Agenda item

Gill Millward  the Countryside Access Improvement Officer from Derbyshire County Council presented her report which was to update on the progress towards the delivery of the Derbyshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

As far as the existing Rights of Way network is concerned, work is continuing to deliver a package of maintenance schemes across the county which includes roadside signposting, surfacing and drainage. Rob Greatorex who now heads up DCC’s Rights of Way team is happy to come and talk to a future LAF meeting about the work which is being carried out.

A joint DDLAF/Peak District LAF Unrecorded Ways Sub Group meeting took take place at the end of November to discuss the issues relating to the Definitive Map Modification Orders, including the prioritisation of the 237 applications that were in at the moment.

In terms of providing an improved network, around 400km of the 770km of Derbyshire’s Key Cycle Network were complete and open for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, wherever possible. Gill’s report provided details of the routes which were currently being developed or improved, including the Peak Forest Tramway between Buxworth and Chinley, as well as missing sections of the White Peak Loop through Haddon Estate and Buxton. Investigation work for the missing sections of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail around Glossop is continuing with site visits taking place with the British Horse Society and local horse riding representatives. It was pointed out that there are currently around 768 horses in this area with large livery yards and equestrian centres so it would be good to get horses off the roads as they can be very busy as it was within the commuter belt from Manchester.

Forum members were also made aware of the 12 week public consultation which was due to get underway for the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan which has been prepared for the D2N2 (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire) area. Gill would circulate the link to the consultation once it became live.

Gill was thanked for her report.