(Presentation by Sarah Dornan, AONB and Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership Countryside Access Officer)
Minutes:
Sarah Dornan, Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership, Lancashire County Council gave a presentation which outlined some of the issues that had been experienced during the pandemic which included inconsiderate parking, particularly in the Pendle Hill area which has seen a huge increase in visitors. Visitor data captured for Pendle Hill, revealed that in March 2020 there was a sudden peak in visitors, and when the lockdown was announced, there was then a huge decline in visitors, and again when restrictions were lifted, approximately 400 visitors a day were recorded. The current average is between 200-300 per day and visitor numbers have remained high throughout the pandemic which has caused significant pressures.
Other issues noted were in relation to public rights of way, and information has been shared with residents and landowners to allow people access to the countryside and alleviate pressures for the landowners and farmers. Also, some of the infrastructure on the public rights of way has started to deteriorate and some replacement work has been carried out. Another aspect of increased visitor numbers was erosion on rights of way across the Forest of Bowland and again, work has been undertaken in getting communications out to the public to consider alternative routes and new areas to visit.
The Committee noted information that had been shared on the number Public Rights of Way complaints that had been received by Pendle Borough Council, particularly around road blockages at the start of the pandemic.
The response from the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership Team was to get the message out as much as possible as local villages were suffering from pressures of increased visitor numbers visiting small rural areas. This has been done by producing a series of AONB branded posters outlining the Countryside Code and promoting via social media, informing the public of what was open/closed and encouraging people to go where there is space and if somewhere was full, to have a plan B or plan C to fall back on when visiting the countryside.
Social media messaging throughout has been in line with Government guidelines and encouraging people to either stay at home, at which point online webinars and talks on the landscape, wildlife and heritage of the AONB were offered as an alternative to visiting.
It was also noted, that due to the bad weather, work had to be carried out on easy access trails in Dunsop Bridge as well as other access issues and this was on top of the increased pressures the pandemic had brought.
Conversations have taken place with the RSPB and United Utilities around the Dunsop Valley and installed way markers and posts to help keep visitors on the footpath, particularly in the area known for nesting hen harriers.
The Lancashire Rural Task Force was set up at the start of 2021, which is a new branch of Lancashire Police who are working in rural areas and have been informed on various rural policing matters in the Forest of Bowland. This will be a really strong partnership for the future and working closely together in addressing rural crime and policing matters.
Discussions have been ongoing with the Abbeystead Estate, to provide training to the estate staff on visitor management, particularly since Lancashire Countryside Service stopped offering ranger patrols within the AONB.
There will be some more Countryside Code material that will be produced, particularly with more local information and looking to rebrand the litterbags and having Countryside Code messages printed on them, so people can help clear up.
For more information please contact Sarah Dornan, email sarah.dornan@lancashire.gov.uk.
Following the presentation, a query was raised in terms of disposable BBQs as to what approaches were being taken due to the issues they were causing. Sarah Dornan confirmed that no approaches had been made, however this was something that could be considered and raised with the Lancashire Fire Operation Group for further discussion. Members also suggested that further education in using and disposing of BBQs or designated BBQ areas with water to dilute them may be beneficial alongside locally tailoring the messages through the Countryside Code in consultation with landowners and their concerns locally. Again, Sarah Dornan confirmed that there is a designated BBQ area on Beacon Fell, however the issue was policing it and people ignoring the signs that were on the Fell.
Resolved: i) That the presentation be noted.
ii) That further discussion on the use of disposable BBQs be had with the Lancashire Fire Operation Group.