Minutes of the meeting of the NW Regional LAF Chairs
held at 1.00 pm on Thursday 7 February
In Natural England Offices, Bridgewater House, 60 Whitworth Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester M1 6LT
1
2
Agenda Item
Welcome and introductions
Present
3
In attendance
4
Apologies
Discussion/conclusions
RT welcomed people to the meeting and asked people to introduce themselves
Chair - Richard Toon (Lancashire, Nigel Bennett (Stockport) Edgar Ernstbrunner (Wigan) Dave Callan
(Merseyside) Andy Gildon (E Cheshire) Charles Ecroyd (Cumbria)
Dave Jeffreys (Natural England) Salle Dare (Regional Co-ordinator) Steve Higham (Canal and River
Trust)
Ruth Killen (Wigan), Carole Barr (LDNP) Edmund Hoare (Manchester , Salford and Trafford JLAF)
5
Minutes of the last meeting
These were approved as a correct record.
6
6a
Matters arising
minute 4a Bolton and Bury LAF
6b
Minute 4c – Wildfire Initiative
6c
Minute 4d – decadal Review
6d
Minute 9 - Fencing of Open
Lances
minute 10c Cheshire LAF
6e
4a. SD reported on her conversation with Dave Chadwick who had indicated that there was little
possibility of setting up a LAF. EE reported that at the Bury ROW forum Dave Chadwick said they
were going to go ahead and will turn the ROW forum into the LAF so functions could be merged. DJ
been in contact and suggesting West Pennine Moors. EE says not viable. Rochdale ROW Forum –
man from Highway authority and going to look at this again. Problem about who is going to lead on
it. Meeting constructive on Monday.
CE reported that Cumbria is to re-establish the Cumbria Wildfire Group. This was welcomed by the
group
The decadal Review will take place every 15 years and there will be amending legislations. Details are
in the latest edition of the DEFRA Newsletter
Part and parcel of ongoing discussion. Jim Milner is leading on this. It is a problem with other upland
sites and presents barriers to access. The members were pleased being taken seriously.
SD reported on the meeting she had attended of the Cheshire LAF and that she will assist E Cheshire
in their recruitment. DJ reported that West Cheshire have started
Actions
SD to contact
DC and ask
what is
happening.
SD to
circulate
newsletter
6f
7
Agenda Item
Minute 12a Paths for communities
Guest Speaker – Steve Higham –
Enterprise Manager, Canals and
Rivers Trust
Discussion/conclusions
DJ reported on the current position. He explained that the reason most are rejected is that they don’t
fit the funding criteria, which are determined by the EU Rural Development Fund. There is very much
rural focus and rejected applications were urban. Some members still concerned about the
complexity of the process and DJ said these comments have been taken on board. The on line site
gives breakdown of scoring system and economic benefits to rural economy important. There is no
minimum or maximum groups can bid for – there will be some small scale of around £5000 to large
scale projects up to £200,000. Most funding committed for 2013 and rest set aside for year 2. CE
had four applications and only 1 going ahead. Will be well used in Gosforth
RT introduced Steve Higham explaining our keen interest is access. Steve described the changes that
had taken place as British Waterways moved to the Canals and Rivers Trust. The grant went from
£65m to £40m. they now have a fixed contract with govt £45m for 15 years indexed link. They feel
they have more freedom with property portfolio of about £800m (may be less now) and are open to
donations and legacies and tax benefits. There have been changes in the governance with a new CE
and fewer directors. Can take on other waterways and may possibly take on Norfolk Broads from EA.
They advise other authorities. They have Partnerships Boards at local level and the north west has 8
members from a variety of backgrounds, and will help identify priorities at local level. Volunteering is
increasing by 10-12% e.g. they use young graduates in engineering.
He covered a number of other issues relevant to LAFS including
 Trying to improve the canals and the assets e.g. Bridges, and towpaths. The age of network is a
factor. The recent breach on Trent and Mersey. £2m to repair.
 Restoration of disused canals is part of their remit but is very expensive. One which could be
restored is the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal. Could use volunteers e.g. the restoration on
Chesterfield Canal was 85% volunteers, and the Shropshire Union Canal volunteers have their
own JCB.
 Towpaths are mainly permissive rights of way with a few definitive paths. If they dedicated the
tow path the local highways department would need to take on the maintenance which they are
unwilling to do.
 The main user groups are walkers – by far the most popular - cyclists and anglers. Towpaths are
popular because they are safe and traffic free, flat, tranquil and there are guided walks and local
history and nature information alongside the canal. The CRT tries to accommodate different
types of users including disabled.
 There are issues with cycling. CRT could not enforce a cycling ban. There are 21m cyclists a year
Actions
Sd to
circulate
slides and
Towpath
Guidance.
8
NICE Guidance
9
National conference
10
Support for LAFs
using towpaths. They are welcome but CRT is trying to promote safety. “Share the space and
drop the pace” and “two tings” are two of their slogans. Barriers can be a problem for bikes.
This is a question of education. Open access is a continuous course of education and canals are
no different to the approach they adopt on the uplands. It is a problem of small proportion of
thoughtless cyclists.
 Horses are no allowed to use the towpath unless they are drawing a barge. Such Horse drawn
barges are a popular tourist attraction but present considerable problem for CRT. They make
special demands on the network.
 Anglers are an important part of fabric. They need to have an EA licence and should be part of a
club affiliated to part of the canal – they lease a stretch of canal and they manage it. CRT actively
stocks the canal. Try and support disabled fishermen too.
Steve went on to describe a number of improvement projects funded by various partnerships
including the Lune aqueduct – tone of their top ten structures and a Grade 1 listed building. A major
project improving access for disable visitors, improving the towpath for walkers and cyclists and
landscaping.
This had been circulated for information. It was agreed it was a powerful document given that NICE
has a high reputation and its evidence is robust. LAFs need to know about this document and to use
it to promote partnerships with local authorities who now have the responsibility for public health.
Cumbria wants to use it to source funds and Cheshire has already used it as part of their application
for funding. Lancashire is trying set up a seminar on the guidance.
DJ reported that NE had listened to LAFS and felt that that the conference agenda reflected LAF
concerns much more. “It is not just about Huddle”
Good Examples and Good practice:
Cumbria - worked closely with Danny and Jerry on Coastal Access Lancashire – felt that the LAF had
contributed to the completion of the Pennine Bridleway. Experience on stage 1 has allowed them to
be more proactive on alignment of stage 2.
Each LAF reported on the support they receive from their local authority:
Cumbria: LAF secretary took redundancy and LAF support subsumed into Business Support Unit.
Cumbria has an access officer and a ROW officer but both have had to take on work from other areas.
CE collates everything and spends about a day and a half preparing papers to send out. Officers send
them out. On the day of the meeting a clerk takes notes but there are barely intelligible and again CE
had to spend time putting together a coherent set of minutes. There is a risk that a meeting will not
take place because the chair is not able to undertake the work. Budget for highways £850 now
slashed to 280
Merseyside: Used to be supported by Knowsley ROW office but that post was cut. Now supported by
Highways officer who is subject to considerable pressure if he spends too much time on the LAF. Risk
that the LAF will collapse. Used to get £10k per council in Mersey and now only get £5k .
Stockport: LAF is well supported. Democratic Services department provide minute taker, ROW
sustainable manager involved,
Lancashire: Still getting good support from the County Council
Wigan: – has a good PROW officer who is LAF secretary and she get the support she needs
Cheshire East – currently have excellent PROW officer but going through a round of cuts so this may
change as 1000 jobs to go.
Manchester, Salford and Trafford: LAF supported by an interested clerk and the three PROW officers
attend usually. However the Salford PROW officer has had his time cut so he works 2 days in Salford
and 1 day in Blackburn. He also has a reduced budget.
11
12
Annual Report
LAF Activity
Members were concerned that LAFs will not be able to function effectively with no press releases,
annual reports, recruitment of new members and no support for a LAF website etc. Members incur
expenses in visiting sites and these need to be covered. The cuts to PROW and Access staff means
that the CROW Act itself will be under threat. This needs to be fed back to DEFRA
Report received
Cumbria: LAF are planning to continue to function with quarterly meetings – preceded by training
session – either looking at a project or getting in a speaker on a relevant topic. They have stood
down their working parties someone in .
LDNP : Discussed the issues of tree diseases, particularly larch and ash. NE having a dialogue but not
clear actions agreed. The diseases are airborne and NE focusing on preventing disease by ensuring
trees that are planted are from healthy sources. Staff movement include bio security measures but
this is not appropriate for general public. Want to avoid wholesale clearance because of problem of
resistance.
Cheshire – There will be a reconstituted LAF and they have agreed they need to be more active in
terms of working groups and projects and fundraising. There will be the route of the HS2 to consider
Merseyside: Have reduced meetings to three a year and two of them are site visits and the third
meeting at night. They have 4 new member one of whom is a Landowner.
Wigan: hey are carrying on regular meetings. A major issue lack of consultation and been raising that
for 6 months. Had some encouraging noises and told it would improve.
Natural England
Stockport: Generally a benign situation. Urban environment so not so many access land issues.
Gating orders are the main issue but are generally not contentious and being handled responsibly.
They are restricted to back alleys where no objection and they never gate a PROW. There is a rural
network of paths which is well used. There is a major road development connecting to the airport.
Stockport are building in a bridleway and all junctions will accommodate equestrian users. Results of
consultation.
Lancashire: The LAF is working with the wildlife Trust on invasive species. They need the Rivers Trust
to take action. . Fire Operations groups formally established. there is a good supply of equipment
available to the services including high pressure hoses to pump deep into the peat. There was
concern that as more people get access to the upland areas there will be more fires. Cumbria and
Cheshire have a good ROWIP – attracting external funding. Windfarms is another issue. Peel
Holdings are developing a windfarm at Burnley, doubling the existing capacity of the current
windfarm on the site.
David Jeffreys reported
1. National Trails
Look on the web page. Linked to Walk England and promoters of National Trail. Info on review of
national trails and response to Ramblers on website from NE chair. Expected date is before April
2. Coastal Access
Stretch 1 period for objections ends 11.2.13 and NE will deal with these. Have only had three
representations which reflects the good work they have done. Stretch 2 initial - contact letters going
out this week and will be walking the course from April onwards. There is no definite time scale.
Responsibility has been taken from LAs and now NE doing the whole lot. In many places the
footpaths are all in place. There was a discussion on whether NE should go for “quick wins” but part
of the reason for doing it stage by stage is to develop a robust methodology to make it easier when
there are difficult parts. Lessons had been learned from the Weymouth Bay stretch, where
landowners were alienated.
3. P4C
Details of the bids are on the website. Nationally there have been 150 expressions of interest. 10 of
these are in the north west. 3 in Cumbria, 4 in Lancashire and 3 in Cheshire. Of those 6 approved, 3
are in the North West..
4. CAP reforms –
There have been representations for access as part of the CAP reforms. NE had a meeting with
stakeholders over CAP reforms. Bidding for an access infrastructure scheme. It was recognised that
DJ let SD
know we
blink and she
will circulate
LAF Survey
we need permanent access no 10 year provision
5. ROWIP questionnaires.
DEFRA is sending out questionnaires to each LA about its ROWIP. This will be discussed at Sheffield
6. Access Newsletter
This newsletter contains articles on: out the changes to the decadal review: proposed extension to LD
and YD national park. So far 3000 representations received and the consultation will run till June
2013.
7. Monitoring engagement of natural environment
Part of ongoing survey on how people using countryside. What do people value . Can look at data
using online tool. Will help LAFs and look at usage of PROW. As data set gets bigger hope they can
use it at local level.
The group discussed repeating the survey and agreed to do this as a reminder to Las. There should be
an additional question on consultations for major planning developments. It was recognised that
there are no staff or money to update definitive map. No def map is up to date.
Any other business
There was no other business
Date and Time of next meeting
The next meetings are scheduled to start at 1.15 pm
18th June – Preston
24th October – Manchester
13th February - Preston
1.