Meetings

Next meeting

• Thursday 10 May - Ashburton Hall, Winchester
• Agenda

Future meetings

• Tuesday 24 July
• Tuesday 30 October

Venues

Village Halls or similar; site visits when helpful

These are possible subjects that the Forum would like to consider during 2011. The work of Task Groups must have the full Forum’s support before being issued as advice.

• February 2012
• AGM 29 November 2011
• July 2011
• April 2011

All documents in pdf format

Annual Report 2011

This report summaries the work of the Forum during 2011, including consultation responses, presentations received and major items and projects addressed within the Forum meetings and by Forum task groups.

Forum Remit

Hampshire Countryside Access Forum (HCAF) is an independent body of 18 knowledgeable volunteers giving strategic advice on improving access to the countryside in Hampshire (excluding the New Forest and South Downs), Southampton and Portsmouth.  Its members are local people, balanced between those who use the countryside (e.g. walkers, cyclists, horse-riders), those who have responsibility for the management of the land (e.g. farmers, estate managers), or have related interests (e.g. conservation, education).  HCAF is the ‘Local Access Forum’ for the area, as defined under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; members are appointed by Hampshire County Council (HCC), Southampton City Council (SCC) and Portsmouth City Council (PCC).

Meetings

The Forum had four full-day meetings in 2011 (see below) and in addition used task groups to investigate specific subjects.

• 23 February at Stanmore Community Centre: 10 members, 10 observers
• 19 April at Stanmore Community Centre: 12 members, 10 observers
• 21 July at Alice Holt Forest: 9 members, 11 observers
• 29 November (AGM) at Royal Victoria Country Park: 15 members, 9 observers

Consultations

• Improving Communication between LAFs and Government – following the demise of the England Access Forum (EAF), Richard Benyon MP consulted Local Access Forums (LAFs) on proposals to improve the information flow between LAFs and Government. The Forum responded expressing disappointment about the withdrawal of funding and support for EAF, believing that there is still an overall need for a national forum. The Forum welcomed the proposal for a memorandum style agreement between LAFs, Natural England and Defra setting out agreed roles and responsibilities. It also welcomed the idea for the Minister to host a ‘hot seat’ session as part of a training event or conference.
• Review of Statutory Duties placed on Local Government –  the Forum responded to the Department for Communities and Local Government consultation in April 2011. Its comments were restricted to areas of relevance to the Forum. This included confirmation that it would like the duties relating to LAFs retained.
• Independent Panel on Forestry ‘Call for Views’ – the Forum responded to the consultation in July 2011.  The Forum recognised public forests and woodlands to be important areas for recreation. It was felt that the primary use of public Forestry Commission (FC) land should be to provide public access, growing timber for commercial purposes should be a secondary use. Concern was raised that existing access on FC land is primarily permissive and in many areas equestrians, and on occasion cyclists, are excluded. Public FC land should not be sold without first protecting, in law, access for all non-motorised users. ‘Zoning’ of forests was suggested, so that access opportunities and activities are managed so that they are compatible with the ‘zone’ in which they take place. It was recognised that conservation of wildlife also needs to be considered.
• Access Land Restrictions
  • Review of access restriction at Cheriton Wood - in May 2006, a direction was made wholly excluding access from Cheriton Wood from July to February on the grounds of land management needs. A review of this direction was undertaken (required under Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 section 27(3)) by Natural England to which the Forum responded in November 2010 and March 2011. The Forum supported the restriction continuing but asked that more appropriate signage be erected and maintained on site at all times. Natural England referred this issue to HCC, as the access authority. HCC officers and Forum members liaised with the landowner to develop some appropriate wording and signage locations.  
  • Review of access restriction at former MOD marshalling yard, East Dean – in August 2006, a direction was made excluding access from the former marshalling yard throughout the year on the grounds of public safety, due to lead and hydrocarbon contamination.  The Forum was consulted on the review of this direction by Natural England in March 2011. It was felt that insufficient information had been provided about the level of contamination on the land and the associated risk to the public. The Forum did not support the continuation of the restriction based on the evidence provided and requested further information.
• Revision of the Countryside Code – in March 2011 Natural England consulted the Forum on the review of the Countryside Code. The Forum was pleased with the proposed revisions, especially greater clarification of the responsibilities of dog walkers, including an explanation of the term ‘effective control’. The Forum suggested some additional revisions to the text, including: the strengthening of the wildlife messages; consideration of equestrian users (due to a rise in incidents involving dogs chasing ridden horses); more appropriate information for people with limited mobility. The Forum also encouraged greater promotion of the code at a local level.
• Gating Orders - Southampton City Council Safer Communities Team consulted the Forum on a proposed gating order on an urban cut-through. The Forum did not object to the Order but did query the time and duration of the closure.
• Dog Control Orders – Southampton City Council consulted the Forum on a Dogs Exclusion Order, Dogs on Leads Order, Dogs on Leads by Direction Order and Fouling of Land by Dogs Order.  All were supported on the basis that the exemptions afforded to ‘seeing’, ’hearing’ and ‘support’ dogs are also extended to their training period. The Forum also advised that Southampton City Council consider the allocation of more defined areas where owners may exercise their dogs off the lead, and encouraged greater engagement with the dog walking community.
• Future management of Shortheath Common – the Forum offered general advice regarding the proposed management options.

Major Items/Projects

• Countryside Access Plans (CAPs) – the Forum has continued to monitor CAP delivery and members are present on each of the CAP working groups. Working group progress reports were received at each Forum meeting, and the Forum provided advice on best practice for the running of the groups.
• South Downs National Park Authority - the South Downs National Park Authority became the Access Authority for the area in April 2011. A Local Access Forum for the South Downs National Park area was established, changing the remit of the Forum to exclude this area. The Forum has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Downs Local Access Forum, outlining how the Forums will work together. A member of HCAF sits on the new South Downs Local Access Forum and other members attend meetings as observers.
• Vehicles in the countryside – in March 2010 signs were erected on the Harroway, a Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) in Overton, in a bid to tackle irresponsible use of the route by motorised users. This was the result of a project involving the Forum, the Parish Council, the County Council, Hampshire Constabulary and key user groups. Following this, a number of other issues on BOATs across the county were raised. The Forum felt that Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), as they have traditionally been used in Hampshire, although legally enforceable, are not suitable in all cases. Voluntary restraints can be successful but they rely on the cooperation of users and are not legally enforceable. The Forum therefore requested that the County Council look into more flexible mechanisms that could be applied. The Forum is to issue formal advice to the County Council on this matter.
• Small Grants Scheme Countryside Access - members have continued to provide valuable help to HCC in managing this popular scheme, forming a panel to judge incoming applications and advising on the scheme’s development; the Forum has received regular updates on progress.
• Providing Access to Hampshire’s Heritage (PATHH) – in 2010 the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the Forum £46,600 for the Providing Access to Hampshire’s Heritage (PATHH) project, the New Forest National Park Authority has provided an additional £5,000. A Project Officer has been employed to take the project forward, overseen by a Steering Committee led by HCAF members. Over 100 volunteers have been trained and have been conducting research at the Hampshire Record Office, investigating the history of their local area and gathering information about gaps in today’s rights of way network which would meet modern needs, as identified in the Countryside Access Plans. The project also has a strong educational element and a number of schools across the county have signed up to receive PATHH workshops. A travelling exhibition about the project also began in October to engage with the wider community.
• Local Nature Partnership (LNP) – an initiative was announced in the Natural Environment White Paper 2011 for the establishment of Local Nature Partnerships, to be strategic partnerships of organisations that work to create a shared vision for their area and deliver better, more integrated environmental outcomes. A Local Nature Partnership is to be formed to cover Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, led by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The Forum expressed interest in becoming a potential partner and a member attended a workshop to discuss what functions the LNP could perform and to scope details of a bid to the LNP Fund. The Forum subsequently submitted comments on the draft bid.
• Local Sustainable Transport Fund – the Department for Transport launched a £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund to operate over  four years.  Hampshire County Council, on behalf of the New Forest National Park, the South Downs National Park and the six local transport authorities within or adjacent to both Parks, is coordinating a bid to the Fund.  The overall aim of the planned bid is to improve access to the National Parks by sustainable forms of travel. The Forum registered ‘in principle’ interest in becoming a potential partner to the bid and has submitted comments to contribute to the draft. In particular the Forum emphasised the importance of the need for cycle routes and that access on horse-back should also be considered as sustainable travel, and routes should be developed as multi-user routes.

Presentations / Site Visits

• Countryside Education – the Forum welcomed Jo Edney from Hampshire Country Learning (HCL) and Sara Findlay (Countryside Learning Coordinator) from HCC Countryside Service. Both provided an overview of their work and how the Forum can get involved. The Forum acknowledged the value of the work performed and encouraged HCL to incorporate more countryside access related topics into its work, as currently the focus is on farming, biodiversity and woodland management.
• Highways – Karen Dockree, Principal Road Safety Officer (Hampshire County Council), was invited to talk to the Forum to address its key concerns about safety on rural roads, as raised in its response to the LTP3 consultation in 2010. The Forum feel that the strategy should recognise that all roads and especially rural roads are a legitimate and historic part of the walking, cycling and horse riding network. Many stretches have been allowed to be dominated by increasing volumes of motorised traffic which has made them dangerous to all users. Often they form the only link between the non-motorised network of footpaths, bridleways etc. There is an urgent need to manage verges to facilitate safe walking and horse riding where these connections occur.
• Alice Holt Forest, Forestry Commission – at the July meeting of the Forum, District Councillors from East Hampshire and Winchester, as well as Members from the South Downs National Park Authority and members of the new South Downs LAF were invited to join the Forum for a site visit around Alice Holt Forest. Forestry Commission staff led members and guests around the Alice Holt Forest Centre, allowing the opportunity to discuss the pressures and conflicts surrounding access at the site. Members and guests discussed management for different purposes and the realisation that people are now having to pay for access (for the maintenance of tracks etc). It was discussed how this is facilitated at Alice Holt, through parking charges and permits for horse riders.
• Cradle Lane/Shipwrights Way – following the site visit around Alice Holt, members and guests visited the recently improved Cradle Lane, part of the Shipwrights Way – a great example of the conflicts that arise when considering access to the countryside. The Shipwrights Way Officer, explained that the BOAT had been the subject of a temporary closure with a staged re-opening to allow the effect of different types of use on the new surface to be monitored, with a view to establishing what can be sustained in the long term. This started with access for horse-riders from 15^th May 2011, and carriage drivers from 15^th August 2011.
• Localism Bill – the Localism Bill was introduced in Parliament on 13 December 2010 and contains a number of provisions which are likely to have a significant impact on the County Council. Nigel Bird, Countryside Access Team Leader, provided an overview of the Bill and the implications it will have for the Countryside Service.

Forum Membership

The following members were appointed for the period 2008-2011 in accordance with the national regulations for Local Access Forums. All members represent an area of interest (rather than any particular organisation) and the group as a whole is balanced between access users and access providers.

In accordance with the national regulations for Local Access Forums, recruitment for the period 2011-2014 was completed in autumn 2011. 11 existing members (indicated above*) reapplied and have been appointed for a further three year term, 7 new members have been appointed (figures exclude Council representation).   

The Forum meets four times a year to provide advice on:

• Policies for the management and maintenance of rights of way and access land
• Delivery of the Countryside Access Plan (Rights of Way Improvement Plan)
• Relevant national and local consultations
• Areas of conflict or new topics, where balanced guidance would be helpful

They principally advise Hampshire County Council and Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, but also government bodies such as Natural England, Defra and District and Parish Councils, land managers such as Forestry Commission, MOD and the Wildlife Trust, and user groups such as the Ramblers, BHS and CTC.

The public are welcome to attend meetings; questions can be submitted or representations made at meetings, provided notice of at least two weeks is given.