Local Access Forum
Tuesday 2 December 2014 6.30 pm
v
ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD
LOCAL ACCESS FORUM MEETING MINUTES
2 December 2014
ATTENDANCE LIST
| Name | Interest area |
| Peter Thorn | Chairman, land management |
| Julie Mason | Vice-chair, Walkers, strategy |
| Harry Hancock | Walking, open spaces, Mid-Thames Ramblers |
| Councillor Beer | Walking, cycling, Old Windsor Parish Council |
| Hillary Essen | Walking, Open Spaces |
| Councillor Majeed | RBWM Councillor, Oldfield Ward |
| Sara Church | Horse Riding, British Horse Society |
| Owen Hibben | National Trust |
| Gordon Harris | Footpaths, Open Spaces, Cookham Parish Council |
| John Foulger | Walking, open spaces, public rights of way |
| Helen Howard | Horse Riding, Bray Parish Council |
| Gordon Marrs | Walking, East Berks Ramblers (sub for Phil Smith) |
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| Richard Davenport | Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group |
| Andrew Fletcher | Local Access Forum Secretary |
| Wendy Binmore | Clerk to the Forum |
OBSERVERS
Annie Keene
Alan Keene
Ray Sharp
APOLOGIES
Councillor John Stretton
Christine Gadd
James Copas
Margaret Cubley
Tom Jarvis
Andrew Randall
Joanne Stickland
Chris Westacott
ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD
LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
2 December 2014
MINUTES
LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
2 December 2014
MINUTES
| | ACTION |
| 1 | Welcome, Apologies and Introductions, Declarations of Interest | |
| The Chairman Peter Thorn welcomed everyone to the thirty-first meeting of the Local Access Forum. Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor John Stretton, James Copas, Margaret Cubley, Tom Jarvis, Andrew Randall, Joanne Stickland and Chris Westacott. The Forum approved the minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2014. Andrew Fletcher referred members to pages 1-9 of the agenda. Peter Thorn informed the Forum that there were no matters arising from the minutes. | |
| 2 | Members’ Update | |
| Nothing to report. | |
| 3 | Maidenhead Waterways | |
| Richard Davenport from the Maidenhead Waterways Project gave everyone a short presentation on the ‘Maidenhead Waterways scheme’ which covered the approach of the scheme, the progress made to date, accessibility of the scheme, footpaths and access impacts, the anticipated outcomes of the project and the next steps moving forward. Andrew Fletcher explained the Local Access Forum could keep up to date with events through the Officers in the Rights of Way team. Peter Thorn commented the scheme had a vision which was driven by volunteers and it was highly commendable. | |
| 4 | Rights of Way Improvement Plan | |
| Andrew Fletcher informed everyone that the Rights of Way Plan had been in place for ten years and it was now time for it to be reviewed. Several suggestions were made as to how the update of the plan could be timed and co-ordinated. The forum RECOMMENDED to the Council that the site specific scheme list be revised to show which projects will be investigated over which years. Andrew Fletcher drew Members attention to pages 21-32 of the plan which set out the statement of action. Peter Thorn added the updated plan should include something on multi-user routes and that Members should provide comments on the plan to Andrew Fletcher. Andrew Fletcher agreed to research the legislation regarding quiet lanes. All members were requested to review the proposals contained within the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and respond to Andrew Fletcher by 9th January 2014 with any suggested changes, additions or deletions. Harry Hancock stated with the upcoming election, officers were going to be very busy and it would be better to postpone the update of the Right of Way Improvement Plan till after the election in 2015. The forum RECOMMENDED to the Council reduce the scope of the plan to 5 years. The forum RECOMMENDED to the Council that the review of the plan be postponed until the Summer of 2015. | AF AF ALL AF |
| 5 | Milestones Statement and targets 2015/2016 consultation | |
| Andrew Fletcher gave everyone a short presentation on the Milestones Statement and where we are now. He drew Members attention to paragraph 2.4 of the report and stated that feedback from the forum needed to be reported to the Rights of Way Panel in March 2015. Andrew Fletcher needed the Forum’s comments by 9 January 2015. The presentation included areas, such as the state of the network, a few figures on incidents which had been dealt with, outstanding issues, issues resolved and photos of works which had been carried out by volunteers. Peter Thorn/Andrew Fletcher to write to the Conservation Volunteers to thank them for their hard work and effort. Andrew Fletcher to circulate Appendix B of the report to Members of the Forum. Peter Thorn and Members to provide comments on the Milestones Statement and targets 2015/2016 consultation by 9 January 2015 to Andrew Fletcher. Andrew Fletcher agreed to investigate the implications of the change to Section 106 funding on the Public Rights of Way Team budget. Cllr Beer to contact Parish Councils regarding S106 funding and to liaise with Andrew Fletcher on the best way forward. | PF/AF AF ALL AF MB |
| 6 | Linking of bridleways in the Borough | |
| Andrew Fletcher was asked to provide a report on the new horse riding routes the Council had been working on. He had brought an updated list of bridleways to the Forum which were indicated on the map handed round to members. The map showed the bridleways linking and also; where there were gaps and where strategically, paths could be linked. Andrew Fletcher to organise a working party group or users and landowners in the new year to look at details for suggested new bridleways and ways to link up the existing network. Andrew Fletcher to organise meeting with other LAF’s in neighbouring authorities to discuss horse riding routes that cross into other Borough’s; the meeting to be scheduled in the New Year (2015). | AF AF |
| 7 | LAF Monitoring items | |
| a) b) c) d) | Thames Path ‘missing link’ at Bridge Gardens: The Forum was informed by Andrew Fletcher that a decision had been taken not to go ahead with car parking at Bridge Gardens. Peter Thorn stated that he has been advised that the sale documents for one of the properties at the site states that parking is available in front of the property which would be on the public footpath. Andrew Fletcher advised that Anthony Hurst had written to the agents regarding this point to remind them that no parking is allowed on the public footpath. Peter Thorn to write to the Borough again recognising no further parking added at Bridge Gardens and stating the issue of the footpath access was still not resolved. The letter was to highlight issues raised in previous letter sent in the summer which were still not resolved. Deregulation Bill update: The Forum was updated on the Deregulation Bill by Andrew Fletcher. He stated it was current being examined by the House of Lords and various amendments have been suggested in committee. Easy Going Routes: Andrew Fletcher informed the Forum that no more routes had been planned at present but the Access Advisory Forum had been approached for ideas Volunteer Works: The Forum was informed by Andrew Fletcher that two days of clearing vegetation and building of boardwalks had taken place in Hurley with The Conservation Volunteers. Pinkneys Green Scouts had also undertaken vegetation clearance and installed waymark posts in Maidenhead Thicket. It was the intention to involve other Scout groups for volunteer works on Public Rights of Way. | PT |
| 8 | Current Legal Orders | |
| It was noted that the purpose of this report was to inform the Forum regarding legal changes. | |
| 9 | Feedback from the LAF site visit to Rooks Nest Wood, Wokingham | |
| Andrew Fletcher informed the Forum that members form Bracknell and Wokingham LAFs had been invited to view the area as it was a suitable alternative green space. The space was now a dog walking area but not a dog emptying space. There were dog waste bins at all entrances and feedback was provided. The main issue appeared to be regarding dog owners and walkers not picking up dog waste and leaving it on the ground. One of the key learning areas was to place dog bins 30 metres from an entrance point rather than at the very start as experience has shown that most mess is caused within 30 metres of the car park. This has led to a greater amount of people picking up after their dog. Andrew Fletcher to pass on feedback to Craig Miller, Community Protection & Enforcement Service Lead for the Council | AF |
| 10 | Feedback from LAF Chairs Meeting | |
| It was noted that the first meeting had taken place on 24 September 2014 and had representatives attending from Buckinghamshire, Slough and Windsor & Maidenhead. The meeting produced seven points of action which included joint visits to discuss cross boundary, producing a map and the distribution of the RBWM web link to view signage positions. A future meeting of the LAF Chairs was to include Bracknell and West Berkshire regarding cross boundary issues. | AF |
| 11 | Activities of the LAF Fast Response Team | |
| The Forum notes the several pieces of advice given to the Council by the Fast Response Team:
Submission to South Bucks District Council regarding the development of the former Skindles site in Taplow and construction of a footbridge over the Thames Response to the Dept. for Transport consultation on the Draft Cycling Delivery Plan Response to the consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order banning use by motor vehicles for St. Georges Lane (Byway 24) and Wells Lane (Byway 23) in Ascot & Sunninghill. No objections were raised on behalf of the forum. Response to the informal consultation on the proposed joint Traffic Regulation Order for Hawthorn Lane (Bray Byway 65) for a width restriction or total ban of motor vehicles along the lane. The advice on behalf of the forum is that in principle the forum does not object to the order and are happy to leave it to officers and their discussions with the police whether a width restriction or total ban is the most appropriate. The Forum noted there was a vacancy on the Fast Response Team for a member representing land management interests | AF |
| 14 | Date of Next Meeting- | |
| The date of the next meeting will be confirmed in 2015. The meeting which started at 6.30pm, ended at 9.05pm. | |
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