Red Tape Challenge - Step up and Be Counted

The Red Tape Challenge is a Government initiative that aims to reduce and remove bureaucracy where it isn't working. This is a massive task as there are 21,000 active regulations in the UK. To help with this the Government want your comments, specifically thoughts on the following questions:
•Should we scrap them altogether?
•Could their purpose be achieved in a non-regulatory way (eg through a voluntary code?) How?
•Could they be reformed, simplified or merged? How?
•Can we reduce their bureaucracy through better implementation? How?
•Can we make their enforcement less burdensome? How?
•Should they be left as they are?
(redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk, 2011)

It's at this point I imagine you're wondering what you should be commenting on!

CROWA 2000, otherwise known as Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (viewable here), is an Act that opened up large areas of the UK that were previously closed including areas of mountain, heath, moor and down. It also provided much needed protection in relation to wildlife and conservation. This wonderful Act is up for review - what if we lose it? What if all the places we're able to wander now are closed again? What if the environment loses its protection?

The Government, through DEFRA have stated that there are no 'plans' to remove environmental protections. Although we need to understand that after this consultation closes, the Government will have 3 months to make plans in response to the comments of individuals and groups regarding the this subject. Therefore we need to comment, let's try to ensure that this legislation remains. But not only that it remains, but is made stronger.
You can do this by signing up to the 38 Degrees petition website - the people that successfully petitioned to ensure that the Government didn't sell off our woodland. You can do that here, it will take less than a minute.
You can also make comments on the Red Tape Challenge website here, as well as reading the over 1000 current responses from others. You can also Tweet these comments, or share them on Facebook.

Let's not lose what so many people had to fight to get us. Let's not lose our country from underneath our walking boots. If we do, activities such as widespread canoeing throughout inland water sources, and Wild Camping, will never have a chance.

Visit the following websites to see what the groups acting on our behalf are saying about this:
BMC
Rambler's Association
Rambler's 'How to Respond' web page

Here are some resources relating to Rights of Way:
IPROW FAQs
Rights of Way in England and Wales
Maps available for the UK
Freedom to Roam
CROWA 2000