Agenda and minutes

Venue: Function Room, Fifth Floor, Easthampstead House, Town Square, Bracknell. View directions

Contact: Emma Young  01344 352269

Items
No. Item

72.

Welcome

Minutes:

The chairman welcomed members of the Local Countryside Access Forum to the meeting.

73.

Minutes of Last Meeting and Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of 10 October 2018 were approved as a correct record.

 

Arising from the minutes, the following matters were discussed:

  • Rose Wicks confirmed the majority of RoWIP actions were completed
  • Graham would update the Forum regarding proposals for housing consultations to be brought to the forum.
  • Graham would also set up a visit to the new SANG at the TRL site.
  • It was questioned whether there was an update on a request for a new cycle path parallel to Old Wokingham Road and it was confirmed that there was no update at this time.
  • Forum members were asked to note the future meeting dates.

 

74.

New ROWIP2 pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Rose Wicks reported to the Forum on the new RoWIP2 which had been approved by Council on 19 December 2017. The report was well liked by both Natural England and local Councillors and the Forum were thanked for their input into the new plan.

 

The report was currently being put into a vibrant and attractive design so it could be updated on the Bracknell Forest Council website. It was requested that anyone with pictures of people walking/in wheelchairs, horse riding or cycling in the borough if they could be sent to Rose Wicks they would be included in the report. It was suggested that Ian Harvey-Brown, who was a previous winner of the photographic competition, may have some suitable pictures.

(Action: Rose Wicks to source photos for the new RoWIP with help from LCAF)

 

An official launch of the RoWIP2 was proposed with a local press release including photographs and further opportunities to promote the work of the LCAF.

 

It was noted that LCAF meetings should be used to review progress made with some of the actions (particularly those that might prove more difficult to deliver) and Forum members were encouraged to identify areas they had progressed and to report back to the group. Cooperation between partners and LCAF members was highlighted as an important aspect of delivering the RoWIP2 actions.

 

Concerns were raised by some LCAF members about the number of actions in the RoWIP2 and whether they’d be achievable in the 10-year timeframe. It was suggested that the large number of actions was partly due to the remit of the plan having been opened up to focus on other forms of outdoor access including SANGs and sustainable transport links. This was in response to feedback received from LCAF during the consultation phase of the RoWIP2 production. It was felt positively by BFC that many of the actions could be accomplished, but that they’d need the support of LCAF and other key partners to do so.

 

Cycling routes and Links (Policy 3) and Sustainable benefits (Policy 7).

Phillip Burke presented an update on Cycling routes and Links (Policy 3) and Sustainable benefits (Policy 7). A cycling routes map was circulated to members. The key points raised from the presentation were:

·         Many routes were shared between cyclists and pedestrians.

·         Cycling routes around the town centre were particularly good however improvements needed to be made in areas such as to the north of the borough

·         Particular focus was on linking origins and destinations for employment, education and leisure.

·         Links to new housing estates were also a priority.

·         Less cyclepaths in Crowthorne and Sandhurst and challenging to establish new ones as there is less land owned by the Borough Council.

·         At the feasibility stage for lots of new schemes.

·         Broadmoor estate to be linked to College Town and the Meadows.

·         TRL to Crowthorne train station, High Street and Sandhurst.

·         Where a cycleway cannot be established, will look to carry out improvements to road safety.

·         Parish and Town councils had been consulted on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

75.

PROW and Local Developments

Minutes:

It was noted that updates on developments at TRL, Amen Corner North and South, Cabbage Hill and Warfield SPD, had already been given to LCAF by BFC.

 

It was reported that Cabbage Hill car park was always full and was well liked by residents. The area had nice pathways and circular routes.

 

Graham would provide an update at the next meting on the Broadmoor SANG

(Action: Graham)

 

It was suggested that the access routes to Frost Folly would be an area of interest for a future site visit.

 

76.

Membership and Recruitment

Minutes:

Promoting membership to LCAF is part of RoWIP Policy 9 Raise Strategic Profile.

 

Rose had new membership leaflets and forum members were encouraged to take and distribute to anyone interested.

 

It was reported that a Facebook post advertising LCAF had also been posted.

 

The new BFC website had also been updated with the LCAF details and was now much more accessible than previously.

 

77.

Reports from Meetings and Site Visits

LAF Chairs Meeting

Minutes:

LAF Chairs meeting

Attendance at these meetings is part of RoWIP Policy 8 Working in Partnership.

 

The chairman gave an update on the LAF Chairs Meeting. They key points from the meeting were:

  • The Mid and West Berks Chairman was concerned about the affect of Brexit on RoW as land owners currently received a premium from the European Union for having a RoW on their land.
  • A positive response had been received from MP’s regarding RoW issues which may occur following Brexit however a commitment had not yet been reached.
  • The Natural and Rural Communities Act
  • Plans had been proposed to close railway level crossings which are unmanned and were generally being replaced with bridges. It was noted that the only unmanned railway crossing in Bracknell had very good visibility so it wasn’t thought that a bridge would be required.
  • Future training may be conducted on finding lost RoW which may be of interest to Forum members. It was acknowledged there may not be many in Berkshire but Hampshire would have some.
  • It was noted that the path next to Longhill Park,which may have been a lost RoW, had actually been designated as a Public Footpath (RoW) and this information needs to be added to the mapping records.

(Action: Rose Wicks)

  • Jubilee River in Maidenhead which diverts flood water currently had issues with access to the riverside and was being upgraded to a multiuser footpath.

 

 

78.

Annual Report

Minutes:

At the last meeting LCAF it was agreed not to produce an annual review form for 2017/18, as we had not been approached by Natural England to provide one.  Instead, emphasis was to be given on creating the calendar year annual report that gets uploaded to LCAFs page on BFCs website.

 

Since the meeting, NE had been in touch asking for a report if one was available. Forum members questioned the advantages of submitting a report to Natural England for last year, unless there was advantage to do so (e.g. benchmarking data). It was noted that the reports are uploaded to ‘Huddle’ for other LAFs to look at, but there’s no evidence to suggest that it would be used for data collection purposes.

 

It was agreed that LCAF should complete the standard, calendar year annual report for 2017 and provide this to NE.

 

The Bracknell Forest Annual report was hoped to be completed by 16 February 2018

(Action: Rose)

 

79.

Horizon Scanning

Minutes:

Forum members were reminded that any future agenda items could be sent to Rose after the meeting at Rose.Wicks@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

 

Suggested topics for future meetings were:

  • Looking at further development in Bracknell, especially in Northern Bracknell with regards to building across current RoW and opening up new RoW especially to give residents access to the north of Bracknell.
  • An update on the transformation review of BFC Parks & Countryside and how this might affect management of PRoW, recreation and open spaces.

 

80.

AOB

Minutes:

Colin Bird

It was noted that more details about the developments in the warfield northern arc development would be appreciated as well as increased involvement by LCAF in looking at the impact of development.

Masterplan in area 1 for the SPD is reaching the point of being approved - Maise Lane through to Priory Lane.

 

Hugh Fitzwilliams

A request was made to visit the 2 new SANGS at Weller’s Lane in June 2020 to view the progress.

 

Jenny Yung

Jenny fed back to the forum that she found the site visits very enjoyable and informative and looks forward to participating in more of them.

 

It was noted by LCAF that central Bracknell was increasingly hostile for horse riders and the places to keep horse were diminishing. It was noted that Wokingham had the same problem. It was questioned whether horse riding could be promoted more and whether a joint venture with Maidenhead could be established. Horses were no longer allowed in Swinley Forest which was a concern.

 

 

Richard Elsbury

It was noted that google maps detailed lots of walking routes available in Bracknell and this was a useful tool for walkers and cyclists. Members of the public could also upload points of interest and photographs.

 

Cllr Brossard

It was confirmed that the local plan had been voted through for consultation. 23 sites were detailed on the plan and individual Forum members could respond to the recommendations proposed. It would also benefit LCAF to do a general response to the plan, as it would help further raise the profile of the forum.

 

(Action: Emma to send link to Local plan)

 

 

81.

Public Question Time

(Maximum 10 Minutes)

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

82.

Date of Next Meeting

28 June 2018

11 October 2018

 

Minutes:

The dates of the next meetings would be:

26 June 2018

2 October 2018

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk