Northumberland Rights of way improvement plan county services Copyright Gavin Duthie/ Northumberland Coast AONB 1 Executive member’s foreword As Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Northumberland. I believe that Northumberland has some of the finest landscapes in the country and rights of way provide the best means to explore and appreciate them. Our rights of way also provide opportunities for people to exercise, relax and enjoy our County’s unique cultural heritage. Whether you are a visitor to Northumberland, or a resident, our rights of way network can help you to enjoy Northumberland’s countryside. For the public to get the most from the network of public rights of way requires that they are available and fit to use. Also, they need as far as possible to meet modern demands for recreation. This is a challenge, especially as much of the network evolved to serve the purposes of local people who lived and worked in the countryside. Helping to meet the challenge is the purpose of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan. It aims to make the network fit for people’s needs by setting out policies and a programme of action. It recognises that the Council, working in partnership with other key partners, need to make practical improvements which reflect the needs and expectations of both existing and potential users. Councillor Bill Brooks Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration 2 county services 2 3 Northumberland Rights of Way Improvement Plan 1. Introduction 5 5. Managing the Network 17 Through Partnership Action 2. A Vision for Northumberland’s 6 Key Strategic Objective 17 Public Rights of Way 6. Area Assessments 21 3. The Existing Network, 6 1. Northumberland National Park 21 its Legal Status and Condition 2. North Pennines 22 Key Strategic Objective 6 (including the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Introduction 6 3. Coastal Plain 24 (including the Northumberland Coast AONB) The Rights of Way Network 6 4. Urban Fringe 25 Permissive Routes 7 5. Sandstone Hills, Tweed, Till and Coquet Valleys 26 Access to Open Country and Common Land 7 6. Mid Northumberland, the Tyne Valley and Border Forest 27 Other Public Open Space 7 Legal Status of the rights of way network 8 Condition of the rights of way network 9 7. Implementing and Resourcing 29 the Northumberland Rights of 4. The Needs of Users 12 Way Improvement Plan and Access For All Identifying the resources for implementation 29 Key Strategic Objectives 12 The Statement of Action 29 Introduction 12 Section 3: The Existing Network, its Legal Status and Condition 30 The Needs of Users 12 Section 4: The Needs of Users and Access for All 35 The importance of countryside on your doorstep 12 Health and well being 12 Appendix 1: 41 Tourism, leisure and public rights of way 12 Framework for processing Definitive Map Modification Orders and accepting Dedication or Creation Agreements Current usage of the network 13 Utilitarian journeys 13 Appendix 2: 42 Recreational walking 14 Best Value Performance Indicator Returns 2006/07 Recreational cycling 14 Appendix 3: 43 Horse riders and carriage drivers 14 A Framework for the Management of Byways Open to All Traffic Off road motor vehicle users 14 Appendix 4: 44 Access for All 14 Rights of Way – An Accord between Northumberland Facilitating countryside access for people 14 County Council and Northumberland National Park Authority with mobility difficulties Developing user confidence to support 15 health and well being Transport 15 Publicity and promotion 15 IF YOU REQUIRE THIS DOCUMENT IN LARGE PRINT OR AN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT PLEASE CONTACT DAVID BROOKES ON 01670 534072. 4 county services 1. Northumberland Rights of Way Improvement Plan Introduction The Northumberland County and National Park Joint Structure Plan 1.1 Northumberland has an extensive and varied network of public rights of way, permissive access and access land which together 1.7 The Structure Plan is the document that guides future provide: development and the use of land and environmental protection within Northumberland. It contains a policy to support the • Opportunities for physical, recreational and sporting activity recording and maintenance of public rights of way and the • Opportunities to enhance personal well being and health creation of recreational routes based on the network. • Access to services, school and work without using a car • Support for the tourism industry and local businesses A Sustainable Community Strategy for • A local educational and cultural resource. Northumberland to 2021 1.2 Northumberland’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) seeks to ensure that such benefits are delivered to the widest possible 1.8 The Sustainable Community Strategy seeks to ensure that range of groups and individuals. everyone in Northumberland has the same life opportunities, is broadly satisfied with the quality of their lives and is able to influence decisions that affect them. To achieve this vision is a recognition that we must care for our environment which includes the network of public rights of way, cycleways, country parks and What is a Rights Of Way outdoor recreation sites. Improvement Plan? 1.3 The requirement for the Council to prepare a RoWIP is contained in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act). How was the RoWIP prepared? The CROW Act specifies that a RoWIP should cover three main areas: 1.9 The RoWIP was prepared in partnership with the Northumberland National Park and Countryside Joint Local Access Forum (LAF). • The extent to which local rights of way meet present and likely The Forum has an advisory role in strategic access and recreation future needs of the public issues. It acts as statutory advisor to the County Council, National • The opportunities presented by local rights of way for exercise Park Authority and to other bodies on the improvement of public and other forms of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of access to land in the County for recreation and enjoyment. the authority’s area with particular emphasis on footpaths, Members of the forum include representatives of users of rights of cycle tracks, bridleways and restricted byways way, landowners and other relevant interests. During the course of the preparation of the plan the LAF has • The accessibility of the local rights of way network to blind or offered constructive comments. partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems. 1.10 The Local Access Forum will continue to be involved in advising 1.4 The RoWIP for Northumberland provides an opportunity for the upon and monitoring the implementation of the RoWIP. Council, its partners and the public to consider the role of the rights of way network in the 21st century and to establish the 1.11 Consultation has been undertaken with user groups, landowner means by which this may be achieved. representatives, parish and district councils and members of the public. Consultation has been supplemented by research into the use and demand for public rights of way by residents of the county, day visitors and tourists. How does the RoWIP relate to other 1.12 The results of the consultation and research have fed into the preparation of the final plan which seeks to meet the needs and plans and strategies? expectations of all parties with an interest in the County’s network of rights of way. 1.5 The RoWIP provides an overview of public rights of way in Northumberland and sets out strategic objectives, policies and actions to improve access for the public and landowners. Other plans and strategies can help to fulfil the strategic objectives of the RoWIP and include: Northumberland Local Transport Plan 2006-11. 1.6 The Local Transport Plan seeks to deliver within four priority areas: • Reducing congestion • Producing safer roads • Delivering better air quality and • Creating improvements to accessibility. The public rights of way network provides the means to deliver some of these priorities and opportunities for funding and the delivery of shared actions will be identified annually. 5 2. A Vision for Northumberland’s Public Rights of Way 2.1 The requirement to produce a RoWIP gives the Council a new 2.2 Based on the assessment of the network and the needs of impetus to work with partners to develop a strategic approach to users, Northumberland County Council will adopt four strategic the rights of way network to ensure it meets the needs of residents objectives: and visitors in the 21st century. Our vision is to manage and maintain a public rights of way network in Northumberland which: • Ensure the network of public rights of way in Northumberland meets present and future needs, is accurately recorded and in “Enables the public’s use of rights of way for a condition which enables legal use recreation and purposeful journeys as well • Identify and implement improvements to the rights of way network which will enhance its role in providing for as promoting wider countryside access and the recreational, health and transport requirements of all contributing to the social and economic well being Northumberland’s residents and visitors of residents of the County and the health and • Enhance the range, type and accessibility of information enjoyment of its local communities and visitors” available about Northumberland’s rights of way network for local people and visitors • Work in partnership with interest groups to manage, enhance and promote the rights of way network. 3. The Existing Network, its Legal Status and Condition 3.3 For those who wish to use and enjoy this extensive network of Key Strategic Objective public rights of way these problems need to be addressed. Work is Ensure the network of public rights of way in Northumberland meets required to ensure that public rights of way are properly recorded present and future needs, is accurately recorded and in a condition and available to use.