PLANS to hand walkers unlimited access to thousands of acres of countryside across Dorset and Hampshire have taken a major stride forward.

The Countryside Agency has released its first draft maps of "right to roam" areas in central southern England, giving the public a chance to help define areas of common land and countryside open to all.

But while the proposals mark a victory for ramblers and other nature lovers, they will be scrutinised closely by local farmers and commoners, who fear they could spark "chaos, confusion and anarchy".

The project results from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which basically granted people the freedom to walk on registered common land and open country, unless a legal exemption is in force.

It covers heaths, downland, moors and mountains, and is due to come into force in 2005. A draft map covering Dorset and Hampshire was yesterday posted on the Agency's website, and will also be available to view at local council offices plus selected libraries for the next three months.

There will also be public roadshow visits outlining the process at the Corn Exchange in Blandford and the Lyndhurst Park Hotel, and Agency spokesman Andy Wistow urged people to make their views known.

"The new law will effectively turn around walkers' access rights," he said.

"Instead of needing special permission to walk, once the new rights come into force, it will be automatic, unless there's a special restriction against it.

"But at present there's no conclusive map of the estimated 4,000 square miles of English countryside where the rights will apply."

However, plans to include the historic crown lands of the New Forest - where public access is currently a privilege - was greeted with major misgivings by one prominent commoners spokeswoman.

"If you impose additional rights of access on top of the ones already enjoyed by commoners and agisters, which ones take precedence? There is real scope for conflict," said Olive Collins, of the Commoners Animals Protection Society.

"There may be occasions where the public needs to be excluded for health and safety reasons, and people could just turn around and refuse.

"Unless that is sorted out, it could lead to chaos, confusion and argument."

And local National Farmers' Union spokesman Chris Whitlock urged all members to peruse the draft maps very carefully to avoid future headaches and confrontations.

"There may not be a major problem because most farmland in this area is cultivated, but this Act has real teeth and we need to study the detail of these maps," he said.

"We need to make sure the Agency has got it right, or we could suddenly find people wandering onto land where they are not supposed to be."

The draft can be viewed on the Internet at the website www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping, and a provisional map, taking on board public comment, will be published in the Spring.