Agenda item

Purpose: To present the Rights of Way Improvement Plan ROWIP) and its Action Plan to the committee for consideration.

(Councillor Tony Vickers declared that he was a Member of the Local Access Forum.  As his interest was neither personal nor prejudicial, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 5) regarding the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

Elaine Cox, Senior Rights of Way Officer, and Dr Janice Bridger, Local Access Forum, attended the meeting to present the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and its associated action plan.

Elaine Cox informed the Committee that the Council had a statutory duty to produce a ROWIP, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.  The ROWIP was produced as a means of identifying changes, for both the management and improvement, to the Council’s rights of way network.

The ROWIP formed part of the Local Transport Plan and was also being included in the Local Transport Plan Three that was currently out for consultation.

Whilst developing the ROWIP an extensive consultation exercise had been undertaken with the responses being divided between improvements to the management of the rights of way network and improvements to the network itself.  

The action plan had been developed after consultation and was set at a strategic level rather than concentrating on individual improvement projects.  Parts of the action plan were already being implemented and these included cost saving exercises such as improved enforcement work to get land owners to carry out their responsibilities rather than the Council having to act, by identifying other funding streams and by providing support for other groups who wished to improve the network.  Members were informed that each year there was about 1700 volunteers working on the rights of way network.

The Council also worked with Parish Councils on their development of Parish Plans if they wished to include elements of public access.

Janice Bridger informed Members that as well as being a member of the Local Access Forum she had also worked with Chieveley Parish Council on their Parish Plan.  Members were informed that whilst undertaking consultation for the Chieveley Parish Plan 82% of respondents valued their access to footpaths, bridleways and byways.   68% of those who used the byways had concern regarding their safety when the byway used the local road network.

Members were informed that the Local Access Forum were working with parish councils to help improve access with joint working with other agencies.  Improvements was not just a matter of increased funding but also better working relations with landowners.

Whilst considering the report the Committee raised the following points:

·        A lot of users of the rights of way network undertook circular routes that more than often took them onto the public highway.  As mentioned this raised concerns about road safety, especially on minor roads.

·        Highway engineers needed to be mindful of all users of our road network rather than concentrating on motorised vehicles.

·        It was important to bring together people representing different agencies and backgrounds to help maintain and improve peoples access to the rights of ay network.

·        The report highlighted the size of the task required to maintain the current network and how this was a huge undertaking for the local authority.  It was suggested that local parish and town councils might be better able to undertake this responsibility due to their local knowledge and ability to raise funds via the precept.

·        Members noted the excellent work undertaken by the Council in this field considering the level of funding.

·        Members were encouraged by the example of how in Cornwall the council worked with its parish councils to show them what legislative powers they had to help improve the local network.  Members supported the idea of holding a similar workshop.

·        It was important to remember the security risks associated with allowing people greater access under rights of way legislation.  Members agreed that there was a difference between the improved security of having more people witnessing potential incidents in the countryside, than that of opening access to both rural and urban centres to those of ill repute.

·        Although increased access to the countryside was important there were problems for farmers with some of the new swing gates that although allowed better access to the countryside also allowed livestock to escape.

·        There needed to be better education or information made available to the type of access that was permitted under right of way legislation.

·        It was noted that the majority of people who broke the speed limit on country roads was local traffic.

·        As the Local Transport Plan encouraged joined up cycle routes it should also include joined up walking routes.

·        It was suggested that the Council should consider joint service arrangements with other authorities to help maximise resources and help others learn from the good work undertaken in west Berkshire.

·        Parish Councils should be encouraged to develop community circuits to improve access and highlight problem areas throughout the district.

·        The Council should ask national Government to simplify legislation to make it easier for compromises between landowners and interest groups to be met. It was felt that current legislation was a hindrance when trying to find compromises when looking at rights of way access.       

Resolved that: The report and evidence given be noted.