Issue - meetings

Matters arising from the last meeting

Meeting: 04/07/2019 - Local Access Forum (Item 22)

22 Matters Arising from the last meeting pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Jacqui Wheeler and Geoff Priest (LAF Chairman) outlined that there were various matters arising from the last meeting which included:

 

4.1 – Members were informed that the Cookham Cycleway project would require further work and that this was a long term ambition project in conjunction with the project centre and as part of the larger Cycling Action Plan.

 

Members queried whether there had been any links forged with Cookham Parish Councillors and it was confirmed that there had been some conversations with Moor Hall as a stakeholder in relation to the Cookham Cycleway project. It was highlighted that there was an additional 2.3m needed of land for the access route to be provided as part of the wider cycling route. It was noted that Moor Hall did not seem wholly on board with allowing access through the grounds due to staff and security issues and it was confirmed that this access route would not be a public right of way. Jacqui Wheeler stated that she would be pursuing the project as a permissive cycle path with the owners’ agreement and would update the forum as soon as possible.

 

Members queried what the use of the path would be classified as and it was confirmed that the preference of the Local Authority was to pursue this pathway as a multiuser accessible route. Some Forum Members highlighted their concerns as existing bridle path users and highlighted some of the issues that they had encountered when accessing bridle paths through the Cookham area and highlighted that not all surfaces were not currently suitable for horses.

 

Members were informed that there were currently 31 land owners involved with the plan to implement and develop the Cookham Cycle route and that discussions were being had with these important stakeholders.

 

4.2- A Joint Chairs meeting is due to be held with the LAF Chairs and there would be an update at the next meeting on the progress of the Forums. Jacqui Wheeler and Geoff Priest would attend once the dates were announced.

 

4.3- It was highlighted that it was important to have links with Surrey. Jacqui Wheeler would contact the Surrey LAF representative with regards to future joint chair meetings.

 

6.1- It was highlighted that Geoff Priest would meet in his capacity as LAF Chairman with Jacqui Wheeler and Anthony Hurst to discuss ways in which the LAF could be promoted through the RBWM Council website and for any further improvements to current available web pages related to the LAF.

 

6.2- It was noted that efforts would be made to contact the new Crown Estate representative- John Olive and that this would be reported back to the LAF at the next meeting. It was highlighted that no communication had yet been received despite efforts to make contact with the new representative but that members were aware of the work related to the pressures of starting a new role.

 

6.3- Members were informed that efforts would be made to contact younger representatives to attend the LAF, by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22


Meeting: 05/02/2019 - Local Access Forum (Item 14)

14 Matters arising from the last meeting pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman informed members that he had written to Andrew Fletcher on the Forum’s behalf to thank him for his years of service, and read out the letter that he had sent. The Chairman then read out a letter of gratitude that he had received from Andrew Fletcher in response.

 

Members were told that a short message of condolence had been sent to the husband of Margaret Cubley, as news of her passing reached Forum members some time later.

 

Dom Lethbridge informed the Forum that an agreement had been reached with the Woodland Trust about the new circular route around Cookham and Bisham, and that it was hoped that work on this could begin shortly. This would include clearance of scrubland and the installation of a new information board.

 

The subcommittee formed to look at access issues had not been able to meet due to Lisa Hughes’ illness. Dom Lethbridge said he and Steve Gillions would try to arrange another meeting, and letting Lisa Hughes know of any outcomes via email if she was unable to attend. It was agreed to review any findings of the subcommittee at the next Forum meeting.

 

Regarding Site HA22, Cllr Hunt stated that she had written to the Planning Inspectorate about various issues with the land. The Inspectorate had replied that the Royal Borough should meet with the Parish Council and developers to address these. The Parish Council had met the previous week, but discussions on this issue had taken place in the private section so Cllr Hunt was unable to relay what had been talked about to the Forum. Cllr Hunt said that as HA22 was designated Open Countryside Space the developer would have to replace it; however there was nothing to suggest that the plot needed to be the same size as the previous plot. It was agreed by members to keep this item as one that required monitoring only, as the Borough Local Plan had effectively been mothballed due to the upcoming local elections.

 

Regarding horse riding at Ashley Hill, members were informed that there had been no further action since the last meeting and it would be brought forward as an action point only when more information became available. Members were reminded that horse riders had requested greater access to Ashley Hill, but concerns had been raised by residents about other users of the bridleway. The woodland at Ashley Hill was leased from the Forestry Commission, who had not had the time or resources to conduct health and safety checks of the site.

 

No dates had been set for the next LAF Chairs meeting. When confirmed, the Forum Chairman and Ambika Chouhan would attend.

 

Regarding establishing closer links to Surrey, it was agreed that by members that this should be done. However it had not been established whether responsibility for Surrey’s LAF lay with the County Council, or if the various districts had their own.