Meeting documents

RESOLVED

That Mr J M Elfes be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED

That Mr D Briggs be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Apologies of absence were received from Gavin Caspersz, Peter Challis and Alan Lambourne.

Members were advised that Ed Tampkin had resigned as a Member for disabled access as he had moved to Wales. The Chairman asked the Forum to pass on its gratitude to Ed for all the significant work he undertook. The Forum was advised that Gavin Caspersz, who had been recommended by Annette Weiss from the Chilterns AONB, had been offered membership of the Forum representing to represent disabled users.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2009 were confirmed.

There were no matters arising.

Report by Lee Stevens – Cycling Team Leader, Transport for Buckinghamshire

Lee Stevens, Transport for Buckinghamshire, Cycling Team Leader attended the meeting to outline proposals for a cycle route between Haddenham and Thame.

The Officer advised that in July 2008 Buckinghamshire County Council commissioned a feasibility study to look at options into the provision of a community path for cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders between Haddenham and Thame. Three possible route options were subsequently identified.

Members were informed that the County Council also received a petition in favour of a route being developed with approximately 1500 signatures and that the Cabinet Member for Transport agreed that determination of a preferred route be explored further.  Of the original three suggested routes one route has not been progressed further. The two remaining options are:

1. via Scotsgrove Mill
2. via Tythrop

Informal consultation on the remaining route options has been undertaken and residents are now being asked to indicate their preference through a formal public consultation. The Officer showed Members how to access the consultation on the County Council website and talked Members through the individual routes. Members were informed that the consultation was temporarily suspended as amendments following a public meeting were being made but that this would be back on-line shortly.  The Officer invited comments from the Local Access Forum on the routes.

Members enquired about the response to date and were advised that landowners had expressed concerns regarding issues over flooding and livestock. There had been much public support for a connection between the two towns and it was for this reason that this was being explored.

A Member asked what cyclists thought of the route options. In response the Officer said that feedback had suggested that the route options would be more appealing to cyclists currently put-off by the busy traffic on the A418. However due to cost factors there is no plan to upgrade the surface of the route. Members commented that the fact that the surface was not going to be immediately upgraded, should not be a reason not to proceed and highlighted that over time grants for this purpose may be available.

The LAF endorsed the project in principle.

Report by Mike Walker, Rights of Way Group Manager

As part of the Council’s ‘Transformation’ programme, the Planning, Environment and Development Service restructured its management posts. There is no longer a Rights of Way Group and the former post of ‘Rights of Way and Access Group Manager’ has been deleted and is encompassed within a wider remit of ‘Environment Group Manager’. Mike Walker has been appointed to this post which encompasses Rights of Way, Natural Environment, Historic Environment (Archaeology), Gypsy & Traveller Services, Sustainability and Country Parks.

The Strategic Access Team Leader and Assistant posts have been deleted. Jonathan Clark’s role as Strategic Access Officer will now fall within the Natural Environment Team, headed by Mark Bailey. Fiona Broadbent will continue to run the ‘Simply Walk’ initiative but within Sue Burchell’s Definitive Map Team. Sue will be reducing her hours to work 3 days per week from April. The Maintenance & Enforcement Team remains the same but will now be called the Rights of Way Operations Team. The post of Maintenance and Enforcement Team Leader remains, albeit retitled as Rights of Way Operations Team leader, but the contracts of two temporary posts terminate this month and will not be renewed.

In February 2010 the Council determined that the budget available to the Rights of Way Service would be reduced by £68,000. A three year, £100,000 capital investment programme also comes to an end this month. It was commented that other Counties were also restructuring as savings needed to be made.

The Chairman commented that he was pleased that Mike Walker had been appointed as Environment Group Manager and was responsible for Rights of Way.

A Member expressed concern that the budget cuts would permanently damage the footpaths and bridleways in Buckinghamshire. John Coombe, Chiltern Society raised concerns about the way some maintenance work was allocated. In response it was highlighted that the Council must adhere to strict health and safety procedures and that when an order was raised, it was necessary to carry out a risk assessment. It was also highlighted that the Council’s contractors are now not able to commence works unless they have first checked with all statutory agencies that there are no utilities present. This limited the potential for further works to be undertaken by volunteers.

The Officers were asked which Cabinet Member was responsible for the Service. In response the Forum was advised that Mark Bailey’s team reported to two different Cabinet Members and Mike Walkers team reported to three.

Report by Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Officer

1. Definitive Map Update

Rights of Way Applications

Following the public inquiry into an Order to upgrade Public Bridleways Nos. 40 and 40A Great and Little Kimble and No. 62 Ellesborough to Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT), the Secretary of State’s decision is awaited.

A reply from the Secretary of State about the direction to make Orders upgrading to BOAT status routes at Little Missenden and Stowe/Lillingstone Dayrell is still awaited. Officers wrote to DEFRA as it was considered that the applications were not duly made, asking that the decisions be reassessed with this in mind.

The outcome of the Trail Riders’ Fellowship appeals against the County Council’s rejection of applications for BOATs in Great Missenden is still awaited.

Orders have been made for public footpaths in Amersham and Ellesborough and objections have been received.

Applications for a claimed footpath in Shabbington and a claimed bridleway in Great and Little Hampden have been rejected and the applicants have appealed against these decisions. Officers are in correspondence with DEFRA regarding this issue.

The application for a claimed bridleway in High Wycombe has been agreed and an order will be made. 

Village Green Applications

Village greens have been registered at: Burton’s Wood, Little Chalfont; Windmill Hill, Princes Risborough; Candlemas Lane, Beaconsfield (landowner voluntary registration).

The following village green applications are in progress – Amersham; Daly Way, Aylesbury; Bloomfield Cottages, Pinewood Fields, Iver Heath; Station Road, Marsh Gibbon; and Coppice Farm Road, Tylers Green.

Barn Meadow and Bellingdon were rejected as they did not meet the criteria required.

New paths and achievements

The problems with Ickford Public Footpath No. 12 have finally been resolved by diversion of the route after 30 years. The Parish Council put in an application to divert the route into fields at the back of houses and the recreation ground. The Inspector confirmed the route.

A new network of bridleway at Denham Golf Club has been added to the Definitive Map and two new public footpaths have been added to the map in Wexham and Lillingstone Lovell.

Viv Lynch requested a copy of the Definitive Map and advised she would publicise the new bridleway.

Action: Officer

A Member enquired when the new Rights of Way would appear on Ordnance Survey Maps and it was advised that this was likely to be on the next revision, although it was not known when the OS might undertake this.

Following negotiations regarding the diversion of Taplow 21 away from a house, it became possible to create a new route for the Beeches Way onto a more attractive route through woodland.

A Member enquired about the status of Beaconsfield 4 and Hughenden 54. The Officer advised that Beaconsfield 4 is in progress and there is a query currently with the applicants. In relation to Hughenden 54, the school applied to extinguish the route on the grounds of school safety. However, the Secretary of State said it was not a valid order as a reasonable alternative route should have been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

1. Membership

Gavin Caspersz has agreed to represent disabled users, replacing Ed Tamkin who has resigned. At the July 2010 meeting Gavin will give a short introduction to his background in accessing the countryside on a mobility vehicle.

David Briggs, Alan Lambourne, Richard Pushman and Brenda Jennings have agreed to continue to be members of the Forum.

Members NOTED the information

2. SUSTRANS update

Negotiations are underway with the landowner of the Bourne End to Wooburn Green disused railway line with a view to purchasing a section to create a cycling link.

Volunteers have surveyed National Route 50 with a view to signing this section from Winslow to Aylesbury. 

Members NOTED the information

3. Slough LAF correspondence

Members discussed the correspondence received from Slough LAF. In response an Officer offered to draw up a list of priority routes for consideration and the Chairman agreed to respond to the letter dated 17 November 2009.

Action: Chairman/Officer

4. South East LAF members meetings

John Elfes advised that the main business discussed at the meeting was the Forestry Commission’s proposal to charge for horse riding in its woods. A working group has been set up and Viv Lynch was nominated to sit on this group. The Chairman highlighted that Viv is also Chairman of Milton Keynes LAF and should had received an invite to this meeting.

Viv Lynch advised that due to the distance of the meetings she will continue to be involved with the working group electronically. At the last meeting it was proposed that each LAF look at one forest within their area and to complete a survey on the usage. Viv will be undertaking this survey and obtaining feedback from users at Wendover Woods. She highlighted that presently the British Horse Society (BHS) are busy responding to High Speed 2 (HS2)

Members NOTED the information and agreed that the Forestry Commission proposal and HS2 be discussed at the next meeting of the LAF

5. Conference for LAF members

John Coombe and Viv Lynch updated Members on the meeting held on 16th March 2010 in central London. Viv Lynch commented that the meeting highlighted that LAFs should be consulted regarding major developments which did not appear to be happening and that LAFs are not statutory bodies but statutory advisory bodies. Members attending the meeting discussed a proposal to recommend to Natural England changing the status of LAFs to a statutory body.

An Officer advised that in principle LAFs should be considering major developments and that the LAF would have the opportunity to comment on the proposed HS2 route options. The Officer highlighted that due to tight timeframes for consultations it is not always possible to discuss at a LAF meeting.

Members NOTED the information

6. LAF Annual Review

Members considered articles for this year’s annual review. The Chairman agreed to provide a report and invited Members to contribute. David Briggs Viv Lynch agreed to provide articles. John Coombe and Chris Hurworth said they would also try to provide an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Future agenda items were discussed and it was highlighted by an attending Oxfordshire County Council officer, that findings from the Haddenham to Thame Community Path consultation needed to be discussed jointly with Oxfordshire and that the item should be brought back to a future LAF meeting.

An Officer raised the ongoing problems with the public crossing land grazed by cattle and sheep on public rights of ways and showed two draft signs that might be appropriate to fix on gates and stiles. It was agreed to raise as a future agenda item.  

Action: Officer add to future agenda

The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 7 July 2010, 10am, Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury

The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 7 July 2010, 10am, Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury. The following meeting will be at 10am, on 3 November 2010, also in Mezzanine Room 1.