Meeting to decide if paths can reopen

Representatives from the South East England Tourist Board, the National Farmers Union, the Ramblers Association and the Sussex Downs Conservation Board were meeting with West Sussex County Council to decide whether to lift the closures imposed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Landowners and representatives from tourist attractions such as Goodwood were also due to give their views at the meeting chaired by Mark Hammond, West Sussex County Council's director of environment and development.

This follows a meeting held on April 4 to discuss the same issue when it was decided to continue to keep all paths closed and review the decision after Easter.

Mr Hammond said: "The whole purpose is to enable us to understand what people's views are so we can continue to advise our members.

"We want to hear from people in the tourist trade and rural businesses what their views are. Up to now the public at large has been extremely supportive with the great majority understanding why we have done what we have done.

"We don't want to sit on our hands and hope there will be as wide an attendance as possible so we can understand what's on their minds.

"Nationally the number of cases has dropped leading to a more optimistic outlook but we want to keep on consulting."

The meeting is being held at County Hall in Chichester at 2.30pm.

While the paths remain closed the council has put up thousands of warning signs all over the county.

There are 2,500 miles of public footpaths in the county, all of which have been closed since the end of February.

Jane Robinson, spokeswoman for West Sussex County Council, said: "We have had cases of notices being torn down and members of the public using rights of way even though they know they are closed and are risking a fine of up to £5,000.

"However the majority of people have respected the closure and we thank them for that. We are convinced that closing the rights of way has helped to stop foot and mouth spreading into West Sussex."