Local Access Forum
Tuesday 15 June 2010
ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD
LOCAL ACCESS FORUM MEETING MINUTES
15 June 2010
ATTENDANCE LIST
| Name | Interest area |
| Peter Thorn | Chairman, Land Management |
| Dorothy Allard | Land Management, Shottesbrooke Estate |
| Guy Badman | Cycling, Sustrans |
| Margaret Bowdery | Walking |
| Mike Bruton | Disabled Ramblers |
| Bill Cathcart | Land & Estate Management |
| Hilary Essen | Walking |
| John Foulger | Walking |
| Harry Hancock | Walking, Open Spaces |
| Gordon Harris | Walking, Cookham CPC |
| Helen Howard | Horse Riding |
| Councillor Majeed | RBWM Councillor |
| Councillor Stretton | RBWM Councillor |
 | |
| |
| Andrew Fletcher | Local Access Forum Secretary |
| Tanya Leftwich | Clerk to the Forum |
OBSERVERS
| Stuart Gullerman | Chiltern Society |
APOLOGIES
Name
Councillor Beer
June Brown
James Copas
Margaret Cubley
Christine Gadd
Andrew Randall
Christopher Westacott
ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD
LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
15 June 2010
MINUTES
LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
15 June 2010
MINUTES
| | ACTION |
| 1 | Welcome, Apologies and Introductions, Declarations of Interest | |
| Peter Thorn welcomed everyone to the twenty-second meeting of the Local Access Forum. Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor Beer, June Brown, James Copas, Margaret Cubley, Christine Gadd, Andrew Randall and Christopher Westacott. There were no Declarations of Interest. The Forum approved the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 March 2010. | |
| 2 | Members’ Update | |
| Margaret Bowdery requested an update on the Land Valuation at Whiteplace Farm and the Millenium Walk as she informed the Forum that no formal update had been presented since the site visit in October. Andrew Fletcher informed the Forum that his colleague Anthony Hurst had been dealing with these projects but that an update had last been reported in February 2010 via the Path Progress Report. With regards to the Millennium Walk missing link at Hurley, it was noted that it had been impossible to contact the landowner at Speen Hill and the team were now looking at other avenues to progress this further. Peter Thorn agreed to speak to Andrew Fletcher and request that it be included on an ‘update list’ to be presented at future meetings of the Forum. It was noted that the Chiltern Society planned to extend the Chiltern Way in Autumn which would allow people to cross the river via the Cookham Bridge. | Andrew Fletcher |
| 3 | Election of vice-chairman | |
| Andrew Fletcher informed everyone that the Forum’s vice-chairman, Geoff Hill had previously resigned on health grounds, and explained that a new vice-chairman needed to be elected. The guidance on Local Access Forums state that the chairman and vice-chairman should ideally be elected from members representing different categories of interest. It was noted that the role of the vice-chairman would be to chair meetings in the Chairman’s absence and to help write and also sign letters on behalf of the Forum. Margaret Bowdery nominated Harry Hancock which was seconded by Hilary Essen. The nomination was unanimously agreed by the Forum who welcomed Harry Hancock as the new vice-chairman. | |
| 4 | Chiltern Society “Donate-a-gate” scheme | |
| Stuart Gullerman gave a presentation to the Forum regarding the Chiltern Society's 'Donate-a-gate' scheme run in conjunction with Buckinghamshire County Council. The scheme works by encouraging Chiltern Society members donate money towards the purchase of a gate to be installed by the Chiltern Society’s own Path Maintenance Volunteers. For every gate funded by these donations Buckinghamshire County Council ‘match funds’ a second gate for installation by the Path Maintenance Volunteers. It was noted that since the introduction of the scheme the generosity of donors had enabled the installation of over 150 donated gates to date which had improved both the access and safety for all users at a variety of locations throughout the central Chilterns area. Members were informed that the success of the scheme had only been possible as a result of the close co-operation between the PMV who carried out the installations and Bucks County Council Rights of Way team who identified potential locations for the gates and contacted landowners to obtain their agreement. It was explained that following a donation of £250 (for the installation of a gate including a plaque) four types of gates were available which ranged from simple pedestrian gates to large mobility kissing gates and the type of gate used would be determined by the County and the landowner. It was noted that to date, in addition to the 150 donated gates, the Central Chilterns PMV had so far installed an additional 43 match-funded gates with 31 gates still classed as pending. Members were informed that match funded gates did not carry a plaque, were not necessarily situated opposite the site of the original gate and equated to two gates for the price of one. It was confirmed that the landowner was the responsible party for the gate as the donor only owned and was responsible for the maintenance of the plaque. It was pointed out that standard kissing gates did not allow access to wheelchair users and that a radar gate was therefore the preferred option. The Forum agreed that the idea of a volunteer group was a sound idea and one they wanted to progress within the Royal Borough. It was concluded that a willing body of volunteers, capable of doing the physical work, was required. Anyone interested was requested to contact Andrew Fletcher directly as soon as possible. Andrew Fletcher agreed to contact the Bracknell’s ‘Tuesday Club’ to see if they were willing to undertake works inside the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead area as well as within Bracknell Forest Borough Council, as well as investigating other volunteer groups that may exist within the RBWM area. Andrew Fletcher also agreed to contact the Parish Councils with regard to the possibility of forming a group of volunteers and look into publicising the need for volunteers in newspaper advertisements and in the Around the Royal Borough newsletter. The Forum discussed a number of ideas that could support a volunteer group, including inviting local businesses to consider path works as a ‘team building exercise’. Peter Thorn stated that the Berkshire College of Agriculture may be able to help if a group was formed by providing a steel storage container for tools. Stuart Gullerman also stated that the Chiltern Society would be willing to help with training and with the process of forming a volunteer group. | All Andrew Fletcher |
| 5 | Health Issues | |
| Andrew Fletcher informed members that at the last meeting of the Forum it was agreed that this would be a standard item. Hilary Essen updated the Forum that she had subsequently visited the Magnet Leisure Centre with regard to their walking for health scheme. It was noted that every Friday morning a Woodlands Park Walk would take place which lasted between forty-five minutes and an hour. Hilary Hancock had been informed that this walk was very successful but in order to find out additional information you had to turn up on the day and to join in. After a discussion about ways to promote and encourage people to use the public rights of way network for exercise, Councillor Majeed suggested that Andrew Fletcher look into this scheme further and also find out whether there was any scope to work with the Council’s Education teams to target schools in the Royal Borough. Hilary Hancock explained that the Primary Care Trust helped fund schemes. Peter Thorn agreed to supply the contact details for the Primary Care Trusts name to Andrew Fletcher. It was agreed that Andrew Fletcher would speak to the team at the Magnet Leisure Centre and drop leaflets into the Physiotherapy Centre in Denmark Street along with various recovery clinics in the Royal Borough to help encourage people to use the public rights of way network. Andrew Fletcher would also arrange to visit the SMILE group meeting to encourage people to be active and use the network, and distribute leaflets. | Peter Thorn Andrew Fletcher |
| 6 | Public Rights of Way and Planning Applications | |
| Margaret Bowdery explained to the Forum that she would like to see a return to the good practices set up in the past which dealt with Planning Applications affecting public rights of way. It was suggested that a Local Access Forum Sub Group be formed to discuss the issues raised prior to submitting a recommendation to the Council. It was noted that in the Local Transport Plan 4.l.l. Council Policies paragraph l.2(b) it stated that a ‘public rights of way’ section would be added to all development control panel reports. Margaret Bowdery went onto explain that it was also standard practice to identify all rights of way plus the definitive number on all Agenda Report Plans. Margaret Bowdery went onto explain that she felt it was unreasonable to expect Councillors to make an informed decision from an out of date map with no public rights of way or status clearly shown and when the Agenda site Plans were not included on the Council website. The Forum noted that this essential information needed to be made available to both Councillors and members of the public. It was also noted that with regard to Policy R.14 this Policy should apply to all Permissive Paths and Cycleways as well as definitive rights of way. Margaret Bowdery informed the Forum that the Planning Application Form no longer required applicants to disclose whether a public right of way existed across or adjacent to the site as in the past. It was felt that an alternative procedure must be found to ensure that this information was made known to the public at the initial consultation stage. It was requested that Andrew Fletcher arrange a meeting for a Local Access Forum Sub Group to be formed to discuss any issues raised prior to submitting a recommendation to the Council. Margaret Bowdery, Harry Hancock and Councillor Stretton agreed to take part in the group. | Andrew Fletcher |
| 7 | National Cycle Route 50 at North Town Moor: Non-standard barriers | |
| Guy Badman explained that he had submitted a number of photographs to show gates in the Royal Borough that he was particularly concerned with. The first gate on the path near the North Town Moor Car Park (the original photo) was felt to have a Health and Safety issue associated to it as it had been topped with barbed wire. The current photo showed a new gate and a barbed wire fence which had been constructed. Margaret Bowdery explained that she believed that the location should have been referred to as Summerleaze land not North Town Moor. The Forum noted that photos of the exit to Westmead, the exit to Bass Mead and the swing gate near the Hippo Sculpture showed a long standing issue where the landowner had modified the gates to stop repeated motorbike trespassing. Andrew Fletcher explained that this was not an issue that could be pursued by the Council because it was a permitted path and as such the Council had very little leverage. Guy Badman agreed to contact a legal representative within Sustrans who could investigate the issue further. | Guy Badman |
| 8 | Annual Report 2009-2010 and LAF work programme for the coming year | |
| Margaret Bowdery and Mike Bruton agreed to email Andrew Fletcher with suggestions / amendments to the Officer’s Recommendation ‘that the Forum consider and approve the publication of the Local Access Forum Annual Report 2009-2010’. With regard to the LAF work programme for the coming year it was noted and agreed that the following items would be considered:
Ø Bisham Bridleway 22 Ø Information on Developer Contributions, an invitation be extended to the relevant officer to explain the S106 system to the Forum. Ø Development and analysis of the existing Public Rights of Way network – in particular looking at the extent of the network available to higher rights users such as horse riders and cyclists. It was requested that any ideas and areas for the work programme be emailed to Andrew Fletcher by the end of the week. | Margaret Bowdery Mike Bruton All |
| 9 | Report from the Site Meeting with Bracknell Forest Borough Council Local Countryside Access Forum | |
| Andrew Fletcher updated members about a site meeting which took place between the Local Access Forum in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and the Local Countryside Access Forum in Bracknell Forest Council. It was noted that Helen Howard and Andrew Fletcher from the Royal Borough had joined several of the Bracknell members for what was felt to be a beneficial meeting. The meeting between the two forums discussed a new bridleway created at the Boundary of Bracknell Forest Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, as well as new surfacing solutions (from recycled wood product) being planned by the Royal Borough’s Public Rights of Way team at Cruch Lane. The topic of ‘way marking’ at the political boundaries was also discussed but it was generally felt that it is not need to sign every path at the political boundary but new waymarking discs with the telephone number of each respective Council was a good idea. Helen Howard explained that Bracknell Forest Borough Council used the “Tuesday Club” volunteer group to do minor path works and were found to be very productive. The forum discussed the possibilities of using volunteer groups for works in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, noting that whilst the East Berks. Ramblers do undertake a variety of work on behalf of the Council there remained jobs such as installing gates that they were not in a position to take on. Andrew Fletcher agreed to investigate whether there are any existing volunteer groups that may be able to undertake Public Rights of Way works on behalf of the Council. It was also agreed that Andrew Fletcher would arrange a further joint Local Access Forum meeting, possibly a walk in the Windsor Great Park to look a proposed Easy Access Route currently being investigated. It was requested that along with inviting the Local Countryside Access Forum at Bracknell Forest Borough Council that a number of our members also be in attendance. | Andrew Fletcher Andrew Fletcher |
| 10 | Appointing observers to neighbouring Local Access Forums | |
| Andrew Fletcher informed everyone that the Forums observer was Raymond Sharp (Mid and West Berkshire LAF). It was noted that it was felt quite beneficial to observe other Local Access Forums in neighbouring authorities as it helped with not only networking but it also enabled the observer to see what other Forums were doing. Peter Thorn requested that Andrew Fletcher put together a calendar of neighbouring authorities meetings and supply it to everyone on the Forum. | Andrew Fletcher |
| 11 | Date of Next Meeting | |
| The next meeting of the Local Access Forum would take place on Tuesday 30 November 2010 at 6.30pm in Ascot/Bray, Town Hall, Maidenhead. The meeting which started at 6.30pm, ended at 8.20pm. | |