Agenda item

LAF Work programme

(a)        Multi-user routes

(b)        Fostering closer engagement with Parish Councils

(c)        Opportunities and issues with large development sites

(d)        Millennium Walk

(e)        Improvement to Ashley Hill, Hurley

 

By Andrew Fletcher.

Minutes:

Andrew Fletcher gave the Forum an update on the work programme for 2016/2017. 

 

Multi-User Routes.

 

Andrew Fletcher explained that there were ongoing discussions with the Environment Agency and Bucks County Council regarding opening up part of the jubilee river for horse riding.  The Forum was informed that at present there were no other proposals for multi-user routes currently being investigated.  Sara Church explained that horse riders were already using the route.

 

Fostering closer engagement with parish councils.

 

The Forum noted that a meeting had been held with Peter Thorn, Geoff Priest and Andrew Fletcher to discuss proposed actions to foster closer engagement with Parish Councils.  The following actions were agreed:

1.         Share minutes of Forum meetings with Parish Councils and ask them to link to it on their website for parish residents to view.

2.         Ask Parish Councils to share minutes of meetings with the    Forum.

3.         Invite Parish Councils to site visits being organised by the Forum in their area.

4.         Ask Parish Councils to assist with enforcement issues where they are able.

 

Geoff Priest stated that he believed that Parish Clerks did not want to get involved which was a concern and that Parish Councillors needed to be approached rather than Parish Clerks.  Councillor Beer explained that Parish clerks were salaried and as such should undertake what was requested of them.

 

Opportunities and issues with identified large development sites

 

It was noted that this item had already been covered under earlier agenda item discussions.

 

Improvement to access as Ashley Hill, Hurley.

 

Andrew Fletcher informed the Forum that a meeting had been held with Alan Keene and Annie Keene on 21 February 2017 to develop a proposal for improved horse riding access in Ashely Hill.  It was noted that a map detailing the proposal was included in Appendix A of the agenda.

 

Andrew Fletcher explained that the Forestry Commission had then been approached as the main land manager to see if they had any objection to the proposals. They replied stating that horse riding is something they looked at previously and at the time the forestry commission decided not to pursue it. They added that they do not have the resource to manage any additional trails at the current time, and although the proposal was to upgrade the existing tracks, the Forestry Commission would need to inspect them as riding trails which would increase the resources required at the site.

 

It was noted that a proposal had been put to the Forestry Commission for the Council to inspect the paths on the Forestry Commission’s behalf.  Andrew Fletcher explained that the Forestry Commission had responded that this did happen in other cases but at the present time they were not able to look into this until February 2018.

 

v  Action (AF/AK): To work together to approach the other stakeholders at Ashley Hill to see if they would be happy in principle for increased horse riding access in the woods.

v  Action (AF): A LAF working group to be put together with interested members to develop draft position statements on behalf of the LAF which define strategic access benefits that would be desirable in the identified development areas in the Local Plan.

v  Action (AF): To share the LAF position statements with local Parish Councils, Highways and Planning Policy for their consideration when responding to pre planning advice and formal planning applications.

Supporting documents: