Suffolk Local Access Forum
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Suffolk Local Access Forum Title: Agenda Meeting Date: 17 January 2008 Author/contact: Andrew Woodin 1. Welcome and apologies. 2. Minutes of last meeting (LAF 08/01). 3. Introduction of new members. 4. Bylth Estuary Draft Strategy. Michael Steen from Environment Agency to attend (LAF 08/02) 5. Onehouse – Chilton Way (LAF 08/03). 6. Correspondence – List of Streets, Lost Ways and National liaison between Natural England and Local Access Forums (LAF 08/04). 7. Tothill Junction (A14 NMU Audit) (LAF 08/05). 8. Ipswich Unitary Status Update (LAF 08/06). 9. Dates & Venues of Future Meetings. 10. Any Other Business. 11. Public question time. LAF 08/01 Suffolk Local Access Forum Title: Minutes Meeting Date: 17 January 2008 Author/Contact: Andrew Woodin Minutes of meeting held in Tranmer House, Sutton Hoo on Thursday 4 October 2007. Present: David Barker, Bryan Collen, Julie Craven, Gordon Merfield, John Pearson, (Chairman), Monica Pipe, Norman Southgate, Mike Taylor, John Wayman, Annette Whybrow, Anthony Wright. SCC Officers Present: Jill Christley (minutes), Catherine Osborne, Peter Tilley, and Andrew Woodin. 1. Welcome and apologies. Apologies: Angela Brown, Linda Hoggarth, Mark Timms, Bryan Freemantle, and Jane Midwood. 2. Minutes of Last Meeting (LAF 07/16). The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as an accurate record. No matters arising. 3. New members applications, resignation and re-election. Linda Hoggarth has resigned from the forum. Three more members are required to make up the required number. The vacancies have been advertised and six people have applied. Peter Tilley will retire at the end of November. 4. Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Draft management plan – Presentation by Simon Hooton AONB unit manager, SC&H (LAF 07/17). A management plan is required under the Countryside &and ROW Rights of Way Act &and is reviewed every 5 years, – with the latest review due in 2007. The draft plan is currently out to consultation. It tTried to bring together things partners &and the public want, andThe draft plan picks up on CCountryside Character, setting out a vision for 2030. The plan reviews plans, strategies and extend external priorities and sets out aims, objectives, outcomes and monitoring. LAF 08/01 Simon Hooton flagged up some key drivers to the new plan: - sustainable Sustainable development. – development makes a big difference eg. in the Haven Gateway area with 50,000 new homes in 20 years where will the new population go for recreation? - - interest Interest in rural delivery – balancing the needs of urban &and rural communities. - Climate change – the need to understand the behaviour of people who want to enjoy the AONB, and help them to understand their impact and responsibility. - Coastal management – with the coming of Coastal Access the public need to understand that the coast is a resource. - Influence of farming &and forestry. -Development makes a big difference particularly in the Haven Gateway area – 50,000 new homes in 20 years and where will the new population recreate. - ROWIP o Countryside access o Suffolk Partners - Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) - Adverse influences - eg litter, disturbance, pressure of use. Need to find ways of minimising adverse influences. - Tranquillity - AONB has to balance visitors &and tranquillity. - Transport o Trying to encourage use of bus &and train by visitors. o Important to work with local tourist businesses, eg. Connect scheme, to encourage sustainability. o Coast link service to Minsmere &and Dunwich – very popular. - Multiple management areas like the Sandlings need integrated approach. - All major walks need upgrading, Simon Hooton distributed ‘Snape Explorer’ leaflet and raised possibility of a walking festival in ‘shoulder’ seasons. - Try to build on AONB branding. May have ‘You are now in….’ signs. Current ROW finger posts help already. - Volunteer ranger projects encourage people to get involved. Simon Hooton concluded he would welcome SLAF’s response to the draft document and would also welcome to comments on the strategic environmental assessment. John Wayman – doesasked whether Simon Hooton thought there would Simon think there will be funding to achieve objectives? Simon Hooton responded that although money was tight he was relatively confident of finding funding. The AONB has connections with various organisations, and many sources of funding eg. Haven Gateway, Interreg, the National Lottery and Connect. DEFRA have contributed to the sustainable development fund. LAF 08/01 Relatively confident they’ll find funding. Bryan Collen –pointed out that f Funding from Europe was likely to diminish; – it may need be necessary to get more from the public. Simon Hooton – agreed that there was a need to change the psyche of the public and convince them that they may have to contribute more. Gordon Merfield expressed concern at the number of cars in the AONB and said that some people arewere worried concerned that car park charges are were not going into funding the facility being visited. (Peter Tilley joined the meeting) The Forum discussed the need for an improved cycling infrastructure. It was felt that large tractors and trailers were making cycling in the countryside difficult and dangerous, and that saving money on cycle routes resulted in more injuries which in turn led to more costs in hospitals and emergency services. He asked what’s happening about cycling – need infrastructure for cyclists. – need to be safe. Large tractors & trailers make cycling difficult/dangerous. Wants to see cycle paths so people can leave cars behind. Peter Tilley responded reported that SCC is working on improved cycling routes but said that under the LTP it was easier to get funding for urban cycling, than for recreational cycling. Simon Hooton said he w– Would like to receive a response from SLAF containing GM’s these comments. The more these concerns are expressed, the more they would be taken into account in plans. John Pearson – The more cycles on the road the more accidents will happen. This impacts on hospitals – costs incurred here. The cost of cycle networks would be less than the cost of hospitalisation of injured people. Annette Whybrow asked how access and conservation can could be balanced. SH is responded he hoped to work with Natural England to promote positive aspects of visiting sites; to promote best behaviour in the countryside and to understand the implication of behaviour eg. letting dogs off leads. Wardens need to be out and about at weekends promoting good behaviour. Julie Craven was – Ppleased to see an emphasis on ICZM. Would She would like to see SLAF kept closely involved with the AONB plan. by maintaining good communications with them. The Coastal Zone is going to be important over coming years. LAF 08/01 SH responded he would like to strengthen links between SC&H AONB &and SLAF, as the ‘relevant authority’ body. John Pearson thanked Simon Hooton and asked for him to come back annually to review progress. He asked the Forum to feed back to their constituent organisations. 5. Response to Proposals to improve access to the English coast – comment on letter and pro forma (LAF 07/18). Forum happy with letter and pro-forma submitted. 6. A14 Joint working between Highways Agency and Suffolk County Council – update by officers. Andrew Woodin updated SLAF on a meeting in August between SCC officers and the Highways Agency and their agents, Atkins, to discuss access severed by A14 generally, and to discuss some specific sites: - Belstead – SCC are successfully negotiating improvements. - Bramford – edge of Ipswich – Agency acknowledge problems. They wanted to re-route the path to an underpass but are now looking at other options including installing a bridge suitable for walkers and cyclists. - Bury St Edmunds - the Agency may undertake a feasibility study on a cycle bridge over the A14. - All routes over A14 – Atkins will review their earlier audit of NMU crossings &and will involve SCC in this process. They acknowledge the same consideration needs to be applied to all the crossings. SCC will feed information into this process Andrew Woodin felt progress was being made and SLAF had an opportunity to get more involved. Catherine Osborne had spoken to the Atkins agent doing the survey. Catherine will look at crossing points and put SCC’s view before Atkins do their survey. ACTION: Catherine Osborne to draft letter from SLAF to Highways Agency asking for involvement/dialogue with them. ACTION: CO asked Forum members who had volunteered on this issue to meet to discuss. Anthony Wright noted the Agency needs to acknowledge that low use of ROW crossing the A14 is a direct result of the road itself, also this isn’t just about ROW but quiet lanes too. Highways Agency didn’t take this into account. LAF 08/01 John Pearson felt an ongoing positive dialogue is required that also looks at funding issues. He would like to meet the Agency once a year to discuss progress and asked CO to keep SLAF involved in ongoing discussions. It was generally agreed that previous success on Haughley Bends had resulted in more engagement from Highways Agency. They are more amenable now so SLAF need to maintain dialogue. Julie Craven asked if gaps and severance would be taken into account by Highways Agency? Andrew Woodin responded Highways Agency priorities have changed over last few years. Accessibility is now more of a priority. Severance of routes and splitting of communities is now more important to them. John Pearson expressed concern some s106 agreements were not working very well and SLAF need a better need understanding of them. Andrew Woodin told SLAF that SCC could fund a member on s106 and planning training. Peter Tilley explained that s106 are planning agreements made prior to submission of planning applications concentrating on highways and access to school. There is on average a contribution from developers of £150 - £250 per house for cycle paths and ROW.