In a significant policy shift, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced the removal of the 2031 deadline for registering historic rights of way in England, a move that has been met with both enthusiasm and concern. Campaigners are celebrating the decision, emphasizing it will preserve forgotten countryside paths and enhance safety for walkers and riders. However, this change has been met with resistance from landowners and farm leaders, who express fears that the repeal could lead to uncertainty regarding land rights. The Labour party has also initiated discussions about the implications for the countryside, suggesting that the new rules may escalate tensions over agrarian land management and environmental conservation.