DRAFT maps released by the Countryside Agency to show new areas of open countryside are available for public viewing at Nelson and Colne Town Halls and the borough's main libraries.

The maps have been drawn up in a bid to increase access to England's countryside following the new Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Pendle Council's countryside access officer Tom Partridge said: "The areas in Pendle which are likely to have increased access are

Boulsworth Hill, Pendle Hill, Weets Hill, Kelbrook Moor, Emmott Moor and Bleara Moor."

People have three months until February 11, 2002, to make their views known and the new right of access to open country in Pendle should come into effect in 2003.

Once the three-month consultation is complete the Countryside Agency will look at all the comments and decide whether changes need to be made to the draft map.

Then a provisional map of open country and registered common land will be issued for people to view.

At this stage, people with a legal interest in the land, such as landowners or tenants, can appeal to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The new rights will not take effect until the Secretary of State has given the go-ahead.