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Minutes of Meeting held on 25 November 2014 – 4.30pm

Tyne & Wear Local Access Forum

Present: Alisdair Buchan(Chair,AB), Alison Blackburn (AB), Liz Bray(LB), Victor Cadaxa(VC), Andy Blanchflower(AB), Kathy Atkinson(KA), Ron Noble(RN), and Anne Porthouse(AP)

In Attendance: Tim Ducker, Sunderland City Council(TD), Heather Evans, CTC(HE), Simon Carey, Newcastle City Council (SC), Lisa Tracey, South Tyneside Council (LT), Councillor Sheila Stephenson, South Tyneside Council (SS), Graeme Clark, North Tyneside Council (GC), Neil Frier, Gateshead Council(NF),Rob Hindhaugh, Gateshead Council (RH), John Bourn, Regional Transport Team(JB), Terry Welsh (LAF Member) Alan Boyle, Newcastle City Council (Note Taker)

Apologies: None

Welcome and Apologies
LB welcomed everyone and asked those present to introduce themselves. Apologies for absence were noted.
Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2014were approved as a correct record.
Matters Arising
Accessibility to meeting papers
AB needs to have access to thepapers at least two weeks before meetings. She had been unable to prepare for this meeting because she had only received the papers on Friday. This is not long enough to allow her to have papers read to her in time for this meeting. Alternatively, she indicated that the group could explore ways to provide papers in a different format such as audio tape. The general view of the meeting was that this issue needed to be addressed. VC suggested that this may have a possible implication on the budget and it needed a separate discussion outside of this meeting to resolve this problem.
Action: VC to explore ways of providing access to meeting papers for AB
Introduction to Tyne & Wear Heritage Way
A Mitcham and W Gallon were in attendance to make a presentation on the Tyne & Wear Heritage Way, during which they highlighted the main points of interest along the walk. The floor was opened to questions and comments. In the subsequent discussion the following issues were considered:
  • The general terrain of the paths is good in most places throughout the walk. Vegetation clearance is needed on some parts to bring it back into use.
  • More signage would be useful on some parts of the route.
  • It was recommended that the original Ramblers Association leaflet relating to the walk isrevisedto bring it up-to-date. Thisthen could be put on the local Ramblers Association website as a downloadable pdf file.
  • There is a need to market the walk to a wider audience, especially to local schools
  • The Ramblers Association would need to cooperate more closely with the footpath officers.
  • RH highlighted a number of possible funding streams for resurrecting the route.
The Chair called upon the meeting to show their support for resurrecting the route; on a show of hands this wasunanimouslyagreed.
DFT draft Cycling and Walking Delivery Plan Consultation
At this point A Buchan took over as the Chair of the meeting from LB.
LB highlighted that the consultation period had been extended. She referred to the consultation document and noted that it has a number of actions which this Forum needs to consider in the future. These includeestablishing cycling and walking champions and demonstrating the health and environmental benefits the plan will bring to areas. LB commented that the document doesn’t make it clear how the Cycling and Walking Delivery Planis going to be funded
Responses from Regional LAF
VC highlightedthe main issues arising out of the last regional committee meeting. These included budgets, the attitude of highway engineers in relation to space for cyclists and rail franchises not allowing bikes on trains.
It was noted that it was the intention to have a scoping report for a proposed regional access strategy as suggested by Rob Aubrook, Natural England Area Manager. The scoping report is being drafted by Ted Liddle for discussion at the next meeting on 15 January 2015. Ted Liddle had also announced the completion of a new cycleway: Hexham to Berwick.
Regional update
JB outlined the government’s cycling and walking proposals and said that it was not intended to produce a North East Combined Authority delivery plan – however, NECA would support any delivery plans produced by individual local authorities using a common wording. He advised that the Government has indicated that authorities who had registered their interest in creating a cycling and walking vision in partnership with government would be “prioritised” for investment.
JB made reference to the Cycle City Ambition Fund programme and highlighted the benefits it would bring to cyclists in Newcastle and NF also commented on the cross-Tyne cycle links with Gateshead that were included in the programme.
Chair’s Report – A Buchan
In discussion under this item, it was noted that there were a number of challenges around health and wellbeing in the region which the Forum could help to address.
Officer Reports
Newcastle – Simon Carey
South Tyneside – Lisa Tracy
North Tyneside – Graeme Clark
Gateshead – Neil Frier
Sunderland – Tim Ducker
All the officers were in attendance to present their reports which had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Chair requested that, due to time constraints, the officers highlight the aspects of their reports which have a significant long-term impact in their areas. During the presentations officers answered questions in order to clarify some of the routes relating to their plans. In addition, an explanation of what is a “destructive search” was provided.
Planning sub-group Chair’s report
VC took the Forum through his report. He referred to the membership and confirmed that there were still no members from North or South Tyneside.
HE referred to the disability session run by AB and highlighted that this will take place between 2pm – 3.30pm on Tuesday 24 February 2015; just prior to the next Forum meeting.
Action: JB to check the room availability with Gateshead Council for the Disability session on 24 February 2015
VC referred to the Forum’s terms of reference and noted that any donations to other organisations needed to be approved by the ROW officers
Reference was made to an incident where a horse was killed and its rider injured in a road accident in Marsden. A letter has been written to the Chief Superintendent responsible for covering this area. To date, no response had been received.
It was noted that the cycle maps are currently being updated for a new edition to be published in March 2015. KA highlighted that there is some confusion on the existing cycle maps relating to the bridleways. LB advised that members who wished to comment on the maps could send their responses to JB as soon as possible.
Gateshead – Newcastle Joint Strategy
It was noted that the Inspectors report has been issued. The core proposals have been broadly accepted. However, the inspectors did raise some concerns about waste disposal.
A19 Corridor – need for strategic / cross boundary approach
VC confirmed that he had attended one of the Highways Agency’s public consultation events which were held to capture views about the A19 Testos Junction improvements.
VC noted that Trevor Male, South Tyneside Council, has agreed to come to our next meeting on 24th February 2015 to speak about their plans for this development.
During the ensuing discussion a number of concerns were raised about the impact this development would have on the bridleway into Gateshead.
JLAF Proactive ideas for 2015
These have been covered in the other agenda items
Any Other Business
JB has been trained on how to update and modify the Local Access Forum website. One of his first tasks for the website will be to add a ‘contact us’ section.
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Date of next meeting: Tuesday 24February 2015 at 4.30pm (light buffet served from 4.00pm)

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