The minutes of the last meeting of the Forum
held on 11 June 2019 were approved as a correct record.
The action points from the minutes were
reviewed and updates noted as follows:
- The Chair had been
provided with a contact at TRL with a view to arranging a visit to
the Bucklers Forest SANG. Members
expressed an interest in attending but it was agreed this would be
more suitably held on a lighter evening, say late Spring
2020. It was further suggested that a
visit be arranged to the Blue Mountain site, where there was some
concern as to the open space that had been created by the
developer.
(Action: Chair)
- Work on the mapping
of path furniture was in abeyance while Rose remained on secondment
but would be resumed when she returned to Parks and
Countryside.
(Action: Rose Wicks – in due course)
- Although work on the
circulation and maintenance of a spreadsheet to hold all
suggestions for the creation of new routes and recreational links
had not progressed, it was nevertheless requested that a simple
programme of suggested routes be drawn up. This would facilitate suggestions being brought
forward for consideration as and when
appropriate/practical. Richard Mosses
had four suggestions for routes, two of which were referred to: a
pedestrian route alongside Lower Church Road and then directly into
Horseshoe Lake SANG and a route for the proposed new SANG in
Warfield, (currently the subject of a planning application).
(Action: Graham Pockett)
- The work carried out
by Rose to give greater publicity around new SANGS opening and the
public access to them was appreciated.
There was an ongoing need to keep website news items updated and
make regular use of social media to reinforce this message.
(Action: Rose Wicks – in due course)
- David Warren repeated
his offer on behalf of the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) about
possible assistance with clearing overgrown byways and resurfacing
works and agreed to liaise with Rob Solomon about this.
(Action: David Warren and Rob Solomon)
- Jenny Yung offered to
identify a local representative of the British Horse Society with
whom David Warren could liaise about local routes and events.
(Action: Jenny Yung and David Warren)
- Graham Pockett
reported that he had been unable to find any reason why the
Horseshoe Lake bridleway was not included on the Definitive
Map. Since it was on land owned by the
Council there was no danger of the route being lost and its status
as a permitted route was assured.
However, it would be possible to make a Creation Agreement in
respect of the bridleway.
(Action: Graham Pockett – for future consideration)
- The suggestion under
‘Routes and Links’ for compiling a series of short,
accessible circular routes with no obstacles and accessible
surfaces had not progressed. The Chair
agreed to take this forward with other volunteers, building on the
suggestion that the routes be graded, such as fully accessible,
accessible with assistance etc. so as to be most helpful to
potential users.
(Action: Chair with Hugh Fitzwilliams,
David Warren, Simon Yates and Jenny Yung)
- Details of the Nordic
Walking programme and the Bracknell Forest Society’s
‘Week of Walks’ had been published on the website,
social media, etc. as requested.
- With reference to
Working in Partnership, some dates of neighbouring LCAF meetings
were reported later in the agenda. It
was understood that the Slough LCAF was possibly not active at
present. Efforts to revive the regional
meeting with the Chairs of LAFs would be renewed with an offer from
Bracknell Forest to host the meeting.
(Action: Graham Pockett)
- Little had changed
since the report to the last meeting about the proposals for
upgraded facilities at Horseshoe Lake Country Park. A ‘Pre-App’ had been submitted for
consideration by Planning Officers, in advance of the planning
application which would be submitted in due course for
determination by the Planning Committee. While there was expected to be some local
opposition to the proposals, there was also a lot of
support. The Council’s website
contained details of the latest position.
- Hugh Fitzwilliams had led the site visit to the Frost
Folly Park SANG which had been much appreciated by members.
- The Annual Report had
now been drafted and would shortly be circulated for comments.
- With regard to access
from the south to the additional SANG at Wellers Lane, an
illustrative plan showing how this could be provided was
presented. It wouldn’t be
possible to progress this until all the land was within Council
ownership. The timescale for this was
not fixed but it was likely to be a phased transfer of land over
time.
(Action: Graham Pockett – at the appropriate time)