PRESENT: Cllr A Smith, Cllr D Wells, E Anderson, S Ball, G Dixon, G Hoey, SJackson, M Jenkinson, M Nixon and F Ross.
Also in attendance: C Wilkinson, D Sanderson and A Greener (Environment Team), R Egan (Highways and Transport), and D Lilley (Democratic Services)
APOLOGIES: H Armstrong, A Towns, and K Hammond.
132 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR - Resolved - That E Anderson be and he is hereby appointed chairman.
E Anderson thereupon took the chair.
133 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interest in respect of items on the agenda.
134 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2007, having been circulated among the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded, subject to the addition of M Nixon as being present
135 MATTERS ARISING
Minute 128 – The Chairman sought confirmation that the Rights of Way Improvement Plan had received Council approval. C Wilkinson confirmed that the Planning Policy committee had approved the plan on 4 January 2008, and this would now go forward for inclusion in the Local Transport Plan.
136 SUSTRANS CONNECT 2 BID – R Egan of Highways and Transport attended the meeting to give an update on the Sustrans bid for Big Lottery funding.
North Lincolnshire Council had bid to be included in the Sustrans project and had succeeded in being one of 79 projects in the Connect 2 scheme. The project was then one of four to be voted on by the public in a national poll to receive £50 million from the Big Lottery.
This equated to £1million for the Scunthorpe project – the Ridge Walk. Maps were circulated round the meeting. The actual cost of the project would be closer to £2.5 million, this would include two bridges, earthworks and resurfacing. Detailed designs were still being drawn up and match funding was being sought as the lottery grant would not be available until the remainder had been secured.
The consultation process and the timetable were in hand and a Steering Group had been set up.
137 DISCOVERING LOST WAYS – The Natural England bulletin and Equestrian Access Forum letter were circulated with the agenda.
The Chairman had responded to questions in the Natural England bulletin on behalf of the Forum. All members were in agreement with the comments sent.
The concerns expressed in the Equestrian Access Forum letter were noted.
138 RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN – Final copies of the Plan were to be circulated to Access Forum members, and was also available on the North Lincolnshire Council website.
Progress was subject to the necessary funds being available, possible options were: the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Local Transport Plan, Landfill Tax Credits.
It was suggested that the timetable for action included in the Plan be monitored by the Access Forum and items be brought for discussion at appropriate intervals.
The concise nature and size of the document was welcomed.
139 PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY TRAINING – Feedback was given on the training session held at Pittwood House in November 2007. All members who had attended stated that it had been very useful and beneficial. Printouts of the training slides were available for members.
140 DEFINITIVE MAP – C Wilkinson updated the meeting on the status of the Definitive Map. Progress was being made and a statement was being produced. Anomalies were being dealt with as they arose. Less than a dozen formal applications remained to be determined.
141 LIST OF STREETS – C Wilkinson gave the meeting an explanation of the List of Streets that had arisen at the training sessions. It was a requirement of the Highways Act 1980 to have a list of all highways maintainable at public expense, as opposed to public rights of way. The current List of Streets was in draft form.
142 DEFRA NEWSLETTER – The December newsletter was circulated for information. This announced the availability of a summary of the responses to the Consultation on Proposals to Improve Access to the English Coast. All Forum members agreed on the definition of the coastline on the Humber as being as far inland as Keadby rather than the Humber Bridge. The Chairman was to have further discussion at a Natural England meeting.
143 ANNUAL REPORT – The Chairman had drafted some items for inclusion in the next Annual Report. Forum members were asked for contributions. All articles would be submitted to the secretary for formatting as soon as possible and a draft report would be brought to the next meeting for approval.
144 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Singleton Birch – A Greener briefed the meeting on an application that had been submitted to extend the quarry at Singleton Birch at Melton Ross for the release of chalk reserves. Maps were circulated. An environmental statement had accompanied the application setting out proposed restoration work, including agriculture, nature and ecological habitats. The timescale would be dependent upon extraction rates. The quarrying of the southern section had been withdrawn after objections. There would be a temporary stopping up of a bridleway, but additional new routes would be added and shown on the Definitive Map.
Alkborough Flats – D Sanderson briefed the meeting on progress with the managed tidal flooding of Alkborough Flats at the direction of the Environment Agency. An order was to be raised for part of the footpath to be closed off for safety reasons. Footpath gains were shown on the map. Concerns were raised that footpaths were not wide enough to be used as bridleways, this was being looked into. Access for disabled people had been improved by resurfacing, and it was hoped that a suitable car park would be provided.
Most parts were hoping to be completed by the end of March, but there were still some questions of land ownership to be resolved. Alkborough Parish Council was happy with the proposals. It was requested that further updates be given at future meetings.
It was agreed - That the Alkborough Flats site manager be invited to a future meeting.
Bottesford Beck – D Sanderson briefed the meeting on proposals for a bridleway running from Messingham Road to Lakeside. Although a path existed and was well used by the public, it currently had no recorded status on the Definitive Map. All of the land was North Lincolnshire Council owned and a five metre wide corridor had been retained from the new housing development. Phase 1 from Messingham Road to Holme Hall Road had an estimated cost of £50,000, funding was being sought from Landfill Tax Credits, and possibly SITA and WREN. It was hoped the scheme could commence in April 2008.
Jonathan Shaw – A letter of introduction was read out from Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs, and thanking Access Forums for their contributions to the production of Rights of Way Improvement Plans.
145 DATES AND TIMES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
- 7 May 2008
- 24 September 2008
It was agreed - That the next meeting take place at the Crowle Resource Centre and a site visit to Crowle Moors precede the meeting.