Updated Friday 25th April 2001
Foot And Mouth Restrictions:
Phased Re-opening Halted

Footpaths closed

The County Council has restarted it's phased re-opening of access to local footpaths, common land and recreational sites after saboteurs posted false notices.

The Council had suspended re-openings whilst they found and destroyed the fake notices at a cost of thousands of pounds.

However, many of the county's footpaths remain closed, despite the fact that Hertfordshire has yet to report a single case of Foot And Mouth Disease. Those areas that are open will display green "Open" notices.

The public are been reminded that Rights of Way not displaying "Open" notices remain closed, regardless of whether or not public restrictive notices are displayed. The maximum penalty for anyone breaking the ban is £5000.

Public rights of access to the following areas remain prohibited:-

• All public footpaths and bridleways which are not metalled or displaying "Open" notices
• The King's Meads and Waterford Marsh
• Hertford Heath

However, all tarmac routes are still open, together with some commonhold land and privately owned parks, including Hartham Common.