Just to put a slightly different tack on this post, I walk in a country park, no stock, no fences no exclusions to dogs walkers children etc. in fact there is a children's play area on it. Now just of late the cows and large calves in the next door field have been getting into the park and running riot. I am wary of meeting them one day with the girls as they would possibly chase them..where do I stand if they do? and if they injure my girls or me? or in fact if they run over a child or something? I realize that sometimes it is stupid folk who break the fences down but does the farmer have to keep his stock in or do the park owners have to keep them out?

Livestock owners are responsible for keeping their animals in and can be made to pay for any damage etc. It is not up to others to keep them out. For example, if a herd of cows break out and trample your garden you have a claim against the owner. :)

Linda

Unfortunately, because of the huge need for new homes if he applied for planning permission to develop the land, and it wasn't within the Green belt or a SSSI, he'd most likely be granted it. Yes, it's sad when land is turned into housing estates, but unless people are going to share houses more (not divorcing, etc! ;)) or the population falls then it's inevitable. Of course it's always better when it happens 'somewhere else', but sometimes it's our turn to lose out.

No he has no permission for anything and this land is outside the permitted development area - not even hope value to be included on the next local plan. 

In that case you're lucky - the land won't be built on but will remain agricultural. :) You, and everyone else who's enjoyed the benefit of a favour granted by a previous owner, will have to accept the change.

>This man is changing the use by trying to clear it and make it into pasture which it isn't at the moment.

It can be arable or grazing or whatever - it's all agricultural. No change of use there.

Just wanted to say - in response to Ktee's post.  I know what you mean!  My late partner and I found it really difficult to find a property with land that didn't have a public footpath across it.  There's no way I would have been able to cope with people walking across my land all the time, that would drive me nuts.  We did find somewhere in the end with no public footpaths......and yep - people still walk across it.  Madness.  I think I posted on here once before that I had a young stallion in one of the fields at one time, and some nutter still felt the need to wander through :rolleyes: