Wiltshire and Swindon Local Access Forum Meeting 8th
October 2003
Attending:
Members:
Mr C Humphries - (chair)
Mr W Brown- (vice chair)
Mr W Riley - Trail Riders Fellowship
Mr W Lewis - Wiltshire Association of Local Councils
Mr J Gambles – Ramblers Association (substituting for Mr Perraton)
Mr R Crook- NFU
Mr R Langton – Country Land Business Association
Mrs A Henshaw – CPRE
Mr R Watts – Defence Land Estates
Mr C Gingell – National Trust
Ms M Barton – Salisbury Shop Mobility
Mrs D Plummer – British Horse Society
Mr J Withers – South Wiltshire Preservation Society
Officers:
Mr P Gerrard – Highways Project Manager
Mr G Bryant – Swindon Borough Council
Visitors:
Mr M Johnson – appointee
Mr R Hayward – appointee
Mr C Hogg – Bath & North East Somerset – Officer for the joint Forum with Bristol & South Gloucestershire.
Miss B.L MacMullen – Wiltshire Bridleways Association.
Mr Clarke – Bishop Cannings Parish Council.
Mr R Feltham – Open Spaces Society
Denise Chandler
1. Apologies: Mr H Barton – Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Mr L Campbell - Forestry Enterprise
Mrs D Williams – Wiltshire Tourism
2. Minutes of last meeting:
2.1 The minutes were accepted as correct.
3. Election of Chairman:
3.1 Mr Riley nominated Mr Brown and was seconded by Mrs Plummer. Mr Withers nominated Mr Humphries and was seconded by Mrs Henshaw. After putting to the vote Mr Humphries was nominated Chairman by a majority of 6 to 4.
4.
Election of Vice Chairman:
4.1 There was only one nomination for Vice Chairman and Mr Brown was duly elected.
After the above appointments it was agreed that the working year of the Forum would start in October and the Terms of Referance would be amended to reflect this.
5.
Annual Report:
5.1 The Annual Report would be circulated at a later date.
6. Role of Appointing Authorities:
6.1 Mr Gerrard outlined the role of the appointing authority which in brief is to establish Local Access Forums (LAF’s) as required under section 94 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which will advise on improvement of public access to land for open air recreation and enjoyment of the area. The appointing authorities are required to consult with LAFs on discharging certain functions under Part 1 of the Act.
6.2 The Statutory function of LAFs in relation to local access restrictions is to comment on any proposed long-term direction which the appointing authority considers it necessary and which would restrict access indefinitely, or for a period which may exceed 6 months.
6.3 The appointing authority must consult with the LAF where it is minded to approve long-term direction, and it must have regard for any advice given by the LAF. The appointing authority may proceed with making the direction if the LAF does not respond within a reasonable timescale.
7. New Members:
7.1 The group was made aware of 3 new applications that had been received and would be put before the Environmental Advisory Panel on the 29th October for ratification. These were:
Mr M Johnson – Independent
Mr R Hayward – Cycling Touring Club
Mr P Goodhugh – Amesbury Society.
8.
Outcome of Liaison Group meeting.
8.1 The Chairman asked those members who were at the Liaison Group meeting that morning to state their concerns regarding the disbandment of the Liaison Group.
8.2 Mr Riley expressed concern that the Forum is not balanced in its representation.
8.3 Mr Lewis commented that it was time to accept the demise of the Liaison Group and to work at making the Forum successful in carrying out its statutory functions.
8.4 Mr Crook supported Mr Lewis’s comments.
8.5 Mrs Henshaw commented that CPRE feel the Liaison Group was more vocal in its dealings with rights of way issues and that there seemed to be a lack of accountability in the Terms of Reference for the Forum.
8.6 Mr Withers agreed with the previous speaker and hi-lighted concerns over the completion of the Definitive Map process by 2026.
8.7 In response Mr Gerrard tabled his paper on the Terms of Reference for the Group which had been expanded to incorporate the views of the Liaison Group. Mr Riley responded that he had been slightly mollified by proposal 18 in that the Forum will “ provide a forum for an interchange of views on matters affecting the public rights of way network in the County and the Borough”
8.8 It was suggested that sub- groups could be established to look into specific proposals and these groups would feed back to the main Forum.
8.9 Mr Brown supported by Mr Riley, Mrs Plummer and Mr Withers agreed to head up the group looking into the consultation paper on proposed amendments to legislation when ‘Roads used as Public Paths are reclassified as restricted byways’. Mr Brown would arrange a suitable meeting venue.
9. Mr Gambles outlined his paper on ‘Implementation of Access to Open Country’ and it was agreed to set up another group to look at the implications involved i.e. boundaries, information points etc. Mr Gambles supported by Mr Gingell and Mr Crook would head this group.
9.1 Both Groups would feed back to the main Forum on the 19th November.
10.
Correspondence received:
10.1 The following documents were outlined by Mrs Chandler.
A report to Environmental Advisory Panel on Removal or Relaxation of General Restrictions on Access Land Under Part 1 of The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Consultation paper on proposed amendments to Legislation when ‘Roads Used as Public Paths are reclassified as Restricted Byways.
11. Mrs Chandler informed the group that Mr Perraton had resigned form the Forum on health grounds and it was agreed that a letter would be sent to Mr Perraton thanking him for his very valuable contribution to the Forum and the Rights of Way Network.
Date of next meeting: 19th November 2003 Committee room 7 @ 10.30 am (Lunch will be provided)