MOUNTAIN BIKE WORKING GROUP
Notes of meeting held on 16 May 2016
Warren Farm Barns
Attending Meeting:
Cllr David MirChairman
Rob FairbanksSurrey Hills AONB Unit
Lucy O’ConnellMole Valley District Council
Jon RogersHurtwood Trails
Richard KellyB1KE
Paul RedsellNational Trust
Mark WestonBritish Horse Society
Caroline PriceSurrey Hills AONB Unit
Pennie KingAdministrator – Surrey Hills AONB Unit
Action1. / Introductions and apologies
Apologies: Doug Clare; Dave Farmer; Stuart McLachlan; George Chapman; Mark Panton
2. / Notes of Meeting held on 5 October 2015
The notes were agreed and will be posted on the Surrey Hills website.
3. / Matters Arising
4. / London Marathon Trust/Summer Lightning: RF informed the group that the London Marathon Trust will only offer funding which has a minimum of 10 years security over land tenure. The Access Agreement that is currently in place was not robust enough. DM and RF are meeting with a barrister who is a Director of Surrey Hills Enterprises. They will ask for advice regarding the liability issues that have been raised by landowners. PR said that the National Trust would give a licence for certain activities but would not sign over a tract of land. It was suggested that a licence could be granted by landowners for a certain period. The issue of landowners’ liability can be lessened if they dedicate the land under Section 16. It was agreed to put this idea on hold until legal advice has been obtained.
4.2 / Consultation: A walk of the proposed Summer Lightning improvements had taken place with horse riders. GBr had suggested that better signage, and making sure existing signage could be seen, was very important.
5. / ‘Coast to Capital’ LEP: LO’C confirmed that they had got through the first round and had been invited to submit a full application by mid July. The Rural Payments Agency want Mole Valley DC to combine their bid with a bid from Tandridge DC to develop a Destination Management Plan. There may then be further funding to take some of the activities further.
6. / Equestrian Working Group: It was suggested that the Aim and Objectives of the Equestrian Working Group should include a bullet point stating “Be aware of mountain bike trails”. The Mountain Bike Code of Conduct contains a section on how cyclists should act around other trail users, including horse riders.
4. / Draft Aims and Objectives
After a discussion on the Aims and Objectives of the group various changes were suggested. RF to amend and PK to attach to notes of meeting. / RF/PK
5. / Trail Network Identification: Presentation by Jon Rogers
5.1 / There was a debate around whether cyclists prefer to do a loop or stick to the same 5 or 6 downhill tracks. It was agreed that research should be carried out on the demand for a loop. RK suggested three way marked trails from the summit, rather than a big loop, would be more likely to encourage people to use local amenities. RF said that it is important that we identify a sanctioned network of trails to take to landowners. These trails would be signed as the sanctioned routes and this should help to control the majority of bike riders. Landowners need to know what is in it for them. DM said that to lessen the risk of conflict, it would probably be best to identify both a circular route and some downhill tracks. PK to circulate JR’s presentation with the notes of the meeting. / PK
5.2 / JR informed the group that the bridleway next to Summer Lightning has seen a decrease in usage. PR stressed that the National Trust does not block tracks, as its policy is to work with cyclists rather than against them. DM thanked JR for all his hard work.
6. / Summer Lightning Extension
Summer Lightning to Wolvens Lane is boggy but there is no money to do repair it. The money that had been earmarked is instead going to do the sections before and after the cricket pitch. Work on the section before the cricket pitch should start in June. RK confirmed that there is good, trained volunteer support in the autumn and winter. Volunteers are given instructions what to do and where, depending on the seasons. £1,000 in principle has been awarded from the Surrey Hills Trust Fund towards trail enhancement, subject to a landowner agreement.
7. / Website Development (Caroline Price)
Surrey Hills Website: CP confirmed that there is a section on road cycling routes on the Surrey Hills website. Only mountain bike trails that are on permissive routes, and have the landowner’s permission, can be posted on the SH website. RK pointed out that if we promote a family route we will need to be mindful that it cannot be anywhere unsanctioned; that we would need to include notes about the degree of difficulty and the length of the circuit, etc. It would also need to be on a circuit that can be used all year round.
8. / Landowner Issues
8.1 / Forestry Commission: LC informed the group that the “Waggledance” section of the trail was created before the FC’s National Trail Policy so it now needs to be formalised as a sanctioned trail. RK confirmed that he was in touch with the FC regarding this.
8.2 / Hurtwood: There are now around 5 new significant landowners on the Hurtwood. The Friends of the Hurtwood are in the process of trying to tie them into the Access Agreement.
9. / Update on Surrey Countryside Access Forum (RK)
9.1 / RK reported that a countywide off road strategy has not yet been progressed.
10. / Any Other Business
10.1 / It was agreed that many of the issues covered by the Mountain Bike Working Group are similar to those of the Equestrian Working Group. One is the identification of suitable car parks. RF to talk to Lisa Creaye-Griffin on behalf of the working group about open access to car parks as the Open Access Agreement should prevent barriers being installed in car parks. PK to send details of Equestrian Working Group to Mark Weston. / RF
PK
11. / Date of Next Meeting:
Monday 21st November 2016; 14:00 – 16:00, Warren Farm Barns
Circulation:
ChairmanCllr David Mir, Mole Valley District Council
Support Officer:Pennie King, Surrey Hills AONB Unit
Landowner/manager: Peter Evelyn, Wotton Estate and Surrey CLA
Paul Redsell, National Trust
David Lees, Friends of the Hurtwood
Lucy Bryce, Surrey Wildlife Trust
Miguel Castillo-Garcia, Forestry Commission
David Collier, Forestry Commission
George Chapman, Batcheller Monkhouse
Agencies:Rob Fairbanks, Surrey Hills AONB Unit
Claire Saunders, Surrey County Council
Hannah Gutteridge, Surrey County Council
Lucy O’Connell, Mole Valley District Council
Users/volunteers:Richard Kelly, B1KE
Ian Warby, BIKE
Simon Pratt, Sustrans
Jon Rogers, Hurtwood Trails
Mark Panton, Cyclist
Businesses:Raluca Bunea, Peaslake Village Stores
David Farmer, Cycleworks
Roger Young, Head for the Hills
Parish councils/ Stuart McLachlan, Capel PC
Community liaison: Shere PC
British Horse SocietyMark Weston
PR:Caroline Price, Surrey Hills Marketing Communications Officer
Copied for information to:
Cllr Helyn ClackSurrey County Council
Steve MitchellSurrey County Council
Gail BrownriggHorse Rider
Claire McCaffery-ClarkeBritish Horse Society
Howard WagstaffPedal and Spoke
Nirvana Cycles
Ben Tudor
Brian Cohen