REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Recreation and Heritage

PART II

COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS DEVELOPMENT WORK IN HAMPSHIRE

The Corporate Strategy identifies the need to ensure that the services offered by the County Council are inclusive and recognise the importance of building strong and safe communities through working together. One specific objective within the Countryside Service is to increase participation in healthy activities including walking and cycling. In response to Corporate policies and the new responsibilities arising from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Countryside Service set up a Local Access Forum. An Access Development Team was established to assist in the delivery of the new duties with responsibilities to work closely with other departments, the Access Forum, external organisations and community groups, to promote access to the countryside and develop innovative approaches to access improvements. The Executive Member endorsed the progress made in implementing the work in response to the Open Access legislation particularly through development work and the efforts being made to broaden opportunities for all sections of the community to benefit from access to the countryside. Including initiatives on health and physical activity as a key element of the work programme and supported the continuation of this work.