The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 provides everyone with statutory access rights to most land and inland water for:
- walking
- cycling
- horse riding
- non-motorised water based activities
These rights are only available if they are exercised responsibly by respecting:
- people's privacy
- safety
- livelihoods
- the environment
Land managers are required to manage their land and inland water responsibly in relation to access rights.
Access rights and responsibilities are explained in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Temporary restriction of access - Section 11 Orders
Section 11 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 allows local authorities, whether on application from third parties or at their own initiative, to exempt a particular area of land from access rights for a particular purpose and for a short period of time. The powers are intended to address a number of situations, which range from small events such as local village fetes, to agricultural shows and larger events.
The Council adopted the policy on Section 11 orders (PDF, 49kb) on 4 May 2005. All applications must be lodged with North Ayrshire Council and applicants are required to complete the Short-term Access Rights Exemption Orders application form (PDF, 81kb). The Council will consult the owner of the affected land on the proposed order and any order which excludes land for 6 days or more will require public consultation and Ministerial confirmation. All orders granted will be notified to the public and an order has effect for a maximum of 2 years unless re-enacted.
All applications should be received in advance of the recommended minimum periods highlighted in the policy to enable processing. The application process will be subject to an administration fee, as highlighted in Appendix A of the Policy. This charge covers the administration of the application and the cost of the Public Notice(s) required under the terms of the Act. Guidance notes for the completion of applications are provided in Appendix B of the Policy. Please contact the access officer for an outline of current charges.
More guidance is available in the Section 11 Exemption Orders leaflet (PDF, 114kb).