Wiltshire and Swindon Local Access Forum Meeting 10th March 2004

Attending:

Mr C Humphries (Chairman)

Mr W Brown (Vice Chairman)

Mr W Riley - Trail Riders Fellowship

Mr J Gambles – Ramblers Association

Mr R Crook – N.F.U.

Mrs D Plummer – British Horse Society

Mr J Withers – South Wiltshire Preservation Society

Mr W Lewis – Wiltshire Association of Local Councils

Mr R Langton – Country landowners Association

Mrs A Henshaw – Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

Mr Hayward – Cycling Touring Club

Mr C Gingell – National Trust

Mr A Thomson – Salisbury Shop Mobility (for Marion Barton)

Officers:

Mr G Bryant – Swindon Borough Council

Mr R Broadhead – Wiltshire County Council

Mr N Pothecary – Wiltshire County Council

Mrs K Forryan – Wiltshire County Council

Observers:

Mr E Clarke – Bishop Cannings Parish Council

Mrs H Woodbridge – British Driving Society

Mr R Feltham – Open Spaces Society

Mr I Ritchie – Chairman Friends of the Ridgeway

Mrs J Milton – Swindon Borough Council

Secretary:

Denise Chandler

1. Apologies: Mr L Eldred – Forestry Enterprise

Mr M Johnson – Independent

Mr Goodhugh – Amesbury Society

Mr R Watts – Defence Land Estates

Mr C Hogg Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City & South

Gloucestershire Joint Local Access Forum

Mr J Pallett – Mid & West Berkshire Local Access Forum

2. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising.

2.1 Under item 3.2, the recommendation that the length from the A303 up to the A344 should be dedicated as a bridleway and not a footpath should be under 3.3 Proposal one.

3. Report from the working group – “Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way”

3.1 Copies of the report were circulated prior to the meeting and Mr Riley gave an outline of the proposals as set out in the document. Mr Riley emphasized that he tried to get a balanced view and therefore co-opted users of byways. Mr Withers felt that the structure of the working group was imbalanced and said there was a need to set down a protocol for future working groups.

3.2 After discussion the following was agreed:

Proposals 1, 2 and 3

non contentious and agreed.

Proposal 4

It was proposed to have a 10 year cut off date from the commencement of new legislation however, some Members of the Forum favoured 1 year. After much discussion it was put to the vote with 6 votes for each, Mr Humphries as Chairman used his casting vote to support the 1year cut off date. The report was amended to reflect this.

Proposal 5

it was agreed that a register could be potentially useful

Proposal 6

The Forum agreed that the proposal was reasonable but made the point that it is not within their remit to express views on private rights.

Proposal 7

It was agreed to leave the date at 2026.

4. Future Venue for Meetings

4.1 There was a proposal that Forum meetings should be made more accessible to the wider public by holding meetings at different venues around the County. Mr G Bryant said that he would be happy to host the next meeting in Swindon and would discuss this with the Secretary.

4.2 Mr Crook kindly offered the use of his Farm accommodation and this would be noted for future reference.

5. Update on Progress with Access Land Assessments.

5.1 Richard Broadhead reported that the Government would be making £2 million available for access sites but no funding would be available unless access authorities produced site management plans. Mrs Milton put forward the idea of splitting the areas between working groups. This was thought to be too unwieldy and it was agreed to look into the structure of the working group for this project at the meeting in July.

5.2 Nick Pothecary was thanked for the work he had undertaken identifying those parcels of land which had rights of way or other means of access to them. Nick’s report should be available at the next meeting.

6. Response to Local Signage.

6.1 Richard Broadhead had responded to the document from DEFRA on signage for access land. Copies of the response were distributed at the meeting.

7. Matters that the Chairman decided should be discussed.

7.1 A permanent Traffic Regulation Order is being placed on Smeathes Ridge and this was welcomed by Mr Ian Ritchie, Chairman of Friends of the Ridgeway. Signs were in the process of being erected and the site would be monitored to see if further enforcement was necessary.

7.2 Mrs Milton asked who the public should contact if they see anyone breaching the Order. Richard Broadhead said that they should contact the Police. Mrs Henshaw made the comment that Police response time was slow and had been informed that the Police would not pursue any reports of misuse and that the Crown Prosecution Service would not prosecute unless they could be sure of a successful outcome.

7.3 Mr Bryant said that it was important landowners were on side as their co-operation was necessary to make any restriction work.

7.4 The initial web site working group had met and Mr Johnson had put together Terms of Reference which Richard Broadhead read in Mr Johnson’s absence. It was agreed to open up the working group to further Members of the Forum and the following volunteered:

An Officer from Swindon (to be advised)

Mr Gingell

Mr Withers

Mr Gambles.

Mr Johnson would contact the above and start putting together ideas as to what the website should show.

7.5 Mr Crook asked if there was any specific funding available From County Council budgets for providing improved access for the disabled. It was reported that unfortunately there was none.

7.6 It was reported that the right of way signing for the Stonehenge World Heritage Site would include distances to points of interest.

7.7 Mr Withers asked that as soon as the updated version of ‘Making the Best of Byways’ was available copies should be circulated to Forum Members.

7.8 Mrs Plummer said that landowners at Brixton Deverill had now been given 7 days freedom to fly model airplanes which could be a problem for users of the bridleways.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING 14^TH July 2004 at 2.00 pm – Venue to be arranged.