Monday 26 January 2009

A meeting of the Lake District Local Access Forum will be held on

Monday 26 January 2009 at 2.30 pm at the Hydro Hotel, Bowness-on- Windermere

Members to be in attendance from 2.00 pm.

AGENDA

AGENDA PART I: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

1 /

APOLOGIES

2 / DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Forum members to declare their interests in relation to specific items on the agenda, in accordance with the Forum’s agreed protocol.
3 / Minutes (paper attached)
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2008.
4 / Matters arising from the Minutes
To consider matters arising from the minutes not included on the Agenda.
5 / Public Participation
To receive any questions from the public which have been submitted by
16 January 2009.
6 / PROPOSALS TO ESTABLISH WOODLAND ON CROW ACCESS LAND (papers attached)
a. To agree procedure for giving advice on consultations – Geoff Wilson.
b. Brampton Common, New Native Woodland Proposal. (Annex1 and 2 not attached with papers, 4 colour sets will be available at meeting) - Judith Moore.
c. Fencing proposal, Buttermere – Geoff Wilson
7 /

ACCESS TO LAKES, RIVERS AND COAST (paper attached)

To receive update on

a. LDNPA project – Suzy Grindley, (verbal).

b. Marine Bill – Ralph Henderson.
8 / UNITED UTILITIES NORTHERN CATCHMENT TEAM CONSERVATION, ACCESS & RECREATION STAKEHOLDER GROUP (paper attached)
To receive report and consider forum’s advice to this group. – Geoff Wilson
9 / IMPROVING SATISFACTION LEVEL OF LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE COUNTRYSIDE AND RIGHTS OF WAY ACT (CROW) ACCESS LAND AND RIGHTS OF WAY – Dave Robinson (papers attached)
To receive report from working group and agree response from forum.
10 /

CUMBRIA ROWIP – UPDATE – Dave Robinson (papers attached)

11 /

review of access and information signs – Dave Robinson (papers attached)

12 / REVIEW OF ‘FIX THE FELLS’ 2009 PROGRAMME ROUTES – Richard Fox (Paper attached).
13 / THE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM:SELF EVALUATION – Judith Moore (papers attached)
a. To receive a report on the results of the forum’s self evaluation for 2008.
b. To consider progress made since 2007.
14 / NATURAL ENGLAND CONSULTATION DOCUMENT - REVIEW OF TRAILS AND ROUTES – Geoff Wilson (paper attached).
To answer questions posed in Natural England consultation document.
15 / CUMBRIA COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS PARTNERSHIP (papers attached)
To receive report on progress of CCA Partnership – Mark Eccles.
To receive reports and provide advice
a. CCA Partnership Board – Charles Flanagan (on behalf of forum chairman).
b. CCA Maintenance Task Group – John Taylor
c. CCA Improvement Task Group – Ralph Henderson.
d. CCA Promotion Task Group – James Thurlow.
e. CCA Mechanical Powered Vehicles Sub Group – Carole Barr/Judith Moore.
AGENDA PART II: ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY
16 / MEETING OF CHAIRS OF NW REGION LOCAL ACCESS FORUMS – Geoff Wilson (paper attached)
To receive report from 8 December meeting.
17 / FORUM CONSULTATIONS (paper attached)
To receive an update on live and past Forum consultations (Stephanie Conway).
18 / CROW PART 1 EXCLUSIONS AND RESTRICTIONS UPDATE (paper attached)
To receive an update on applications for access land exclusions and restrictions made in the last quarter (Nick Thorne).
19 / UPDATES FROM FORUM MEMBERS (paper attached)
To receive written reports from the Chair and other Forum members, about news and activities relevant to the work of the Forum (Geoff Wilson and other members).
20 / DATE OF NEXT MEETING AND FUTURE MEETINGS
27 April 2009 – Friends Meeting House, Keswick.
20 July 2009 – Ambleside Parish Centre.
19 October 2009 – Venue TBC
25 January 2010 – Venue TBC
21 /

Possible Future Agenda items

1.  Review of Forum’s development.
2.  National Park Boundary Changes.
3.  Mountain Challenge events.

Page: 4

Lake District Local Access Forum: 26 January 2009 Agenda Item: 3

LAKE DISTRICT LOCAL ACCESS FORUM

Minutes of a meeting of the Lake District Local Access Forum held in the Greta Suite, Skiddaw Hotel, Keswick at 2.30pm on Monday 20 October 2008.

Present

Members:

Peter Jackson / Carole Barr
Charles Flanagan / Amanda McCleery
Ken Taylor / Ann Hall
Ralph Henderson / James Thurlow
Wendy Emmett / Larry Walters
Judith Moore / John Atkinson
Malcolm Petyt / John Crosbie
Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA):
Chris Tomlin, Team Leader Countryside North
Mark Eccles, Head of Countryside Services
Stephanie Conway, Countryside Administrator and LD Local Access Forum Secretary (minutes)
Richard Fox, Fix the Fells Project Officer
David Robinson, Access and Recreation Developer North.
Apologies
Members:
Geoff Wilson
Peter Garland
Neil Paisley
John Merrett
Observers:
Simon Boyd

309 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

309.1 Judith Moore declared interest in Item 6, 10 and 11 as an employee of Friends of the Lake District and representative of Fix the Fells.

309.2 John Atkinson declared interest in Item 6 as Project Manager.

309.3 Malcolm Petyt declared an interest in Item 10a as a representative of the Yorkshire Dales NPA, Cumbria Countryside Access Partnership.

309.4 Ken Taylor declared interest in Item 7.

310 MINUTES

310.1 Members confirmed the minutes as a true record of the last meeting held on 21July 2008.

311 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

311.1 Item 295.2 which referred back to Item 281 from the meeting 28 April 2008. Geoff Wilson has yet to complete.

311.2 Item 295.3 which referred back to Item 280 from the meeting 28 April 2008. Judith Moore will cover in Item 12.

311.3 Item 295.4. Ralph Henderson requested clarification of what is meant by ‘needs and preferences’ in the study on access to lakes, rivers and the coast. Clarification will be given, when discussing Item 7.

311.4 Item 297.3 bullet point 8, the word section was incorrect and should have read selection.

311.5 Item 297.3 bullet point 9, NT (National Trust) was incorrect and should have read John Atkinson.

311.6 Item 297.3 bullet point 10, Malcolm Petyt felt that the comment ‘signage was poor’ gave the wrong impression and what Malcolm was trying to say was that ‘some areas are becoming over signed’.

311.7 Item 299 the Local Development Framework. Judith Moore will report back to the Forum in due course.

311.8 Item 300. Dave Robinson informed the Forum that the meeting regarding the satisfaction survey of managers of land with the right of public access had been rearranged to 26 October 2008. This will be an agenda item for the next Forum meeting in January 2009.

311.9 Item 301. It was queried as to whether Geoff Wilson had written a letter to England Access Forum concerning the provision for pedal-cycles on trains. No confirmation was made as Geoff was absent for this meeting.

312 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

312.1 There were no questions from the public.

313 THE LANDSCAPE IMPACT OF UPLAND PATH WORKS

313.1 Richard Fox will make the 2009 programme available for the next LAF meeting in January 2009.

313.2 Ken Taylor referred to question 3 of the paper. He commented that he appreciated everyone has a differing view on visual impact, however two years on he felt that path from Langdale up to Blea Tarn was still very prominent. He suggested that by monitoring paths it would help with improving future decisions. Richard Fox replied, saying that the work on this path had successfully stopped erosion. Richard added that this path is in a popular area and due to heavy usage, the surface would remain pale and so noticeable in the landscape. John Atkinson supported Richard by commenting on his experience of paths treated in the same way as Blea Tarn. He had found that those that did not stand out were paths that were far less popular and therefore their surface was not constantly being worn.

313.3 Ken Taylor asked the Forum whether they should consider advising the LDNP to monitor works more systematically. The Forum discussed what monitoring might include and within the discussion the following points were made:

·  Wendy Emmett suggested that before designing a new path the potential usage should be considered seeing that visual impact is related to usage.

·  Charles Flanagan suggested that if a path is likely to be contentious that this should be more closely monitored.

·  Ralph Henderson posed the question ‘do you follow the original path or create a new one?’ he then commented that it is a balance, trying to make a more pleasant route against site/visual constraints.

313.4 Ken Taylor referred back to bullet point 4 of the minutes Agenda item 3 concerning effective PR. Richard Fox remarked that a PR free lancer had been taken on this year. Judith Moore emphasised the importance of a pro active Forum and its responsibility to feed information to the public. Dave Robinson commented that the Miles without Stiles booklet was in the process of being revised, working with CCAP. Judith requested that Richard provide the Forum with a list of up and coming paths and suggested that a site visit involving Fix the Fells would be advantageous particularly one involving a ‘machine’ path. Members expressed interest.

Agreed:

·  Judith Moore to liaise with Richard Fox with regards to a site visit.

·  Richard Fox will make the 2009 programme available for the next LAF meeting in January 2009.

314 ACCESS TO LAKES, RIVERS AND COAST

314.1 LDNP project. Clarification is required from Geoff Wilson as to who the LAF representative is on this project. The meaning of ‘needs and preferences’ was explained to the Forum.

314.2 Marine Bill. LDLAF to monitor.

Agreed:

·  Geoff Wilson to be approached regarding who is the LDLAF representative on this project.

·  LDNP to organise time for a workshop before the next LDLAF meeting.

315 UNITED UTILITIES NORTHERN CATCHMENT TEAM CONSERVATION, ACCESS & RECREATION STAKEHOLDER GROUP

315.1 Judith Moore informed the Forum that the next inaugural meeting of the United Utilities (UU) Northern Conservation Access and Recreation Stakeholders would be in December 2008 and that there may be issues that the Forum may like to contribute to.

315.2 Ralph asked if at the next meeting:

·  The minutes could include the organisation of each named member attending.

·  The ‘less mobile’ could be taken into account.

315.3  Questions and comments were then raised by members of the Forum:

·  Larry Walters asked why United Utilities had a ‘begging bowl out’; Judith Moore explained that UU were interested in supporting the economy of the local community.

·  Peter Jackson asked as to why UU had formed a stake holder group. Judith explained that now CARAC had been dissolved that something was needed to replace it. Charles Flanagan welcomed this as he had found CARAC had been a useful group.

·  James Thurlow questioned UU motivation for access. Judith Moore felt that they do have a genuine interest in access and that they have problems that need solving.

·  Dave Robinson commented that UU would like more people to spend time at Thirlmere and that businesses in the surrounding area wanted to encourage more visitors, which again indicates a genuine interest.

·  Ken Taylor remarked that UU are have legal obligations (beyond CRoW and Rights of Way) to provide access and recreation.

·  Amanda McCleery asked about the proposed cycle route. Dave Robinson informed the Forum that Phase 1 had been rejected by Allerdale CC however it was still on the agenda and Phase 3 was still looking for funding.

Agreed:

·  Geoff Wilson to take Ralph Henderson’s requests 315.2 to the next meeting of the United Utilities Northern Conservation Access and Recreation Stakeholders.

316  IMPROVING SATISFACTION LEVEL OF LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE COUNTRYSIDE AND RIGHTS OF WAY ACT (CROW) ACCESS LAND AND RIGHTS OF WAY

This item was not discussed, as the meeting had been postponed until after this Forum meeting.

317  CUMBRIA COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS PARTNERSHIP

317.1 Item 10b.

·  Page 2 (4) paragraph 2. The appointment of a Fix the Fells Alignment Officer will be discussed at the next meeting.

·  Page 2 (7) paragraph 2. Reports are sent by the LDNP every 6 months to Ordnance Survey.

·  Page 3 (8) paragraph 4. CCC has not agreed signage yet. LDNP regard UCRs as County responsibility. Malcolm Petyt voiced concern for the need to sort this issue out.

317.2 Item 10c.

·  Page 4 (6) Dave Robinson will present new signage to the LDLAF at the next meeting.

·  Page 2 (4) Carole Barr raised concern over the bridleway links becoming predominantly cycle ways.

317.3 Item 10c Annex 1.Adrew Coleman presented this report to LDLAF for their interest/information.

317.4 Item 10d. Wendy Emmett confirmed that she would not be able to make the next meeting and requested a replacement. James Thurlow hopes to be able to replace Wendy.

317.5 Item 10e. Malcolm Petyt confirmed that the ‘traffic light’ in the Hierarchy of Trails Routes system was not in operation in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

318 REPORT WINDERMERE CATCHMENT PROGRAMME

318.1 Ralph Henderson presented an oral report of a workshop held seeking projects for a Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Windermere catchment, based on the successful Bassenthwaite Reflections. The lottery bid for the Windermere Catchment Restoration Programme is the end of November 2008. Charles Flanagan suggested that if the bid was successful and the project goes ahead, that there should be a LDLAF representative. The Forum agreed.

319 ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS

319.1 Overall the Forum felt that a water based member should be recruited at the next recruitment in 2009. A session was suggested that would review the Forum’s role and their expectations. This session would need to take place before the start of the next recruitment (the recruitment process will start at the beginning of January 2009). A request was made by members for the data base list of the organizations to be contacted with a view to inviting membership. It was also suggested that articles could be written for relevant magazines showing the work of the Forum. Neighbourhood Forums were put forward as a further place to contact during the recruitment process.

Agreed:

·  A session to be organised by LDNP before the start of recruitment 2009.

·  Stephanie Conway to send a list of organizations that the LDNP contact with a view to inviting membership.