Minutes:
Colin Bird commented that a lot of good work was being done to ‘facilitate’ access to parks and open spaces and PROW in the Borough; he asked what could be done to further publicise / promote access. This area could use some attention and a focus on what was trying to be achieved. Rose informed the Forum that promoting access to local routes / PROW / to outdoor recreation was an action included in the Right of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). The Parks and Countryside Service carry out this action by producing leaflets, website material, social media and press releases (working with BFCs Corporate Comms and Marketing Team). There was a new ‘What’s On in Bracknell’ page which was more tourism oriented and linked in to the work of BFC Services such as Leisure and Parks and Countryside. This could perhaps be utilised by BFC officers to help advertise the Forum’s work.
(Action: Rose Wicks)
Peter Radband suggested that the Forum could use Streetwise. Rose suggested that they could check how people heard about events so that more targeted publicity could be applied. The Parks and Countryside Service currently tried to engage with local businesses by involving them on Corporate Volunteer days. There was scope to perhaps to publicise events more to local schools.
David Lindop said that he had enjoyed his first meeting with the Forum.
Hugh Fitzwilliams mentioned the East-West Greenway. The first out of three phases was being built by Berkely Homes, from Cabbage Hill to Avery Lane, but Hugh was concerned that the concept was being diluted outside of this area and queried whether it should be designated as a Public Right of Way to protect for future use. Graham commented that they were currently in discussion with the Highways Team about tarmac and lighting for cyclists in this area. Another section further east would incorporate an existing bridleway. It was suggested that a representative from Berkeley Homes could attend the next meeting of the Forum.
John Deakin reported that there was a Windsor ABC (Ascot Bracknell Cycle) route proposal brought about by an online petition. The cycle route would link Windsor to Bracknell, for example at The Look Out. The Crown Estate were generally supportive of the idea but wished to segregate activities where possible on the route such as cycling, dog walking, horse riding and there were concerns regarding the steep gradient at certain points in the forest. The Crown Estate preferred the use of existing routes where possible rather than creating new ones.
Dan West, ranger at The Crown Estate, was undertaking work on an inventory and it was hoped that a report on this would be ready for the next Forum meeting in March 2016.
Permit arrangements for horse riding on Crown Estate land had changed. An annual permit was now required to ride on land at Windsor Great Park and Swinley Forest, which is payable to The Crown Estate. The horse box parking area had been closed at The Look Out due to pressure on spaces in this car park but there was new horse box provision in Swinley Park. Improvements had been made to the horse riding tracks and car park. The Crown Estate covered four different boroughs, and any feedback on these changes could be directed to John Deakin. The Lapland UK Christmas event would be at The Crown Estate this year and was being set up at present. Rose checked that the information in the horse riding leaflet provided by BFC was up to date given the changes mentioned above and John confirmed that it was.
Peter Radband mentioned that the café was due to be closed at The Look Out and that people were not sure what to expect in relation to new facilities at the site.
John Deakin commented that The Crown Estate was in discussions with BFC regarding the catering arrangements at The Look Out. BFC was unable to put in mobile catering without permission from The Crown Estate. A decision on this was pending and both sides were working hard to find a better solution.
Cllr Brossard reported that Bracknell had won the Green Flag Award again for Sandhurst Memorial Park and for the first time, Snaprails Park.
Jenny Yung commented that she had enjoyed the site visits and was pleased with the new arrangements regarding permits for horse riders at The Crown Estate. John said that people would be positioned on the gates to enforce the horse riding permits. Jenny said that she would be in favour of a cycle route from Windsor to Bracknell. Access for horse riders behind the car park had been unusable during the week.
The Chairman thanked Michael Abbott for his hard work as Chairman of the Local Countryside Access Forum in Bracknell.