Local Access Forum

5Th ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LANCASHIRE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM JANUARY 2008

A pdf version of the report can be downloaded size - 688kb.

Introduction

It’s rather more than a year since our last annual report. We need to fix “what “annual” means to us!

As we anticipated some years ago, the focus of the Forum is now especially on the Rights of Way Improvement Plans for our local authorities. The Lancashire Plan is well established, with funding, and we are seeing the fruits of the work materialising on the ground. The Lancashire Local Access Forum is not just a talking shop – if it were, we would not retain the strong interest and the vigour that all members bring to the meetings. We are seeing considerable changes on the ground - which we witness on site visits during the summer months or by reports and pictures at meetings. We are all proud especially to be in the vanguard of making real improvements so that more disabled people can enjoy much of our countryside.

Blackburn-with-Darwen is also developing strategies and work on the ground, especially in collaboration with the other partners in the West Pennine Moors.

We have had one major disappointment. Natural England’s “Lost Ways” project initially held out the prospect for cutting through the red tape and the infuriating long delays when seeking to re-instate legally lost historic routes – of which Lancashire seems to have a considerable number. Regrettably, this initiative is faltering, but we continue to press, with others, for this concept to be re-launched with adequate resourcing.

We contributed to a “desk-top” study of the issues associated with coastal access, looking at the northern Lancashire coast and its continuation into Cumbria. The government has now indicated its intention to bring forward the necessary legislation. The Forum will have a very strong role in supporting the implementation of the new coastal access rights in future years. And I’m sure that this will call on all the knowledge, skills and experience of Forum members, perhaps to a greater extent than has been the case for the upland access granted through the Countryside and Right of Way Act (CROW).

We are involved now in specific issues emerging from CROW - in 2007, the temporary closure of a footpath in Bowland, not so much to protect the bird life, but to protect the public from a very assertive eagle owl!!

I tried to complete the Mary Towneley Loop, which branches off the Pennine Bridleway around some fabulous scenery south of Burnley and along the valley edges of Rossendale, by mountain bike in the summer. I didn’t quite make the 50 miles or more in the day, but my thanks go to the Lancashire Countryside Service for providing the back-up (especially the final lift back to the car!). This route exemplifies some of the new opportunities outdoors in Lancashire for everyone that have been put in place in the last few years – for walkers, bikers and horse riders. It doesn’t have to be a marathon – it can be equally enjoyed in short sections. If you haven’t been on the Loop yet, it is thoroughly recommended.

Richard Toon
Chair
Lancashire Local Access Forum

January 2008

CONTENTS

1. Dates of Meetings

2. Business of the Forum

• a. Discovering Lost Ways
• b. Hen Harriers on Forest of Bowland
• c. Implementation of the Lancashire Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• d. Access to the English Coast
• e. Site Visits
• f. Off Road Motorcycles Forest of Bowland
• g. Parish councils

3. Consultations

4. Correspondence

5. Attendance and membership

6. Relevant Documents

1. Dates of Meetings

17th January 2006
4th April 2006
27th June 2006
3rd October 2006
16th January 2007
3rd April 2007
26th June 2007
2nd October 2007

2. BUSINESS OF THE FORUM

a. Discovering Lost Ways

Progress on the delivery of the Discovering Lost Ways Project has been the subject of regular discussion at Forum meetings. Officers from Natural England have attended meetings. Forum members also attended a Natural England presentation at County Hall on the 10th July 2007. A constant theme has been dissatisfaction with progress and uncertainty around delivery of the project. Letters have been sent to both Defra Ministers and Natural England expressing our concerns, especially

• The apparent lack of interest and impetus displayed by Natural England

• The proposed use of current legislation in delivering the Discovering Lost Ways Project. There is general recognition that the processes are lengthy and complex already requiring significant local government resources and that there is a need for a further primary legislation to ease the process.

b. Hen Harriers on the Forest of Bowland

The Forum received regular progress reports on the Bowland Hen Harrier Study. The report produced by Natural England is detailed and covers many of the issues discussed at meetings. A copy of the report is available from the Lancashire Countryside Service. The report generally concludes that Open Access legislation and greater public access to moorland areas may have had little effect on the success rates of breeding hen harriers.

c. Implementation of the Lancashire Rights of Way Improvement Plan

Forum members requested regular updates on the delivery of various policies and actions of the Lancashire Rights of Way Improvement Plan. This has provided valuable impetus for delivery of the Plan and a useful format for monitoring progress and as a source of feedback to the Lancashire Countryside Service.

Good progress has already been made on securing capital funding via the Lancashire County Council Local Transport Plan. i.e. £200K/annum. The Forum has received the following progress reports.

Bridleways and multi user routes
Safe road crossings
Delivery of additional links in the access network, strategic access links.
Overall project delivery with funds allocated.

Full details can be read in the minutes of the meetings.

Information gathering to support prioritisation of Strategic Access links.

Eaves Brook Linear Park Preston

Bridleway Improvements Belthorn to Oswaldtwistle.

Cribden End Bridleway, Rossendale

The Forum has received considerable feedback on two major strands of the ROWIP, low mobility access to the countryside and social inclusion in access to the countryside. Support and ideas from Forum members has been particularly valuable in this area of work.

Trampers on Darwen Moor

Kutchi Women’s Group, Visit Beacon Fell Country Park

d. Access to the English Coast

Some Forum members attended one of a number of workshops held by DEFRA to introduce proposals to improve access to the English Coast. The Forum subsequently considered the consultation on these proposals and responded. The Forum was generally supportive and keen to see early progress through parliament. In responding to the consultation the point was made that there was very little reference to delivering higher rights or for taking low mobility access into consideration.

e. Site Visits

Successful site visits were arranged for Forum members who enjoyed the opportunity to see work in action.

• Tuesday 5th September 2006. Catherine’s Edge, Strategic Bridleway Development, Wycoller Country Park Tramper routes. Boulsworth Hill Open Access.
• August 2007. Wyresdale Wheels for All, Tramper routes.

f. Off Road Motorcycles Forest of Bowland

A number of incidents of off road motorcycling have been recorded on Bowland, particularly off the Salter Fell Road. The problem is considered to be low level, but there is concern that such incidents are starting to occur. Forum members asked that the situation be monitored.

g. Parish Councils

The Departmental the Environment has been encouraging Local Access Forums to engage with parish councils. With this in mind Richard Toon, Chair of the Lancashire Local Access Forum and Clive Weake, Countryside Services Manager attended the AGM of the Lancashire Association of Parish and Town Councils and outlined the work of the Lancashire Local Access Forum and how parish councils might get involved.

3. Consultations

The Forum was given the opportunity to respond to a number of consultation documents from different sources.

Defra;

Revised Guidelines for Local Access Forums
Protection of Common Land
Rights to apply for Extinguishments of PROW

Natural England;

Draft Diversity Action Plan
Forest of Bowland, Access Issues Review

Lancashire County Council;
Draft Walking Strategy
Countryside Service Information Strategy

Other;

Consultation on Implementation of Dog Control measures West Lancs. District Council, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act
Pre-application consultation for a wind farm on Haslingden Moor, Hyndburn

4. Correspondence

Over the period the Lancashire Local Access Forum corresponded on the following issues;

Quiet lanes, letter to the Department of Transport highlighting the lack of statutory support for quiet lanes and requesting information on future intentions.

Discovering Lost Ways, letters to DEFRA and Natural England requesting information on progress and highlighting the need for a clear plan of action.

Parish Lengthsmen, letter to Lancashire County Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment supporting the project and emphasising the need for continued financial support from the County Council.

National Forum, letter to Natural England supporting the Hampshire Local Access Forum in pursuing the benefits of regional networking and the role of a National Access Forum.

5. Membership

Resignations were received from; Tracey McCluskey, Terry Pickford, Councillor Eileen Entwistle and David Sowter. The following new appointments have been made; Denise Baker (Access Lancashire) Norman Nutter (National Farmers Union) Richard Thomas (Lancashire Wildlife Trust), Councillor Trevor Maxwell (Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council). There are currently 20 members with 2 vacancies available. There is a preference for these to be filled with representatives from the ethnic communities or farming.

6. Relevant Documents

Minutes of the meeting of the Lancashire Local Access Forum are available on our website www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/countryside .

Copies can be obtained by contacting the Lancashire Countryside Service on 01772 534119.

Copies of the following are also available;

Correspondence on behalf of the Lancashire Local Access Forum
The Bowland Hen Harrier Study.
Responses to consultations where made.
Rights of Way Improvement Plan progress on project delivery 2007/08.

Attendance

 

Attendance	17 Jan 2006	4 April 2006	27 June 2006	3 Oct 2006	16 Jan 2007	3 April 2007	26 June 2007	2 Oct 2007
Mr Richard Toon, Chairman Cross Category
Ms Sue Harrison, Vice-Chair Landowning
Denise Baker Disabled								Rosemary Baker
Mr John Earnshaw Cross Category
Mr Arthur Baldwin Access Rossendale
Mr Rod Banks Landowning and Farming
Mr Ralph Henderson Cross Category
Mr Jim Kirwan Cross Category
Mr David Sowter Lancashire Wildlife Trust								Richard Thomas
Mr David Kelly Ramblers' Association
Mrs Sue Hogg South Pennine Packhorse Trails Trust
Mr Keith Westley Trail Riders' Federation
Mr Jon Hickling Natural England					Stephen Murphy			Caroline Hurworth
Mr Bruce Dowles Society Local Council Clerks
Mr Michael Helm Cross Category
Ms Cosima Towneley Lancashire Association, Parish and Town Councils
Mr Terry Pickford North West Raptor Group						Regional
Councillor Eileen Entwistle Blackburn-with-Darwen Borough Council								County Councillor Trevor Maxfield
County Councillor Albert Atkinson Lancashire County Council
County Councillor Tim Ormrod Lancashire County Council
Norman Nutter National Farmers Union