Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Mr G Caspersz and Mr G Thomas

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To discuss any matters arising and to agree the minutes of the meeting held 04 November 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 04 November 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

In respect of the action relating to the Pegasus crossing on the A413 Mr J Clark advised he had made contact with BCC colleagues who are looking into feasibility.

ACTION: To have an update for the next meeting, or as soon as available. Mr J Clark

In respect of the action relating to LAF membership from Bucks Association of Local Councils, Mr J Clark advised he had written, but is awaiting a reply.

ACTION: To chase a response. The chairman

Update from Sarah Wright.

Ms S Wright- Ridgeway Project Officer gave a presentation:

The presentation has been attached for information, Ms S Wright responded to questions as per below section:

Questions and Comments

LEADER receives more applications than they have funding for. Could Ridgeway highlight the lack of accommodation in the area when the application goes forward?

Yes this could be highlighted; Ridgeway were currently trying to work with the farm and land owners to deal with the situation.

It is important for horses to be able to ride along the Ridgeway; will there be enough parking for the horseboxes?

One of the objectives would be to liaise and work more with farmers and landowners to cover this, there would always be further capacity for this. If Members have any ideas on where horse box parking would be beneficial, please let Sarah know.

There is currently no indication of where you would be likely to meet vehicles on the route, could this be added?

In the past vehicles were permitted on the ridgeway more vastly, this had now been restricted and there were now fewer sites that you would meet vehicles.

Previously, there were issues of damage to surfaces by agricultural issues, had this still been a more recent issue?

Yes this had still been an issue, but there could be more done by talking to and working with local farmers and landowners to resolve those issues.

Regarding corporate sponsorship on the Ridgeway, how could this be covered without making the ridgeway look like a fairground?

Most advertising would be on leaflets, posters and the website, very little would go on the actual trail.

Could parts of the ridgeway be extended/widened to allow for driving and horse carriages as currently there is not enough room to pass safely?

The Rights of Way team were looking at areas being upgraded, there could be potential for this to be looked into at that time.

The Ridgeway has been progressively closed down to drivers- Would there be a clear plan for restrictive by-ways on the ridgeway. Would there be a plan to handle that?

There have been applications coming through in the Oxford area to review it, Ridgeway would need to go back and look if similar applications had come through in Bucks for that to be investigated.

Had the idea of sponsorship signs on the Ridgeway if they were tastefully done? Could companies potentially sponsor a stretch of each walk?

All options were being considered but the main aim was to keep all looking as natural as possible. Ridgeway have been looking at the option of different companies sponsoring different walks but a stretch of each walked could be considered.

Update from Bill Piers, Bucks Ripple (Ramblers Repairing and Improving Paths for Leisure & Exercise)

Mr B Piers gave a presentation on the Donate-a-Gate scheme:

The presentation has been attached for information and key points are summarised below:

·         Work had been done to make a stile free walk through country side

·         Initial repairs were being made on stiles to make them easier to use

·         There were only 3 people working on the project

·         Ramblers have paid for some new tools for the project

·         Farmers and landowners have been very happy with the gates and have been willing to help

·         Plaques have been fitted to the gates with the sponsor name on.

·         Work has been done in Wing ready to commence work on the next round of gates

·         An order for 7 gates had been placed for the North side of Wing.

·         The price of a single gate is £125.00 and a kissing gate is £180

·         There had been a recent query from Wingrave Parish around whether a gate could be fitted near the Macintyre School as some of the children had been struggling to use the stiles.

·         £772.18- in expenses had been paid from Ramblers year to date.

Questions and Comments

Members commented this was a very commendable scheme and congratulated Mr B Piers on the efforts made to date. Questions were answered as below:

Would there be the potential to extend this scheme to South Bucks?

No, South Bucks came under another organisation

Who would be liable for fencing by the new gates?

Mr B Piers had been liaising with the landowner prior to work commencing. As to who would be responsible, normally the farmer would be liable for the fencing but all would work collaboratively to ensure that the right fencing would be used as to not misshape the gate

Were there insurance policies in place to cover accidental damage?

£10 million of insurances were in place to cover accidental damage

Was there a waiting list of gates wanted, if funding would be available?

Today was the launch of the scheme; the Donate-a-gate team were awaiting a list of gates that had been donated.

Who replaces/ repairs the in scripted signs if damaged or vandalised?

The Ramblers would be liable and would repair/replace them.

A Member suggested that the Local Access Forum write to County Councillors and request that the Donate-a-gate scheme be mentioned in upcoming meetings to promote the scheme.

Update from Helen Francis, Definitive Map team; Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Advisor and Joanne Taylor, Operation Team Leader.

The Rights of Way Group Report could be seen with the agenda pack:

Mr P Turner presented the Definitive Map Update and the East West Rail Update.

Key Points were summarised below:

• A Member queried whether item 19 (Lillingstone Dayrell) was subject to a byway claim. Ms C Hudson advised she would check this and provide a response at the next meeting.

ACTION: To clarify whether point 19 was subject to a byway claim, Ms C Hudson

·         In terms of the East West Rail update it was advised that the planning application for the proposed cycle route between Aylesbury and Waddesdon, should be made by April/May 2016. This route was identified through HS2 discussions and was being led by John Grimshaw from John Grimshaw Associates. All landowners have been very cooperative of this proposal and provisions had been made around the crossings.

Ms J Taylor presented the Rights of Way Operations Update and summarised the below points:

·         The summary of maintenance carried out between April 2014 to February 2016 could be seen with the report in the agenda (it was identified this was incorrectly titled February 2015). Specific numbers were made available for Members in this document. Figures which related to the Chiltern Society jobs were also included on the summary page.

·         A Member identified that the number of issues were still increasing and had doubled from four years ago.

It was explained that this was due to budget and staff resources

·         In respect of the 5 bridges that were closed due to public safety, these were all bridges that could not be repaired in house so would need to go out to sub-contractors. The location of the 5 bridges are:

·         Iver Bridleway No. 30 – Bridge Failed (anticipate complete replacement)

·         Chetwode Bridleway No. 24 – Bridge Failed (anticipate complete replacement)

·         Denham Bridleway No. 52 – Bridge Failed (renovation/repair – new deck)

·         Ickford Footpath No. 16 – Bridge Failed (complete replacement)

·         Preston Bissett Footpath No. 18 – Bridge Failed (renovation/repair bearing timbers)

• A query was raised whether there was any way of categorising the issues listed on the database.

Ms J Taylor advised this could be potentially be done by type of issue and would explore this.

LAF Members report attached.

Mr J Clark presented the LAF Members report which was attached to the agenda, points are summarised below:

• There was one open access issue which was a parcel of common land near Frieth and had been fenced off along the South East side of footpath 15.

All Members agreed to an initial site visit before proceeding with any action. Mr J Clark agreed to organiset. Along with the Chairman, Mr N Harris and Mr A Clark agreed to attend the visit.

                        ACTION: To organise a site visit, Mr J Clark

• The Restoring the Record project had moved forward successfully. The project now had 40 volunteers and a training day had been set up for 6^th May 2016
• Members were updated that Mr G Caspersz had proposed and been successful in adopting the Buckinghamshire Ramblers as a recipient for Aylesbury Vale Lottery Charitable allocations.
• Mr J Clark advised that he would provide an update at the next meeting in relation to memberships coming up for renewal.

A Member advised that Chilterns AONB are planning Walking Festivals, there are 10 days in the festival and the first one is due to be held in April 2017. Members were encouraged to submit any suggestions to the Chilterns AONB.

Wednesday 20 July 2016, 10am. Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury,

The next meeting is being held on Wednesday 20 July 2016, 10am. Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury,