Agenda item

Rob Greatorex will attend the PDLAF meeting in June to provide an update on the work programme, including repairs to routes which Forum members are particularly interested in. 

Derbyshire County Council has advised that it will maintain the current system of dealing with DMMO applications in chronological order of receipt. 

Charlotte and Martin are on the Joint LAF Sub-Group with the Derby and Derbyshire LAF which has met to discuss the County Council’s response to the LAF’s advice on the prioritisation of these applications. Given that there are now 2.5 full time members of staff working exclusively on DMMO applications, it was agreed to monitor progress over the coming months and to invite an officer from Legal and Democratic Services to provide an update at a future LAF meeting.

It was mentioned that when route status is determined/upgraded, further work may be needed to make those routes safe and usable for all users, An example was given of a bridleway connecting Wormhill to Taddington, via Blackwell.

LAF Members considered that pressure should still be made via MPs to pass the legislation needed to repeal the cut-off date for recording historic rights of way in England, after the UK Government announced its intention to do so back in December 2024.

Derbyshire has over 450km of traffic free routes for people to use and is now seeing significant amounts of money coming through from EMCCA to improve the network.  DCC has achieved a Level 2 Active Travel Capability Rating, up from Level 1, after a recent assessment by Active Travel England (ATE).

In response to a question raised by LAF members, Gill reported that work is progressing on the White Peak Loop connections into Buxton using ATE funding to draw up detailed designs . 

Action: Gill Millward to circulate to LAF Members details of the White Peak Loop into Buxton.

In connection with the Chapelgate route, LAF members raised the user group involvement via the PDLAF and for ensuring that views were taken on board in order to avoid recurring problems.

Action: Gill Millward agreed to ensure that LAF input will be fully considered by DCC in future.

In connection with the aim to mprove the promotion, understanding and use of the network, the Cycle Derbyshire leaflet continues to be updated to promote traffic free routes across the county, and is being distributed to cycle hire centres, accommodation providers, libraries and information points.

Greater community involvement is taking place through the use of volunteers and their preventative maintenance on trails, rights of way and countryside sites. The Service Level Agreement with Groundwork Five Counties delivered 270 volunteer days between April and December 2025, estimated to be worth in the region of £53,865.

10:30am 5 minute break