Access restrictions in OpenStreetMap reflect verifiable legal restrictions, which in the UK for foot=no requires a traffic order and a "pedestrians prohibited" sign (TSRGD diagram 625.1 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UK_traffic_sign_625.1.svg ). There is no such thing as a "cars only restriction".

Pedestrians in the UK use highways by absolute right unless explicitly prohibited.

Reverted in https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/163003949