Tyne and Wear Joint Local Access Forum September 2015

Forward Plan.

The Tyne & Wear Joint Local Access Forum meets approximately quarterly. At our last meeting we had a preliminary discussion about priorities, based on the findings of our annual review of performance during 2014 and reflecting on the consultation exercise done at the February meeting. (See Annexe 1)

In our Annual Review we were able to identify the following priorities for 2015 from the “top three” responses.

  • Promote positive benefits of walking, cycling and horse-riding on North East local economy, health, tourism, environment.
  • Improve connectivity including addressing "missing links" in particular.
  • Make efforts to address better access for people with disabilities.

In reality there are overlaps between many of the responses and they can be arranged into several key themes as a basis for a Forward plan.

1 Promotion and Education: The role of Public Rights of Way for walking, cycling and horse riding, the many benefits, better mapping and regular updating of routes.

2 Better connectivity and linkage, across, through and beyond the Tyne & Wear area and addressing “missing links”

3 Disabled users: Removing barriers to use, including better provision for disabled users and accessible literature

4 Supporting Local Authorities in their efforts and encouraging more action to protect, expand and manage the Rights of Way network. Better maintenance.

Theme 1 is probably not being fully and directly addressed by the JLAf at the moment although our partners in the walking, horse-riding and cycling organisations are much engaged. Members’ suggestions for moving forward with this theme which “topped” our poll, are warmly invited.

Themes 2 and 4 are being addressed by the Planning sub-group, apart from the issue of maintenance.

Theme 3 will be addressed by the recently established Disabled Access sub- group.

The Tyne & Wear Joint Local Access Forum is recommended to agree the following.

There will be a regular agenda item to monitor progress on each of these four themes, recording positive achievements and identifying challenges and barriers encountered.

More recommendations are invited from members.

Annexe 1 JLAF Priorities List

Those present at the JLAF meeting on 24 February 2015 identified their priorities in answer to the question “Tell us your big 3 issues for local access that you'd like to see covered in the strategy”. Whilst this question was posed in relation to a possible North East local Access Strategy, it is also relevant for Tyne & Wear.The answers received were, in order of popularity:

  • Better connectivity across the whole North East region, and beyond for non-motorised routes
  • Identify and promote positive benefits of walking, cycling and horse-riding on North East local economy, health, tourism, environment
  • Better provision to help those with disabilities to use the network
  • More links between existing routes
  • Better public transport from home to the countryside especially on Sundays
  • North East Rights of Way Improvement Plans to be inter-connected and compatible
  • Improve connectivity for non-motorised users between the urban area and the semi-urban green spaces and rural areas.
  • More links between existing routes
  • Address “missing links”
  • Improve mapping
  • Address litter
  • Remove physical barriers to access
  • Maintain Public Rights of Way to a better standard
  • Exploit new opportunities to improve the Rights of Way network. E.g. through Developer Contributions.
  • Improved access to the region’s cycling routes
  • Update North East access routes
  • Address apathy from all parties toward protection, expansion and management of the Public Rights of Way network
  • Strengthen Local Authorities in the use of their powers and their responsibilities
  • Preservation of routes
  • Effective and realistic costings
  • Promotion
  • Education
  • More multi-user routes (Horse-riders, cyclists, wheeled chairs, walkers)
  • Accessible literature

Our “Terms of Reference” document (Item 4) notes that;

The JLAF will give advice on three main topics.

a) implementation, management and review of the statutory right of access to the

countryside;

b) improving the rights of way network;

c) the development of recreation and access strategies that cater for a wide range of

people.

2 Guidanceon Local Access Forums in England, issued by the Secretary of State. (DEFRA 2007)

Extract.

4.1 Forward work programme

4.1.1 Although not a statutory requirement, it is strongly recommended that forums prepare a forward work programme which sets out the forum’s priorities and special areas of interest. This does not need to be over-detailed or time-consuming to produce. It can be made available for public inspection and can play an important role in helping to:-

• ensure that the forum focuses on issues which are the most relevant for the area;

• clarify the issues on which the appointing authority(ies) or other section 94(4) bodies would benefit from receiving advice;

• timetable when specific matters are likely to be discussed by the forum, enabling the secretary to commission reports or speakers, etc;

• inform the public about the work of the forum, and assist the appointing authority in recruiting suitable new members;

• identify training or other requirements; and

• review effectiveness when preparing the forum’s annual report.