TEES VALLEY LOCAL ACCESS FORUM ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17 Annual Report 2016-17

Chairman’s Report It could be that they consider we can are kept up-to-date with developments. function perfectly well without them, Regionally there had only been one but by June 2016 all Natural meeting of the Regional Chairs and north east Local Access Forum support, Vice Chairs following the removal of including Officer time was withdrawn support by Natural England, and it was from LAFs. A few weeks later I was clear we all share common interests, invited to meet the CE of Natural Eng- however a meeting for May 2017 is in land, James Cross, when he opened the the pipeline. section of the England Coast Path be- Nationally, we commented on the na- Appointing Authority Mem- tween North Yorkshire and Teesside on tional Walking and Cycling Strategy as bership: 21st July 2016. I was unable to attend, proposed by the DfT and also on the

Councillor Bob Carson but the TVLAF was represented by national Rural Tourism Survey. Borough Council Chris Scaife— it was a good day for access in the north east. This year saw the retirement of two Councillor Charles Rooney influential contributors. Malcolm Middlesbrough Council There has been some very positive de- Thompson from Darlington Borough Councillor Sylvia Tempest velopments on Teesside over the last Council worked hard to improve access Borough Council year; Officers from across the five Local both as a volunteer and as an Officer Authorities of Hartlepool, Darlington, and his retirement leaves a big hole in Councillor Michael Smith Stockton on Tees Borough Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and the expertise available to the volun- Council Redcar & Cleveland as part of the teers. Another key member, Deborah Combined Authority were successful at Jefferson retired in March 2017. Deb- drawing down sustainable transport orah managed Hartlepool Borough funding that will impact on cycling and Council’s Nature Reserves and she was walking across Teesside for years. also a keen member of the Forum and Chair of the Friends Group. Her infec- The Borough Councils of Stockton on tious enthusiasm and much-loved work Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and with volunteer groups has made an Inside the Annual Report: Darlington all continued to work enormous contribution to local public through their Local Plans and the vol- access in Hartlepool. unteers were consulted at every step. Middlesbrough Update 2 I would like to close by thanking the After a period of inactivity the Tees Officers and Members for their contin- Hartlepool Update 2 Valley Local Nature Partnership was re ued and valuable support, it’s been a -launched, with a revised brief. Whilst busy year! voluntary groups have not been in- Yvonne Ramage Darlington Update 2 cluded in the makeup of the LNP, we Chair

Stockton on Tees Update 3

Business of the Forum 3

Membership 5

Contacts 5

Seaton Dunes SSSi by James Cianciaruso TEES VALLEY LOCAL ACCESS FORUM ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17 Page 2

Middlesbrough Council Update

Stewart Williams has had Stewart has begun an ‘It’s an honour to open this another busy year, man- examination of the section of coast path near my aging and diverting via RoWIP for Middles- home town in Teesside. This legal orders the paths in brough and plans to in- route showcases the diversity of consultation with local clude the TVLAF in the our coastline, from the views developers at Rose Cot- discussion. over the expansive North York tage and Low Gill, and Moors and the winding streets st Local school children assisting managing the problem- On the 21 July 2016, of postcard-perfect villages to James Cross CEO Natural England atic access to a bridleway Natural England’s Chief our industrial heritage, and open the ECP in Middlesbrough around Rye Hill Farm, Executive, James Cross diverse wildlife all year round. where barriers have been stood on the Transporter We want people to enjoy ex- erected to prevent unau- Bridge and officially ploring all of this coast, using a thorised access and a opened the Teesside sec- high-quality, well-signposted counter to measure the tion of the England Coast route.’ numbers of legal users. Path and said:

Hartlepool Borough Council Update

Chris Scaife, Countryside Access Officer at Hartlepool Borough Council has managed a steady number of temporary closures and diversions throughout the year to meet walkers needs and developers plans. RoW management has been kept in house, and Local Transport Plan funding has allowed the resurfacement of paths including Hart to Crimdon, Seaton Walkway and at Springwell. A major project during the course of the year was the introduction of the Traffic Lights for Dogs (TLfD) project to North Brierton Farm, on behalf of one of the Vice Chairs of TVLAF, Rob Brown. TLfD got underway at the end of January 2017. It was a long time in development, but Chris, Rob and Beryl wanted to make sure that every- Chris Scaife and Rob Brown indicat- one who could have had a input, had the opportunity to do so; invites to the main ing the signage! meeting in the summer of 2016 included 12 interested groups. Consultation papers were circulated and amendments made on the advice of the Kennel Club, the NFU and the Hartlepool Police. The signage, paid for Hartlepool Police, was erected on the footpaths in each direction, as walkers approached the fields of permanent pasture and in lamb ewes. The press release was managed by the Hartlepool Borough Coun- cil. The project will be reviewed quarterly and to date appears to be working well.

Darlington Borough Council Update

In his last year in post before retirement, Malcolm Thompson Countryside Access Officer for Darlington Borough Council has made an enormous impression on RoW in Darlington; he has developed the scope of the latest access project delivery for the Phase 2 Bright Water HLF Landscape Partnership bid, the Teesdale Way access im- provements he began are underway, all the landowners he worked alongside agreed to replace stiles with gates in some 23 different locations. The permissive footpath at picturesque Hurworth, Middlesbrough FC’s training ground, along the banks of the is open and well used. He has managed diversions, obstructions and objec- tions in the same professional and calm manner, and his retirement is a great loss to both the TVLAF and the Darlington Borough Council. It is thanks to his tireless, but Malcolm Thompson good humoured work, that the Council have agreed his post be retained; Steve Petch as the new Countryside Access Officer will continue his good work! TEES VALLEY LOCAL ACCESS FORUM ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17 Page 3

Stockton on Tees Borough Council Update

Rob Morrow, the Officer responsible has been under construction when for PRoW at Stockton on Tees Bor- both funding and links allowed since ough Council, has had a tremendous 2011. year. Following the Secretary of State An innovative project, which first be- approval for the England Coast Path gan in Yorkshire (Framing the Land- in July 2016, work has commenced on scape) with artist Ashley Jackson is the ground, across the salt marshes of spreading to the Teesdale Way and Cowpen Bewley and along the Tees invites walkers to take a picture of South Stockton Greenway Scheme Road with the support of Hartlepool themselves in this iconic landscape Borough Council and Natural Eng- along the Teesdale Way route in Caption describing picture or graphic. land. Stockton using a framed backdrop The highlight of the year for Stockton which can then be promoted using on Tees was the construction and social media websites. The locations opening of the final section of the identified include Newport Bridge South Stockton Greenway Scheme in and along Chapel Hill (between Pre- October 2016 – a route from Hartburn ston Park and Queen Elizabeth Way) to Preston Park linking to the Castle which will include Roseberry Top- Eden Walkway and then up to Dur- ping as a setting. Peat Oberon, a local ham via Wynyard Woodland Park. blacksmith, has been given the task to The route is a traffic free footpath and make the metal frames.

Business of the Forum

The TVLAF held four meetings dur- December’s meeting in Darlington available. Despite changes in per- ing the course of the year; at June’s brought the meeting up-to-date with sonnel it is still a TVLAF ambition to meeting in the members an earlier request from Hartlepool get the site up and running as soon were introduced to the new Develop- Countryside Wardens to deal with as possible. ment Manager at River Tees Re- the enormous volume of dog waste discovered Tom Watson, where all bags being left on the dunes at Sea- The March 2017 in Hartlepool meet- discussion centred around how best ton Dunes, a SSSi. Local volunteer ing was the AGM, and Yvonne to promote the Teesdale Way. The groups were spending all their time Ramage was confirmed as Chair meeting also noted a strong message collecting dog waste bags and a with Mike Roff and Rob Brown as which had been sent by the TVLAF strongly worded letter was sent to Vice Chairs. to Brad Tooze, local General Manager the local newspaper by the Forum of Natural England requesting an asking dog walkers to take their rub- Andrew Best, Senior Access Advisor explanation for the complete with- bish to the nearest bin and remind- for Natural England addressed the drawal of support for the LAFs across ing them of their obligations. Hartle- AGM at Summerhill Country Park the north east. pool Borough Council agreed to step in Hartlepool and brought everyone June’s meeting also welcomed Paul up Enforcement Officers visits. up-to-date with the progress, on the Harman, a retired Darlington Bor- ground, of the ECP (England Coast ough Councillor as a new member. A common thread through each Path) from Sunderland to Middles- meeting has been the members inter- brough and across the country. An- September’s meeting in Hartlepool est in developing a Teesdale Way drew described Natural England’s included a TMT (a Ten Minute Train- website through the work of the RTR remit, and for the first time walkers ing) slot covering PSPO’s or Public team. Invites were sent to Durham , on the coast in the Tees Valley Fo- Spaces Protection Orders, delivered Redcar and Cleveland and North rum area, now have access to iconic by Chris Scaife which had a great Yorkshire LAFs and progress was wetlands, dramatic sea scapes and deal of relevance for the Forum made with these colleagues on con- wild beaches. members at North Brierton Farm. tent, support required and funding Membership of the Tees Valley Local Access Forum Countryside Access Contacts:

Middlesbrough Council Rob Brown worked to develop a local Tel:(01642) 728153 Rob farms on the outskirts of play area and pocket parks [email protected] Hartlepool and joined to help in Darlington. Stockton Tees Borough Council put the broader farming per- Tel:(01642) 526757 spective as regards RoW, and Deborah Jefferson [email protected] the experience of farming on Deborah headed the Hartle- the urban fringe. pool Borough Council Coun- Hartlepool Borough Council tryside Warden team, re- Tel:(01429) 523524 Fiona Campbell sponsible for the manage- [email protected] Fiona joined the TVLAF to ment of five nature reserves Darlington Borough Council assist in the development and in Hartlepool. She retired at Tel:(01325) 406640 improvement of access for the end of March 2017. [email protected] people of all abilities, as a voice for the disabled com- Yvonne Ramage munity. Yvonne balances her free time as a Voluntary Ranger and Mike Cherrett Conservation Volunteer for Mike is a member of Cleve- North York Moors National land Ramblers and a Foot- Park with being the Area Co- path Volunteer representing ordinator for Sustrans in the Stockton on Tees. Mike has Stockton on Tees area. served Stockton on Tees as a Councillor. David Reed David is a long term member Christine Corbett of the Ramblers and particu- With twenty years experience larly enjoys his work as a Walk in nature conservation and Leader taking members to ar- environmental education, eas of local interest and beauty. Deborah Jefferson at work! Chris now works as Commu- nity and Access Officer for Mike Roff the River Tees Re-discovered A retired Chartered Engineer, Tees Valley Local Access Forum Landscape Partnership. Mike is a keen walker and cy- Hartlepool Borough Council clist. His particular interest is Countryside and Heritage Team Robin Daniels to try to eliminate ‘missing Regeneration and Neighbourhoods As Head of Tees Archae- links’ in long distance paths Civic Centre ology, Robin has developed a and bikeways. Victoria Road service which promotes and Hartlepool encourages opportunities for Judith Underwood TS24 8AY people to become involved in Judith has worked in the envi- Tel: (01429) 523419 the heritage of the area. ronment sector for over 15 email: [email protected] years, working on physical en- Paul Harman vironmental improvements for If you would like to find out more Paul is a former Darlington Groundwork. about our work, please try our website Borough Councillor with a www.teesvalleylocalaccessforum.co.uk keen interest in water access, and as a volunteer has