Agenda item

a)    Charlotte Gilbert - Update on the Trails Management Plan – Structure survey work is underway on the tunnels and bridges.  A schedule of inspections, including vegetation clearing, is planned.  The annual risk assessments for the walls above the cuttings have been completed.  The capacity in some of the car parks that serve the trails has been increased, and charges introduced in others. The Management Plan is proceeding to keep the trails open to all users.

Action:  The LAF to invite Helen Carrington, PDNPA Property Manager, to make a presentation at the next meeting about the management of the National Park’s trails and properties.

b)    Ben Seal -  Access to the Outdoors -The new government has pledged to create 3 new forests and 9 new national river walks, but there are no details about delivery of those.  The Outdoors For All network, which is made up of 51 different organisations has signed up to a manifesto calling on the government to expand the right to access the outdoors.  Although there have been no further announcements, there is optimism to see what emerges.  There is still a commitment to 15 minutes to nature, with the Environmental Improvement plan to make better, quicker progress, which DEFRA is currently reviewing. 

The quality of the place being visited is as important as the access to it.  Water quality is an issue that needs tackling.  The LAF should be ready to comment on any consultations on future legislation and introduce the Forum to local MPs and new mayors, who have a remit for transport.  Possibly a LAF sub group could be formed to look at government policy changes and feedback details of relevant Green Papers, and to establish the LAF priorities in order to respond.  The issue of Right to Roam has been raised again with the recent case in Dartmoor National Park.  There should be safeguards on any restrictions on Access Land.

Action:  Ben Seal was asked to put a report together for the next LAF meeting and to introduce the recently elected area MPs to the work of the LAF.

c) Derbyshire on-line mapping and reporting system for Rights of Way- 

Martin Bennett demonstrated Derbyshire’s on-line mapping for public rights of way.  The formal definitive map is still a paper record kept in the County Council’s Archive department.  The on-line map is a version of the definitive map for the public to refer to, showing boundary details, scheduled work locations, as well as the rights of way network. 

Reporting issues via the on-line system is a large part of Martin’s work as Footpath Secretary for the Ramblers Derbyshire Dales Group.  Each Council has their own reporting system, with the Fix My Street App, being widely used for reporting problems.

Summary of Discussion

There are approximately twenty steps to reporting a rights of way issue with the Derbyshire County Council on-line system.  This takes the user through many screens, and various maps, some of which aren’t very user friendly.  Once a report is submitted, the acknowledgement email does not include a summary of the report, which can be problematic when reporting multiple issues.  Other authorities use the Fix My Street (FMS) App, which is easier to use.  DCC has previously used this App, but has now stopped using it.  If Fix My Street is used to report an issue within Derbyshire but the DCC system isn’t integrated with the App, those reports might not be picked up. 

In other areas reporting is easier, and definitive maps are more comprehensive with recording of connective routes in urban areas.  Systems which are more difficult to navigate could lead to fewer reports to some councils.  Reporting needs to be encouraged in order to collect data, which indicates where extra resources are needed.  It also helps authorities prioritise their work.  The demonstration has highlighted the issues with reporting problems on the rights of way network with some local authorities, although out of the 250 reports submitted by the Ramblers Association to DCC at year end, most reports have been dealt with.  This is not the case everywhere in the country.

Action:  Martin Bennett to draft a letter to Derbyshire County Council on behalf of the LAF regarding the difficulties using its online reporting system for problems on the Rights of Way network.