Archived decisions

THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REGULATIONS ON LOCAL ACCESS FORUMS.

1. As a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 there is now a duty upon the County Council to establish a local access forum for the County. The relevant draft regulations seek to set down the framework for the operation of such forums whilst allowing authorities the flexibility to establish bodies which reflect local issues and needs. The County Council enthusiastically supports its new responsibility to establish such a forum and has accordingly already taken steps to involve local user groups, land managers and business and conservation interests in the development of such a forum by using the flexibility that the proposed regulations afford.

2. A response to a consultation from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the draft regulations for the forums has been sent in which several points of detail were made. These points covered such matters as the creation of joint forums where residents of largely urban unitary authorities visit the countryside within adjacent rural county authorities, clarification of "open air recreation", as the forums have to advise upon the improvement of public access to land for the purposes of such recreation and advice as to what the membership balance should be (i.e. as regards landowners and users).

JOHN WADDINGTON

Executive Member
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