Agenda and minutes

Members of the public are welcome to attend our meetings to watch them in person at any of the venues across the County. Publicly accessible meetings held in County Hall will be webcast, which means they are available to be watched live or recorded on our website. Please see our webcasting notice here. The Committee may, in certain circumstances, resolve to hold part of the meeting in private. If this is the case, you will be required to leave the meeting.

Venue: Committee Room 'D' - The Henry Bolingbroke Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions

Contact: Garth Harbison  Tel: 01772 530596; Email:  garth.harbison@lancashire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair

Minutes:

Richard Toon was elected as Chair for the Lancashire Local Access Forum for a period of one year and Sue Harrison was elected as Vice Chair for the Forum for a period of 1 year.

13.

Welcome and Introductions

Minutes:

Introductions were made by Forum Members.

 

The Chair thanked Members for their attendance.

2.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from David Goode, Dean Spencer and Will Britain.

3.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 April 2017 pdf icon PDF 88 KB

(Minutes attached)

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2017 were agreed as a correct record. 

 

It was noted that the joint LAF meeting held on 1 November 2016 had been between Lancashire and Cumbria.

 

4.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

Jacobs Cycling and Walking Strategy

 

Richard Toon reported that, in Chorley, it had been agreed to develop a cycling, walking and equestrian strategy.  Richard would keep Forum Members updated on the progress of this.

 

Rights of Way Improvement Plan

 

Concerns were expressed that this Plan was not easily accessible on the internet.  Linda Andersen explained that there had been lots of problems with the web, but that she would circulate the link to the Plan to LLAF Members and other relevant organisations/bodies, along with the requirement to send the Plan to Natural England.  County Councillor Towneley requested a paper copy of the plan.  The link would also be sent to the Lancashire Association of Local Councils.

 

Update on Coastal Access in Lancashire

 

Ralph Henderson volunteered to serve on the Coastal Access Working Group.  It was noted that the working group needed to ask for progress on the survey and then meet with Danny Moores from Natural England.

 

Update on the Countryside Service

 

An update on this was requested for the next meeting to be held on 17th October 2017.

 

 

5.

Update on Coastal Access in Lancashire

Minutes:

Coastal Access had also been referred to under Matters Arising. The LLAF noted that Danny Moores from Natural England had walked the route on the stretch of land around Heysham and was now in the process of drawing up options which would need to go to formal consultation.

 

It was agreed to invite Danny to present an update at the next LLAF meeting in October 2017.

6.

Update on the Cycling and Walking Strategy

(Michelle Holroyd to present)

Minutes:

Michelle Holroyd, Planning Officer, reported that Jacob's had produced a draft strategy up to August 2016 which had gone out to consultation.  Russell Walton provided an overview of the consultation feedback in which it was asked whether the four themes of 'Place, People, Promotion and Policy' were the best way of delivering the Strategy.

 

The LLAF noted that 459 stakeholders had been consulted on the proposals with 43% of these providing a response.  54% considered that there were things missing from the Plan.

 

The consultation feedback had been considered by the Cycling and Walking Steering Group for ideas on how to move the project forward.  The LLAF were informed that a Writing Group had been established in order to re-write the Strategy following the consultation feedback, which needed to be more concise and an even split between cycling and walking.

 

Russell reported that the International Walk to School week would take place in October, and that it was hoped to have a new Cycling and Walking Strategy by the end of September.

 

Richard Toon re-iterated that horse riding had not been included in the Strategy and reported that this would be made explicit in the Chorley strategy.  It was confirmed that the Lancashire Strategy needed to mirror the national Strategy, which had not included horse riding, although horse riders would be taken into account in the delivery plans.  It was suggested that the terminology be changed to 'non-motorised, vulnerable users' and agreed that multi-users should be referred to, wherever possible.

 

The LLAF noted that the County Council had submitted an expression of interest to the Department for Transport (DfT), for support in devising a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which would feed into the current Transport Plan and Transport Policy.  Concern was expressed about the quality of cycle paths and that Lancashire was a long way behind some areas of Europe for cycling provision.  This issue would need to be picked up within the Strategy.

 

Russell confirmed he would take the LLAF's comments back to the Steering Group.

 

An update would be provided to the next LLAF meeting in October.

 

 

 

7.

Regional and National LAF Meetings

Minutes:

Richard Toon reported that he had attended the Local Access Forum Conference in June in Birmingham.  Two representatives from Cycling UK had done a national survey 'Rides of Way' which had received 11,000 contributions.  The survey was done with a view to adopting a new policy, moving towards all users being legally entitled to use all public rights of ways. 

 

Richard confirmed that the minutes of the last Regional LAF meeting  would be circulated to the LLAF.  It was reported that this was the first meeting for 12 months and that some parts of the North West did not have LAFs.  The separate LAFs for the Lakes and Cumbria had now been amalgamated.  Railway crossing accessibility had been discussed which was an ongoing issue.

 

Richard referred to the site visit at Silverdale and reported that changes had been made although these were not satisfactory.  Linda Andersen agreed to refer this onto Ros Paulson for her to raise with Network Rail.

 

 

8.

Meeting of the Yorkshire Dales Access Forum 20 June 2017

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Yorkshire Dales Access Forum held on 20 June 2017 had been circulated with the agenda. 

 

Richard reported that the Forum had surveyed all areas they were now responsible for, both in Lancashire and Cumbria.  It had been noted that both Lancashire and Cumbria areas were well below the national standard for signage, paths etc. 

 

A discussion took place around drones and whether there were access related issues.  There Could also be privacy issues for those drones which had cameras attached.  It was appreciated that drones would be difficult to police, although if they were causing a nuisance on a public right of way, the local police should be contacted.

 

9.

Free Use of Public Parks

Minutes:

Sue Harrison raised concerns about Park Runs and felt this disadvantaged other park users.  Arthur Baldwin informed the LLAF that he had participated in Park Runs but there had never been a problem with runners getting in the way of other park users. 

 

There was concern that some of the large events on public parks were badly organised and that night time events could cause a public nuisance.

 

A discussion took place about the Iron Man UK run event, which had meant that several roads had to be closed.  Richard Toon reported that Coppull Parish Council had asked for some of the funding generated from the event, so they could use it for the good of the public.

 

It was agreed that the LLAF take a steer on the free use of public parks and Andrew Hewitson agreed to take the lead on this and bring a report to the next meeting.

 

 

 

 

10.

Lost Ways Research

Minutes:

Richard Toon reported that a group had been established to look at the Lost Ways Research.  Linda Andersen explained that, due to staff resources, this had unfortunately been put on the back burner but that a report would be available for the next meeting.  County Councillor Towneley pointed out that we needed to use volunteers who were guaranteed expenses and also those who took time to do their research.

11.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

Andrew Hewitson reported that the Local Transport Plan 4, an overarching and strategic document, was currently being worked on and that an update would be provided for the LLAF at their meeting in January 2018.

12.

Dates of Future Meetings

Members are asked to note the dates of future meetings as follows:

 

Tuesday 17th October 2017 at County Hall, Preston, 10:00am

Tuesday 16th January 2018 at County Hall, Preston, 10:00am

Tuesday 10th April 2018 at Blackburn Town Hall, 10:00am

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Members noted the dates of future meetings as follows:

 

Tuesday 17th October 2017 10.00am at County Hall, Preston

 

Tuesday 16th January 2018 at 10.00am, County Hall, Preston

 

Tuesday 10th April 2018 at 10.00am, Blackburn Town Hall.