PRESENT: E Anderson (chairman), G Dixon, G
Hoey, FRoss, Cllr D Wells, HArmstrong, R Alderson, S Ball, and S
Jackson.
Also in attendance: D Sanderson (Environment
Team), A Moody (Alkborough Flats Site Manager), and D Lilley
(Democratic Services).
APOLOGIES: M Jenkinson, Cllr A Smith, Cllr B
Regan, A Towns.
194 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL
INTEREST - Cllr D Wells declared a personal interest in
agenda item 6, in that he was a ward member for Thornton Abbey,
site of a proposed gating order.
195 MINUTES - Resolved - That the minutes of
the meeting held on 28 January 2009, having been circulated among
the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed
by the chairman.
196 MATTERS ARISING - There were no matters
arising.
197 ALKBOROUGH FLATS - The site manager for
Alkborough Flats attended the meeting and gave a presentation on
the project.
The site is dynamic and complex and covers 1,000 acres. North
Lincolnshire Council managed the site on behalf of the owners -
Natural England, Associated British Ports and the Environment
Agency. The realignment was managed to mitigate flooding in other
areas, the breach being set at 2.8m, through which water passed at
a rate of 14m per second. Part of the floodbank had been lowered by
50‑80cm in order to take a surge tide, which would reduce the
level of the Humber by 15cm.
A habitat separation bund existed to the north of the area. Wet
grassland was provided to encourage breeding waders, although 100
acres was still arable, and a further 20 hectares was to be
converted to a freshwater reedbed. The Humber was one of the most
important estuaries in Europe for birds and wildlife.
Currently there were 4.5 miles of Public Right of Way (of which
3 miles was new), accessed beside the sewage works, some of which
was DDA compliant. Three bird hides existed, with plans for two
more and various information boards were to be found around the
site. Popularity was increasing, but promotion was problematic
because of the lack of car parking in the area. Events programmes
were popular and leaflets were distributed to Forum members.
It was agreed - That A Moody be thanked for a
very interesting and informative presentation.
198 GATING ORDERS - The secretary read out a
statement provided by the Council's legal department on the
current legislation on Gating Orders, and the application that had
been received regarding an application for an order at Thornton
Abbey gatehouse.
The application had been submitted by the residents of the
gatehouse, supported by the police, because of problems with
anti-social behaviour and crime on the section of road.
Discussion took place among the Forum members and concerns were
raised regarding the lack of a safe margin for pedestrians and
cyclists on the main road, should the gating order be implemented.
Clarification was also sought on the proposed opening and closing
times of the gates: to coincide with the Abbey opening times; or
from dawn to dusk.
It was agreed - That the Forum welcome the
opportunity to make representation on gating orders as, and when,
they are formally consulted.
199 GUNNESS COMMON - D Sanderson was in
advanced negotiation with the owners of land over which access from
the A18 might run. Both he and T Allen were trying to persuade the
owner of a track leading east out of Gunness village from which the
access area might be reached from the opposite direction, thus
providing a thoroughfare with Gunness Common en route.
200 CROWLE MOORS UPDATE - T Allen be invited to
the next meeting to report progress on the Crowle Moors work.
201 RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
(ROWIP) - The preparation of recreational walks
was continuing. C Wilkinson had two more walks to write route
descriptions for, and then could start to think about presentation,
local history, how to show each route on a map and so on. G Popple
suggested combining the walks with other departments' planned
leaflets of each parish providing general information about local
services.
Positive signing: Winteringham parish was nearly finished and
significant progress had also been made in Alkborough.
The feasibility of creating footpaths and bridleways under
section 26 of the Highways Act 1980 was being looked at. For
example, A Greener was exploring the possibility of new paths in
Worlaby on the carrs and close to the border with Elsham.
Some targets were only achievable with extra funding. Obviously
the envisaged cutbacks in public spending over the next few years
did not auger well.
202 REGIONAL ACCESS FORUM - E Anderson reported
from a recent Regional Access Forum which was held in Hull and was
very well attended by representatives of LAFs from the Yorkshire
and Humberside Region. Many topics were on the agenda but of
particular note was a presentation by Andrew Mackintosh from
Natural England on the Coastal Access Scheme. He explained that he
had just completed an audit of the coastline from,on the west side,
the Welsh border to the Scottish border and on the east side from
The Wash to the border with Scotland. He presented some interesting
statistics e.g. that 66% of the coast already has satisfactory
access, and explained the way forward from hereon. The Scheme was
expected to take about ten years to implement and assurance was
given that all LAFs would be fully consulted along with all local
land managers. Another agenda item was that of Local Area
Agreements and these were being pushed forward as a means of
engaging with the local authorities to identify funds for access
schemes.
203 ENGLAND ACCESS FORUM - Minutes of the
meeting of the England Access Forum held on 11 March 2009, were
circulated at the meeting.
H Armstrong explained the cyclical nature of the England,
Regional and Local Access Fora, enabling feedback between each.
204 FORUM MEMBERSHIP - The Forum secretary
informed the meeting that an advertisement had been featured in the
council's Direct magazine and local newspaper. Two
application forms had been sent out and one had so far been
returned. The closing date was 5 May 2009.
It was agreed - That the appointment process be
gone through for new member(s).
205 ANY OTHER BUSINESS -
F Ross informed the meeting that she would publicise the Access
Forum at an Open Gardens event in Whitton during the summer.
H Armstrong raised the issue of wind turbines and questioned
whether the Forum should be consulted, particularly when
construction and transportation of materials had an effect on
Rights of Way. Assurance was given that the council's
Development Control, and Environment teams would be aware of, and
would monitor all such issues.
It was agreed - That wind farms be a future
agenda item.
206 DATES AND TIMES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
It was agreed - Future meeting dates be set as
23 September 2009, 27 January 2010 and 19 May 2010.
