Meeting documents

Members are invited to note that Diana Bird is no longer a member of the Board and that there is a vacancy for a NFU representative.

Apologies were received from Sandy Kidd.

To disclose any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests.

None.

of the Meeting held on 11 July 2012, to be confirmed

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2012 were confirmed.

Glyn Thomas referred to the fact that Tring was mentioned under Gateway towns in Buckinghamshire. 

David Briggs asked for an update on the Chilterns Sustainable Gateways project, particularly with regard to electric bikes, and it was noted that there was nothing further to update.  Richard Pushman said the intention of the project was that in the future, various organisations, including shops, would provide bikes for hire, including electric bikes to encourage more people to use cycle paths.  Glyn Thomas said he hoped that secure racks would be considered for tethering the bikes, particularly electric bikes.

With regard to the Paths for Communities Grants, Jennifer Hanwell said there were no further updates on the application from the Aylesbury and District Ramblers.

Mike Walker, Senior Definitive Map Officer; Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Adviser; and Joanne Taylor, Operations Team Leader.

Definitive Map Update

Mike Walker updated members.

Mike Walker informed members that with the exception of item 3,  items 1 – 6 were all outstanding byway applications.  These had been placed with the Secretary of State and Mike was currently following these up.  It was hoped they would be settled within the next 12 months.

The Stowe and Lillingstone Dayrell application had gone to the Secretary of State and it was possible there may be a Public Inquiry.

With regard to the Whitchurch application the Inspector had confirmed the Order and there were now three footpaths running through the gardens of two houses.

David Briggs said he thought the time limit had run out in relation to BOAT applications but it was noted that as long as an application had been submitted before May 2006 it would be dealt with. 

Chris Hurworth asked about the implementation of the BOAT at Kimble.  Mike Walker informed the LAF that signs indicating the route should now be in place.  Joanne Taylor was monitoring the surface for any damage that might be caused by motor vehicles and there was  no sign of this at present.  It had been suggested that a TRO could be made, but this would be costly and difficult to enforce.

Mike Walker informed members that items 17 – 28 in the report were going through the process for presentation to the Rights of Way Committee.  With regard to Public Path Orders (items 29-52) 20 of the 24 items were being dealt with.

In connection with item 17 West Wycombe/Downley, Richard Pushman stated that it had always been the former Area Highways Manager’s  opinion that Huntshill Wood and Cookshall Lane could be tarmaced throughout but this had never happened and he hoped it would not be raised again.  English Heritage and the National Trust were against this because they considered it would destroy what is a tranquil part of the countryside.

With regard to Public Path Creation Agreements, Mike Walker informed members of the following:

·           53 – Brill.  This was County Council owned land which was about to the sold and a path was being created to protect public access.

·           54 – Edgcott.  This was part of a bigger project to create access and officers were currently in discussion with WRG regarding the land and access.

There had been some repeat applications in relation to Village Greens and advice was being sought on whether repeat applications can be made.

Richard Pushman congratulated officers on the tremendous piece of work contained in this report and the comprehensive survey list was very helpful.

Strategic Access Update

Jonathan Clark updated members.

With regard to items 64 and 65 Jonathan said there would be a further update on HS2 later in the meeting.  With regard to the consultation in September on a draft construction Code of Practice, the response by the County Council to HS2 had been circulated.  Jonathan said they had been asked by HS2 not to give the document  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report from Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Adviser

HS2

John Elfes referred to the poor turnout at the HS2 Forums that he had attended, with very few local people present.  Various societies had sent representatives but they were not necessarily local to the area. At the Wendover meeting, there were only four local people out of 25 attendees.  He felt that the consultation exercises just resulted in people becoming irate and HS2 stonewalling.  Viv Lynch said that she had attended two meetings at Stoke Mandeville and also reported on the low numbers of local people.  She remained unconvinced that the meetings were informative and that HS2 was just paying lip service.

John Coombe referred to difficulties in attending meetings due to lack of information on dates.  John Elfes suggested that he needed to ensure he was registered on the list of recipients for information because virtually all the meetings were by invitation only.  Alan Lambourne reported he had attended the Waddesden & Quainton Forum at which there was a lot of local interest.  It was noted that because Waddesden and Quainton are within the AONB there would be more interest in that area.  Alan also reported that HS2 were not prepared to share information.

John Elfes said the Forum should take up the offer from HS2 for a bilateral meeting but David Briggs stated they should insist that any discussions were made public.  It was suggested that whilst HS2 will not publish information, they could not stop others from doing so.

The Forum agreed that it should meet with HS2 to discuss suggestions for mitigation.  It was noted that HS2 was offering to meet in December and members were asked to indicate their willingness to attend.  Alan Lambourne asked whether there was any benefit in doing so because HS2 has opened a dialogue with the County Council and more information would be forthcoming through them on any proposals.  John Elfes expressed the need for the Forum to meet with HS2 even though the County Council was doing the same in the hope that they could influence the Bill.  It was suggested that John Elfes, Viv Lynch, Alan Lambourne, Neil Harris and David Briggs should attend the meeting.  Viv Lynch suggested this could be used as an opportunity for the Forum to work with HS2 and David Briggs suggested that some of the new roads constructed for works traffic might be retained for public access afterwards.  Neil Harris also suggested it could be an ideal opportunity to have nearby routes surfaced as well.

Action:  It was agreed that a meeting be set up in December/January to meet with HS2.  The following members would attend:  Neil Harris, Viv Lynch, David Briggs, John Coombe, Alan Lambourne, John Elfes.

Members considered the AONB in relation to HS2 and whether it deserved a greater influence.  The following was noted:

·           The AONB would be more significantly harmed economically than other businesses. 

·           The design of the AONB is similar to National Parks but remains the poor relation.  Its scenic value is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Neil Harris referred to plans the National Trust was drawing up regarding proposals to HS2 for a road bridge at Hartwell and Waddesdon.  The plans were available on the National Trust website.

The next meeting of the Local Access Forum will be held on Wednesday 27 March 2013 at 10.00am in Mezzanine Room 1

Dates of future meetings

17 July

20 November

The next meeting of the Local Access Forum will be held on Wednesday 27 March 2013 at 10.00am in Mezzanine Room 1

Dates of future meetings

17 July 2013

20 November 2013