WLAF 63

WREXHAM LOCAL ACCESS FORUM

Minutes of the Sixty third meeting held on Friday 1st July 2016 at Alyn Waters Country Park,

01/11 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES

Attendance:

SECRETARY: Caroline Selby (CS)

CHAIR: Tim Stratton (TS)

MEMBERS: Penelope Coles (PC) Mabyn Pickering (MP) Mike Crawshaw (MC) Gerald Moss (GM) Bill Stephens (BS) Edward Wardle (EW) Martin Howorth (MH)

NON-MEMBERS: Sean Hanratty (SH) WCBC Alun Price (AP) Natural Resources

Apologies: Sharron Jones Cllr. David Bithell Sion Roberts

TS welcomed everyone to the meeting.

02/11 CHAIRS REPORT

I attended the meeting of Flintshire LAF held in March re Cadwyn application. Jean Rosenfeld has resigned form Flintshire LAF and National

1 LAF due to ill health. TS has forwarded all the relevant information to Flintshire LAF vice chair, but there has been no response to date.

MP reported that two weeks ago, she had attended a meeting of Cadwyn Clwyd and asked a question regarding funding, as the Referendum was taking place on 23rd June 2016. The reply was that the members were of the opinion that the funding from Europe was guaranteed until 2021.

TS was elected Deputy Chair of the LAF Chairs with John Morgan, Ceredigion, elected as Chair. TS was congratulated.

03/11 SECRETARY’S REPORT

Since the last meeting I have typed and circulated documents and information

• Agenda • Minutes • Information received re meetings, papers, inc. National LAF, LAF Chairs, etc

Contacted by letter, email or telephone • Alyn Waters Country Park re booking • and Flintshire LAFs • Aled Jones NFU re membership

Circulated information re • Active Travel Maps / paper • Outdoor North Wales Forum • It Feels Like Spring • Pop Up Adventure • Rights of Way report • LAF Conference • National Representative and LAF Work Programme • NRW Advice on ROWIP Guidance • LAF National and Deputy Representatives inc. applications and election results • Trail Users Code Consultation • North Wales Wildlife Trust

I have received copies of the following:

• Public Footpath Broughton 21,23 and 49, Gwersyllt 18 and 44 Public Path Diversion Order 2015

• Llansantffraid 10 Public Path Diversion Order 2016

2 • Public Footpath Willington No. 23 in the of Willington – Worthenbury Public Path Diversion Order 2015

• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – County Borough Council ( 76) Map Modification Order 2014 – Order confirmed

04/11 WELSH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS

TS - would it be appropriate to invite Lesley Griffiths, A.M., to attend a meeting In her capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs?

MH – yes, but there would need to be a suitable agenda. Possibly the Green Paper or ROWIP.

MH – ROWIP, in the autumn, the Welsh Government require what is proposed for the next two years. This will include the Conditions Survey to be undertaken and how much it would cost to bring up to standard, along with Easy Access Performance Indicators. A draft will be drawn up and circulated to LAF members for comments.

TS – Does the survey look at accessibility issues?

MH – It looks at the conditions and costs to bring up to standard. Users and aspirations will be looked at a later date.

GM – What proportion of Rights of Way are bridleways?

SH – 58km

TS – some is tarmacked road so from a rider’s pint of view it is less than 58km.

GM – restricted by ways?

SH – none.

GM – BOATS?

SH – 7km

GM – UCRS?

SH – a matter for the Highways Department.

MH – the issue will be funding and the number of staff. A summary of the last

3 ROWIP will be included.

GM – will statutory obligations take priority?

MH – yes, priorities re enforcement and maintenance are being looked at. The input of WCBC members will also need to be considered.

ACTION:

MH to draw up and circulate draft ROWIP to members.

05/11 ROWIP

ROWIP funding, approx. £35,000 has been received – to be spent on priorities and the survey.

MH – what will the Welsh Government view be especially as funding may cease? Money was given ten years ago and is part of the settlement. ROWIP will be produced as it is a legal requirement and it will be worked to, as long as the funding allows.

TS – draft guidance was issued due to there being no Cabinet Secretary at the time. How much does MH think it might change?

MH – it seems to be the final document but I don’t know if it will be affected by the Green paper.

AP – I will ask Carys if this is the final document.

TS – there were two members from Anglesey at the last Bridleways meeting and they were very complimentary on the website as routes available are clearly stated and shown.

TS – does ROWIP include online services?

MH – yes, this is in the scope of ROWIP but is dependent on funding as statutory obligations are funded first.

MH – a future drive might be encouraging the use of Rights of Way by more people.

TS – the information is good, once it is located on the website.

4 MH – it may be that the WCBC website might signpost or that other organisations have the information on their websites.

MC – volunteers could be used but need to be careful re the state of paths.

MH – to be considered.

BS – I have removed some branches, etc. when these have caused an obstruction.

MH – there is a need to be careful.

TS - Anglesey comments included that there are some dangers / problems re 4 x 4s.

TS – there is a group of people who are prepared to volunteer. BHS has some insurance cover in place re volunteers.

TS – how do we stand in regard to removing branches and hedges on highways?

MC – contact the local council.

MH – contact Street Scene. Also the landowner’s permissions is needed.

GM – if using A Right of Way, then you are entitled to remove an obstruction e.g. a branch.

ACTION:

AP to contact Carys Drew re status of document.

06/11 NATURAL RESOURCES WALES

AP asked for questions.

MP – Query re the ratio of staff to Trustees and the morale of NRW.

AP – there was a questionnaire for internal staff re staff morale. The morale has plateaued. The mind-set continues to alter as the three organisations gel into one. Numbers of staff will be reduced over the coming years. Good work is continuing. Also improvements have been made and this will continue.

BS – are there any plans for future work on the Berwyns?

AP - Not that I am aware of. Funding is an issue.

5 MC – it would appear that motorised groups using the area have heard when the police will be there and fewer vehicles come at those times.

BS – the condition of tracks is continuously deteriorating.

MC – Section 15 and Glastir are mandatory so landowners can be prosecuted but there are no prosecutions due to damage caused by vehicles.

TS – ROWIP online access, mapping, etc. – when NRW was first suggested it was suggested that one organisation might be dominant. Now Access is difficult to find on NRW’s website. Outdoor Wales information is difficult to find as well. Does NRW have anything to say in this context? Should we be looking for improvements?

AP – I have asked internally and am hopeful that improvements will be made. I will ask again and report back.

GM – ramblers are also finding difficulty accessing maps and the quality is often not good.

MH – the Educational Environmental Team has been disbanded.

AP – Education officer posts, predominantly in Forestry, have been discontinued.

TS – is NRW going to take a similar approach i.e. that if horse riders want to find information then they have to provide it themselves?

AP – many public organisations have a central desk for information rather than asking someone who has more knowledge.

AP – NRW was set up to save £150 million in ten years.

ACTION:

AP to ask about improvements to website.

07/11 MODIFICATION ORDERS UPDATE

SH circulated a paper with updated information.

Current cases as of 01 July 2016

MODIFICATION ORDERS

Cefn 54 to 70

6 Decision made to make order to add footpath to definitive map and statement. Order to be drafted. Order sent to Legal for making/sealing. Order made, objection period ends 27 February. Objections received. Order sent to Planning Inspectorate requesting confirmation. Public inquiry scheduled for 10 May 2016. Inspector confirmed the order – notice of confirmation requires advertising

Glyn Ceiriog 11

Investigation report sent out. Decision meeting held – further decision meeting required.

Legacy

Investigation to be carried out and report written.

DIVERSIONS

Broughton footpath 50 Consultation completed - order requires drafting. Order made – no objections. Developer to carry out works to bring the route up to a satisfactory standard, then order to be confirmed.

Llay 7 Waiting for Legal to make order. Order made – no objections. Developer to carry out works to bring the route up to a satisfactory standard, then order to be confirmed. Works completed – order to be confirmed.

Willington footpath 23

Decision made to make order to divert footpath out of Borderbrook School playground. Order made – no objections. Order requires confirmation. Order confirmed.

Moss Valley Golf Club

Waiting for legal to make order. Order made – no objections. Order requires confirmation. Confirmation being advertised 09 March 2016. Order confirmed.

Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog 10

Order made – objection received. Waiting for objector to withdraw objection in writing.

Minera 29

Consultation letters sent out to user groups, statutory undertakers, etc.

Brymbo 89

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Consultation completed. Waiting for order to be made.

MP – I contacted Nicola Holmwood to congratulate her on how much work she had undertaken re Legacy Modification Order.

TS – scope of Legacy?

SH – the application is for a footpath so I will investigate and then proceed.

TS – I receive emails from WCBC re planning applications. Re the / Monsanto development – this site comes under ROWIP and LDP guidance e.g. RoW, footpaths, railway lines, cycle paths, etc. TS and SJ met with the Planner re access. The Planner said that access was not thought of in terms of RoW just tarmac access.

SH – Planning have not contacted me re this site.

SH – suggest TS puts forward a suggestion for a bridleway and sends it to me. I can then investigate and pursue.

TS – DMMO workload – is this reducing?

SH – approx.. 20 at present. Some are from 2005 and 2008 so the backlog is reducing slowly.

MP – 17 – I will contact SH about this.

ACTION:

TS to send suggestion for bridleway to SH. SH to investigate and pursue.

08/11 ACCESS RANGERS REPORT

The usual work is continuing. There have been more complaints this year re grass growing.

MH said that if there are any queries then either contact SR direct or via CS.

09/12 MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 26th FEBRUARY 2016

8 There being no corrections, the minutes were proposed by Bill Stephens, seconded by Pene Coles, agreed as an accurate record and signed by the chair.

10/11 MATTERS ARISING

a) DH sent the email maps and CS forwarded to members. b) CS to contact SR re signage at 10.

c) BS contacted Flintshire re the route to Bwlchgwyn. It is hoped to have this route opened by September. Walkers are going to fund a sticker to promote the route, Bwlchgwyn to Pontcysyllte. This is a popular route with participants of the Wrexham Walking festival. The route will be walked again. BS thanked Matt Taylor for all his help.

d) TS asked if BS and his group have any connections with dog walking groups. BS – none.

e) Hafod Bank and Esclusham – the route has been walked and fences are either not in place or are not secure. The condition of their section has been reported to Network Rail by the Clerk to Esclusham Community Council.

f) Meeting with horse riders – CS to ask SJ if the meeting has taken place or if it should be carried forward.

g) NFU representative – emails have been sent.

All other actions from the meeting were undertaken.

ACTION:

CS to contact SR re signage at Bettisfield 10. CS to contact SJ re meeting with horse riders.

11/11 ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA

a) ROWIP – November meeting.

b) Members were asked to bring suggestions for Lesley Griffiths, A.M. Suggestions made at the meeting were: • Relationship between Green Paper and ROWIP • Specific areas / problems e.g. Ceiriog Valley. It was suggested that clips from You Tube could be used to illustrate the problems of vehicles using and abusing tracks in the Ceiriog Valley.

9 • Photographs could also be taken to illustrate points. BS offered to obtain photographs.

c) Suggestions could also be sent to CS prior to the meeting.

d) CS to contact Carys Drew re procedure to contact Lesley Griffiths, A.M.

ACTION:

Members to being suggestions to meeting re Lesley Griffiths, A.M. or send to CS. BS to obtain photographs. Members to source You Tube clips re Ceiriog Valley. CS contact CD re Lesley Griffiths, A.M. CS to contact Lesley Griffiths, A.M.

12/11 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None given.

13/11 NEXT MEETING

Date – Friday 2nd September 2016 Venue – Nant Mill Time – 10 am

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