Any Other Business
Minutes:
Regarding the action from the last meeting to follow up with Thames Water around the proposed path between Cabbage Hill and Hazelwood Lane, Colin Bird updated that he had asked for a progress report but just received a response that the officer was on leave. Colin Bird also sent a reminder last week but has not heard back. The forum felt that the path would be a useful addition and there was no other use for the land, so suggested to keep chasing.
Action: Colin Bird to continue to chase up Thames Water for a response.
Rob Solomon advised that he had been liaising with a colleague from BFC who works with the Business Improvement District (BID). The BID has some funding for improvements and BFC was looking at some surface and signing improvements to the southern end of Bracknell 26 and at Bracknell 6A at Longshot Lane. BFC have had approval in terms of cost. The path was due to be installed as Cotswold gravel path and it was also expected that there would be some vegetation clearance. The improvements were expected to start before the end of the year. Graham Pockett added that they have produced a leaflet detailing a circular route for the businesspeople who use the site, and incorporated directional footpath signs in new fingerposts.
Geoff Paxton shared that the barbed wire fence at Sandy Lane in North Ascot was broken and there have been issues of dogs and children running into it as it is concealed. The forum discussed where barbed wire was permitted along rights of way. Where barbed wire was needed, such as stock-proofing, the recommendation is to place it on the field-facing side of the fence, away from the public using the right of way. In this instance the barbed wire wasn’t along the line of the restricted byway, which meant that there’s little BFC could do under the Highways Act to challenge its use. Colin Bird asked whether there were grounds for a statement of public hazard or whether it was technically trespassing as it was not a public access.
Action: Graham Pockett to read the relevant section in The Highways Act and report back if that is of any use.