Agenda item

Sue Smith provided Forum members with an update on issues related to access in the Peak District.

Access Land Mapping – Consideration is being given to extending the current 2024/25 deadline for Natural England’s Access Land mapping review to 31 December 2030.  National Park Rangers and volunteers are using the new App which has been developed by the Authority to monitor and record access points onto Access Land which should improve access and links to these areas.  Access at popular locations can cause problems, but landowners are generally receptive to solutions.  The mapping can record different types of infrastructure and includes pictures which help to confirm the locations of access points and the signage.

Changing Place – If the planning application which has been submitted is approved, a Changing Place and Tramper storage will be built at Millers Dale Station, which is one of the accessibility hubs within the National Park.  This will make a big difference to people planning a visit, enabling them to stay in the area for longer. The funding has come from a variety of organisations.

Access Fund – The Peak District Foundation, which this year has moved across to be a more sustainable, self-financing model, helps support the Access Fund.  There are various conservation and access initiatives, with a number of Miles without Stiles projects scheduled for 2024.

Access Improvements – A media update shows that the Miles without Stiles page takes over 10% of the web traffic on the National Park Authority’s website. Accessible Castleton is being rolled out this month. The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme has delivered new permissive paths and education projects.   Access Fund projects include works by the Countryside Maintenance and Projects Team (CMPT) at Fernilee in the Goyt Valley; works by PPCV volunteers to the barrier on Long Causeway at Stanage; and at Crowdecote, ladder stiles have been replaced with kissing gates. Following the recent storms, work is being carried out on Miles without Stiles routes at Surprise View and Coombsdale.  £5.95 from each Miles without Stiles booklet contributes to the Access Fund.

Geoff Nickolds asked Sue for a ballpark figure on the cost of the works in the Goyt Valley.  Sue’s response was about £9,000.

Martin Bennett said that the FiPL programme has funded some work at Great Longstone, where livestock feeders and troughs are located next to stiles.  There should be discussions with landowners as it is best not to have these next to stiles and access points.  Sue Smith said it was good practice, as backed up by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and National Farmers’ Union, not to have feeders at access points or on Rights of Way.  As with other issues on the RoW network, this would be something to raise with the relevant Highway Authority.

Charlotte wondered if the work on concessionary RoW will continue after the FiPL funding has stopped.  Sue responded that the funding is for a set period and introduced landowners to the idea of working this way.  Hopefully in future there could be an access element to stewardship schemes.  Reports have been shared with Defra’s access team.