amongst our land-owning members that unless the mapping is reliable there will be further delays and problems."

A spokeswoman for the CA said the delays have been caused by the massive public response during the consultation process.

She said: "We're looking at all those comments on the first draft maps to see if any changes need to be made.

"It's taking a little bit longer than expected.

"We're obviously making it as accurate as possible and in some cases our information may have been a little bit out of date. We're learning as we go along."

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, September 04, 2002