National park authorities

Duties

To set up a Local Access Forum to advise on countryside access.

It is a legal requirement for every county council, unitary council and national park authority to establish and support a Local Access Forum (LAF). In Hampshire we have three LAFs:

• Hampshire Countryside Access Forum (HCAF) is the joint forum for Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth excluding the areas covered by the New Forest Access Forum and the South Downs Local Access Forum
• New Forest Access Forum (NFAF) covers the New Forest and South West Hampshire
• South Downs Local Access Forum (SDLAF) covers the South Downs National Park area

Members of all forums are local people, who represent the interests of those who use the countryside, those who have the responsibility for the management of the land, and other relevant interests such as nature conservation or local businesses. The forums seek ways to improve access for all users of the countryside whilst enabling landowners to make use of their land and minimising any negative impacts.

Their role is to provide advice about countryside access to all relevant local and national organisations in countryside access. They chiefly advise highway authorities, and national park authorities. They sometimes advise Parish and Town Councils, and other organisations such as the Forestry Commission. The LAF has the right to have their views given due regard by these bodies. Organisations do not have to follow the advice of the LAF but, when it is offered, they must consider it before reaching a decision.