Minutes:
Attendees were advised that the definitive map consolidation had been a major exercise for the team. This was a legal record of public rights of way for the area it covered. It would be kept and maintained by the relevant local highway authority. It listed all the bridleways, footpaths, byways and restricted byways. It had last been consolidated over a decade ago.
Maps would be accessible via the website and copies available at Times Square. Online, they would be in a similar format to how they are currently provided, with PDF copies of the maps and statement available to view and download. The map pages would be spilt into 8 sections. An interactive rights of way map was also available for the public to view from the council’s website. Whilst this was up-to-date, it wasn’t the legal record of rights of way.
A member raised the point about how Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) were important components of outdoor access. While they wouldn’t qualify for including on the Definitive Map, as they were not rights of way, they did feature heavily in the rights of way improvement plan.
(Action: BFC to arrange for a link to be put on the Councils’ definitive map web page, to the SANGs page where people could find further information).
It was noted that the information from the list went onto the Ordinance Survey so was very valuable resource.
Specific updates:
Mosses Path
As raised previously, there had been discussion about the creation of a formal public footpath (right of way) along the permissive Mosses Path route. The Council had made some improvements to the path surface using Section 106 developer funding. This would make the path more accessible and clearly defined. The council was in the process of drawing up the required legal paperwork, which included a dedication agreement and the modification order.
(Action: BFC to bring an update to the next meeting)
Binfield bridleway deletion
Officers were working to process the extinguishment of a short section of redundant bridleway in Binfield. Binfield BR23a was unused, as it met a dead-end with the M4 motorway. It was a condition of Binfield Parish Council that the footpath dedication would help to offset the loss of rights of way in the parish, caused by the bridleway deletion. It made sense therefore to prioritise the footpath creation first.
Sheila asked about dedications of a footpath and if there was any sort of opening ceremony planned. This was something officers would consider when the process to add the footpath has been completed. LCAF members expressed interest in being involved in such an event. This would also help to evidence path use, which was required as part of the legal process used to dedicate the footpath.
(Action: BFC to follow-up)
Winkfield Footpaths 19 and 13
Officers updated members on recent steps taken to resolve this long-running issue about the diversion of public footpaths across private land. BFC officers had met with the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (RCBPC) and their contractors, on site. They had agreed plans for taking this matter forward.
The proposed diversion is currently quite wet, muddy and rutted in places. There is an agreement with RPBC to surface the section from the junction with footpath7 with aggregate as well as improving some of the drainage to the adjacent ditch providing an improved, year round surface, as well as providing RBPC with necessary access to some of the north eastern horse paddocks. The middle section is along a main trackway, which is walkable and suitably surfaced. It does have shared use, but the traffic along there is very minor. Similarly, the southern section linking footpath 13 up to 19 is mainly along a surfaced track linked to across managed grassland. The northern section is across a grassed polo pitch and avoids cutting across the top corner of an existing playing pitch.
The western section of the diversion is within an existing and remaining works area. RPBC agreed to a smaller, shorter diversion route which will allow walkers to bypass the works area.
Works were agreed to be completed by May 2024 by the RBPC and that also included the marking of those routes, as well as a slight widening of a ditch crossing into the works area. Upon inspection in May officers would then be able to confirm the diversion order, making the path an official route. At this point the Polo Club would have to work with the Council to apply for a secondary smaller TTRO (temporary closure) for the remaining works area.
Having gone on for a long period of time, attendees agreed how lovely it would be to see this matter finally resolved.
(Action: BFC to continue to follow-up with RCBPC and to provide LCAF with an update at the next meeting)