Powys Rights of Way Improvement Plan
Foreword
I am delighted to deliver the Rights of Way Improvement Plan to the people of Powys. Following extensive consultation with the public, landholders, users, Town and Community Councils and many others, a number of amendments have been made to the draft plan so as to incorporate many of the suggestions put forward. It is clear that countryside access is an important issue, and a highly valued asset to the people of Powys and those who visit the county.
The Council’s Corporate Improvement Plan highlights five priority themes. This Plan addresses those themes directly and sets out significant aims, objectives and actions to deliver them. As such, engagement with this Plan will make a real and meaningful contribution to all the Council’s key objectives.
This plan presents the Council’s aspirations regarding countryside access for the next decade. I am confident it will serve to progress real improvements in access across Powys.
In undertaking and delivering this Plan, I would also like to pay tribute to Nina Bufton, who has been seconded within the Countryside Services team as ROWIP Officer. It is because of her enthusiasm, dedication and determination that this Plan has been produced to such a high standard and on time.
County Councillor Gareth Morgan Portfolio holder for Countryside Services
Contents
Foreword 1
Vision 4
Executive Summary 5
Section 1 Rights of Way Improvement – Context 7
1.1 Introduction 7
1.2 The County of Powys 7
1.3 Powys County Council 9
1.4 Public Rights of Way & Countryside Access in Powys 10
1.5 The Council’s Strategic Priorities and Targets 12
1.6 Strategic Context 16
Section 2 Assessing the needs of users 19
2.1 Introduction 19
2.2 Survey Responses 20
2.3 Findings 21 - 29
2.4 User Group Assessments 30 - 37
2.5 Assessing the needs of People with Mobility and Sensory Difficulties 38 - 42
2.6 User Needs Assessment Conclusions 42
2.7 Strategic Findings 43
Section 3 Theme A - Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network 45
3.1 The Network 45
2 3.2 Condition of the Network 50
3.3 Improving the Public Rights of Way Network 51
3.4 The Need for Improving and Maintaining the Public Rights of Way Network 53
3.5 The Current Situation 53
Section 4 Theme B - Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way 55
4.1 Introduction 55
4.2 Countryside Services Team 55
4.3 Existing Policies and Working Practices 55
4.4 Priority Community Areas 56
4.5 Signage 56
4.6 Tir Gofal 57
4.7 Health & Safety 58
4.8 Open Access in Powys 59
4.9 Powys Countryside Volunteers 61
4.10 Enforcement 63
4.11 Biodiversity 63
4.12 Recreational Trails 66
Section 5 Theme C - Definitive Map & Statement 71 – 76
Section 6 Theme D - Publicity & Promotion Review 77 – 81
Section 7 Internal & External Partners 82 – 90
Section 8 Public Rights of Way Action Plan 91
3 Vision
The county of Powys has, within its boundary, diverse and distinctive landscapes, which support a great range of species and habitats as well as being home to many sites of archaeological and scientific significance.
The provision of high quality access to Powys’ countryside and support for its biodiversity and heritage is at the heart of the work of Countryside Services. Public rights of way and Access Land offer unrivalled opportunities for the enjoyment of the Powys countryside. This Rights of Way Improvement Plan is the means by which Powys County Council will plan and prioritise improvements to the current access available in the county, and will assist others in Powys in developing an accessible countryside. The Plan will set out the priorities and objectives of future work.
The vision of this Plan is to have a well-utilised, well-managed, meaningful and accessible countryside across Powys, supported by high quality information. To achieve this vision, four themes have been identified which broadly address the areas of improvement that will be targeted. These are:
Theme A Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network
Theme B Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land
Theme C Definitive Map and Statement
Theme D Publicity and Promotion
4 Executive Summary
This Rights of Way Improvement Plan has been produced as required by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, and is the end product of two years of consultations, workshops, assessments and meetings.
The Plan sought the needs and aspirations of landholders, users and non-users of Powys’ public rights of way network. Tourism interests and Town and Community Councils were also involved in giving their views and ambitions for the future. This complex wealth of information has been looked at in conjunction with an assessment of the network and its current condition, and set against a backdrop of other national and local strategies and plans. This information has been used to set out a framework for improving access to the countryside.
The results have revealed that there is much in common between the various interested parties. There is overwhelming support for improving the condition of the public rights of way network, with a target of reaching an 80% open and easy-to-use network by 2017 being set out in the Plan.
In considering a programme to continue opening and developing the network, attention was also paid to the demand for keeping paths in good condition, once they have been opened up. In examining this issue, Countryside Services and the three Powys Local Access Forums have acknowledged that this demand will present strategic and financial challenges if both aspirations are to be met within the lifetime of the Plan.
Consultation has highlighted support for prioritisation of opening public rights of way to and across Access Land. The development of local circular trails has also proved to be very popular with consultees, as did increasing the role of volunteers in opening up public rights of way and in their long-term management. Proposals to seek further funds to develop circular trails and expand volunteer support are set out in the Action Plan.
Powys’ National and Recreational Trails are well received with strong support for maintaining and improving infrastructure and information on the existing trails. There was only limited support for creating new long distance routes in Powys, with much more importance placed on developing local, accessible routes.
Consultation has shown that the public rights of way network currently provides the poorest access opportunities for those with mobility or sensory difficulties. Following discussions with local disability groups, a ‘least restrictive’ working
5 practice has been adopted affecting all areas of countryside access work, from the installation of path furniture to the production of information leaflets.
The proposals in this Plan support the goals of key national and local strategies, particularly those relating to • improving the nations’ health and well being, • creating a more sustainable environment and • supporting the local economy.
The Plan also sets out how it will contribute towards key objectives in the County Council’s Corporate Improvement Plan and Powys Community Strategy. Working with internal and external partners will be crucial to achieving these aims and goals.
6 Section 1 Rights of Way Improvement - Context
1.1 Introduction
Powys County Council as the local Highway Authority is required under Section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) to publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). This ROWIP sets out how the Council will seek to manage the public rights of way network for the benefit of the residents and landowners of Powys, as well as visitors to the area over the next ten years. The plan will be the prime means by which Powys County Council will identify, prioritise and plan for improvements to their local rights of way network, and in doing so make better provision for walkers, cyclists, equestrians and people with mobility 1 problems.
Part of the county of Powys, and its public rights of way network, lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park (BBNP). After agreement with its constituent County Councils, the National Park Authority has undertaken its own ROWIP. Countryside Services Officers from Powys County Council have been involved and consulted throughout their ROWIP process.
1.2 The County of Powys
Powys is an extensive, largely upland county covering 2,000 square miles, about a quarter of Wales. With a population of only 1 person for every 10 acres (4 hectares), it is one of the most sparsely populated local authority areas in England and Wales. The population of Powys is 126,354 (2001 Census) and this figure is growing at the third highest rate in Wales. Over 20% of the population classify themselves as being a Welsh speaker.
The county has tremendous landscape assets; from the Berwyn Mountains in the north, through the rolling hills of the Radnor Forest to the dramatic Brecon Beacons National Park in the south; it also includes some of Britain’s most spectacular river valleys - the Severn, Wye and Usk.
The economy is based on agriculture and tourism, with high self-employment and small businesses predominating. There is also an important contribution to employment opportunities from the public sector. Nearly 11% of the population is employed in agriculture, forestry or fishing compared to the Welsh average which is only 2.5%. Powys also has the highest car ownership in Wales with only 17.5% of households not owning a car or van.
1 Welsh Assembly Government, Rights of Way Improvement Plans: Guidance to Local Highway Authorities in Wales, 2002.
7
8 1.3 Powys County Council
Powys County Council is a Welsh Unitary Authority with 73 elected Councillors. It is relatively young, having been first created as a County Council in 1974, and then merged with its constituent district councils to become a Unitary Authority in 1996. The new Authority also took in three communities from the former Clwyd Council. Other minor boundary amendments have since added to the area of Powys. However, its roots are deep, with the three constituent shires - Brecknockshire, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire - stretching back centuries.
As a Unitary Authority, the Council is responsible for all local government services in the county, including education, social care, roads and bridges, leisure services, tourism and planning. The Council employs around 8,000 staff and has a huge impact on the local economy, both by being its largest employer and by spending more than half of its £300 million turnover within the county.
9 1.4 Public Rights of Way and Countryside Access in Powys
A ‘public right of way’ (PROW) is a term that refers to a path over which the public have a right to pass and repass. In total the county of Powys has 9,250 km of public rights of way. The breakdown of paths in Powys is shown in the table below:-
Table 1 Public Rights of Way in Powys Path Status Legal Users Length in Powys Percentage of (including BBNP) Network
Footpath Walkers, dog walkers 5,911.7 64%
Bridleway As above plus horse 2,588.0 28% riders & cyclists Restricted Byway As above plus horse- 93.9 1% drawn carriages Byway Open to All As above plus 650.4 7% Traffic motorised vehicles Total 9,244.1 100%
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 also introduced a new right of access on foot to the countryside; to areas designated as Access Land, which includes all registered common land. In addition, the Forestry Commission has dedicated most of the land within its control as Access Land. This adds up to 150,000 hectares of land in Powys.
Map 2 shows the distribution of linear and area access in Powys. Included on this map is access provided by organisations outside of Powys County Council, such as the Elan Valley Trust, Wildlife Trusts and others. It must be noted however, that the data is not comprehensive due to the difficulties in obtaining and capturing all of the data from various sources.
Public rights of way and Access Land are the main means by which people can access the countryside of Powys. The importance of this network to the economy and tourism was more fully realised following the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001, when access was temporarily removed. Increasingly, the value of the network for improving people’s health and well being has been recognised and this will be an area for future development.
10
11
1.5 The Council’s Strategic Priorities and Targets
The Corporate Improvement Plan for the Council is designed to create an improvement in all of our services over time. There are 5 high-level priorities and aims, with objectives that sit underneath that will deliver these aims. These are as follows:
1. Promoting health, social care and well being
• To ensure people have appropriate housing • To support vulnerable people in the community • To promote Leisure, Culture and Healthy Lifestyles • To promote community safety
2. Ensuring learning opportunities for all
• To provide a quality education to all children and young people • To ensure young people receive quality youth support services
3. Supporting social and economic development
• To provide and maintain a reliable transport infrastructure • To encourage business development
4. Enhancing the natural and built environment
• To sustain the physical environment • To conserve the natural environment
5. Improving our corporate health
• To make better use of resources • To provide better customer focus • To ensure that we comply with our statutory duties • To build a better trained, motivated and healthy workforce
Countryside access and specifically the Rights of Way Improvement Plan will enable Countryside Services to meet many of the County’s corporate objectives.
12 1. Promoting health, social care and well being
• By encouraging more people to be active and to utilise the PROW network, we can help to improve the health and well being of both the inhabitants of Powys and visitors attracted to the area.
• Physical activity is known to benefit physical and mental health, and well being. It improves mood and reduces stress, increases confidence and stamina and helps people relax and sleep better. Reports have shown that only 29% of adults in Wales meet the medical recommendation for physical activity (i.e. at least 5 x 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week for adults), and 54% are classed as overweight or obese (Welsh Health Survey, 2004).
• PROW are a free resource available widely across the county. The majority of people living in Powys have access to a PROW within a few minutes walk of their home.
• By providing and promoting national and regional recreational trails we are offering high quality routes for local people and tourists to utilise. The Trails Tempters programme offers a series of free, guided walks as an incentive to encourage new people to try walking in their locality.
• Walking, in particular, requires little or no specialised equipment.
• Cycling and horse-riding are very good forms of exercise.
• Activities on PROW provide the opportunity to meet other people which can help individuals feel part of their community, thereby reducing isolation and improving well-being.2
• The work of the Countryside Services Volunteer Coordinator provides an opportunity for people to get active and learn new skills, through the practical installation of gates and stiles and path surface clearance.
2. Ensuring learning opportunities for all
• By providing literature, leaflets, booklets and interpretation boards along routes, Countryside Services is providing learning opportunities for both users and potential users of promoted routes.
2 CCW, Steps into the Future: Beyond Walking the Way to Health Wales, June 2006.
13 • People who access the country have the opportunity to learn about the landscape and wildlife around them.
• Countryside Services provide important information on PROW, commons and Access Land to landholders, forestry and woodland owners, users and developers.
3. Supporting social and economic development
• The PROW and recreational trail networks provide a valuable tourism resource for the county, attracting visitors and their money to the area. This has positive benefits for local businesses.
• Many Powys businesses rely on an open and easy-to-use PROW for their livelihood. Some examples of this include the many B&Bs associated with the National and Recreational Trails, pony trekking centres, walking holiday companies, mountain bike hire, 4x4 adventure centres and equestrian B&Bs.
• In a speech to local authorities in 2005, the WLGA Countryside spokesperson Powys County Councillor M. Jones stated that ‘every Rights of Way Officer is worth one million pounds to the Welsh Economy’. By opening up and improving the PROW network within an area, Officers are improving infrastructure, encouraging business development and helping to improve the 3 wealth of the community in monetary and non-monetary ways.
• Tourism is a very important industry in Wales, with activity tourism now making up almost 50% of the total tourism revenue, which equated to £1 billion per annum in 2000, this figure is estimated to increase by 42% by 2010.4
• Within the Activity Tourism sector, walking plays an increasingly significant role. It is estimated that out of 9 million holiday trips in Wales, 7 million involve walking as an activity. Of these, half a million have walking as the main purpose of their trip. It is predicted that the value of walking tourism in Wales will grow from £550m to £700m by 2010. A growth of 27%. 5
• Peter Midmore’s 2000 report into the ‘Economic Value of Walking in Wales’ estimates the income from walking in rural Wales at £55 million and concludes that this supports 3,000 jobs.6
3 Report to CCW, The Tourism Company, The Benefits to Business of the National Trails in Wales, March 2006. 4 Wales Tourist Board, Get Up and Go: A practical guide to developing and marketing activity tourism, 2000. 5 Wales Tourist Board, Get Up and Go: A practical guide to developing and marketing activity tourism, 2000. 6 Midmore, The Economic Value of Walking in Rural Wales, Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, 2000.
14 • The cycling industry in Wales is projected to be worth £172m by 2010, with the horse riding industry estimated to be worth £27m.7
Table 2 Growth Potential of Tourism Activities
800 700 600 500 Potential Value by 2010 400 Value in 2000 300 200 Value in £Million 100 0 Walking Cycling Horse Riding
Tourism Product
• The percentage of the population accessing the Welsh countryside has risen 8 from 40% in 2002 to 45% in 2006. With this increase in demand and an improved PROW network and countryside experience, rural income generated from tourism could increase significantly with the potential for job creations.
• Countryside Services use local contractors to install furniture and carry out path clearance and maintenance. Wherever possible gates, stiles, waymark posts and fingerposts are sourced locally, creating income for local businesses.
4. Enhancing the natural and built environment
• The aim of Countryside Services is for work to be sympathetic to the local environment using sustainable, local products wherever possible. Wherever there are alternative approaches, Countryside Services will choose the most sustainable.
• Biodiversity and local heritage are important considerations when works are decided upon and routine consultation takes place with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Cadw and the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT).
7 Wales Tourist Board, Get Up and Go: A practical guide to developing and marketing activity tourism, 2000. 8 Wales Audit Office, Countryside Access Study, 2006.
15 5. Improving our corporate health
• The ROWIP process has been extremely valuable in terms of improving the ‘health’ of Countryside Services; with attention being paid to the more efficient use of resources, better management and improved working procedures.
• The ROWIP public consultation exercises have enabled Countryside Services to communicate with the public on an unprecedented scale and level of detail. This will enable future work to be carried out with a stronger customer focus.
• A rigorous assessment of current working policies and practices will lead to the better allocation of resources and the provision of better service.
• Countryside Services will endeavour to communicate more with all potential users of countryside access.
• Countryside Services staff are currently in negotiations to become involved in the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) ‘Walking the Way to Health’ scheme, which would aim to encourage Council staff to walk during their lunch breaks in order to improve their health and well being.
These are some of the ways that countryside access fits in to Powys County Councils’ top priorities. Resources dedicated to access to the countryside can contribute significantly to all of the Council’s major corporate aims and objectives.
1.6 Strategic Context
The Rights of Way Improvement Plan does not stand-alone but sits alongside other strategies and plans at a local, regional and national level. Out of the many documents that exist, a smaller number of key strategies have been identified as of particular importance and relevance.
The following table draws out the key linkages between these documents and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
16
Strategy Relevant Policy or Theme Link to ROWIP Themes
Powys County Promoting Health Social Care and Well being; Ensuring All ROWIP themes contribute to these top five Council Corporate Learning Opportunities for All; Supporting Economic and Social priorities. Improvement Plan Development; Enhancing the Natural and Built Environment, 2007/10 and Improving our Corporate Health.
Powys Community To provide well-managed opportunities for enjoying the open Manage and promote Recreational and National Strategy spaces and wider countryside of Powys. Trails; secure funding for access work; encourage voluntary action; promote conservation value; manage vehicular misuse; derive good management practice; improve access for less able; improve access to Access Land; protection of green spaces.
WAG Climbing Promotion of outdoor recreation & access to public rights of Recreational & National Trails; Management and Higher Strategy way; Increase use of natural environment from 36% to 60%; Enforcement; Publicity & Promotion; Cycling ensure 95% of people have a footpath or cycle-path within a 10 Development; circular trail development; Access minute walk; no one should live more than 6 minutes or 300m Land. from a natural green space.
17
Powys Residential Inclusion of PROW and natural green spaces into planning Management & Enforcement; Access Land. Design Guide system through ‘good design’.
Powys Unitary Promotion of businesses linked to countryside. Protection of Management and Enforcement; Internal & External Development Plan PROW, village greens and common land in planning system. Partners.
Powys Local Resourcing the ROWIP; Safe Routes to School; cycling & Links to Cycling Development; Safe Routes to Transport Plan walking development; National Cycle Network (NCN) school; Management & Enforcement; Development of circular trails. - soon to become Regional Transport Plans.
Powys Local Lists Key species and habitats in Powys. Biodiversity duty under s.40 NERC Act 2006; Biodiversity Action Biodiversity Plan
Wales Audit Office Use the education system to promote responsible access; Recreational & National Trails; Management and Public access to the encourage groups at risk of social exclusion to visit the Enforcement; Publicity & Promotion; increasing countryside, 2006 countryside; seek out joint working; involve community accessibility; Internal & External Partners. Seeking councils, volunteers and probation service; provide high quality additional funding; Information provision. information; link access to health promotion; improve public transport; work closely with LAFs; consider disabled access in PROW work; investigate funding sources; encourage landowners and define enforcement. Table 3 Strategic Context – Links with Local, National and Regional Plans and Strategies
18 Section 2 Assessing the needs of users
2.1 Introduction
As part of the assessment stage of the ROWIP, a major consultation was undertaken with the public, landholders, user groups, Tourist Information Centres, accommodation providers and Town and Community Councils. The aim was to assess the existing and potential demands on the public rights of way network. Copies of the questionnaires can be found in Appendix 1.
The results from the general, landholder and Town and Community Council surveys predominantly represented the views of Powys residents. Although it is difficult to gain the views of visitors to the county, this was attempted through a Tourist Information Centre survey and Accommodation Provider questionnaire.
Alongside the public consultation, workshops and seminars were held with the Joint Local Access Forum, who have been kept informed and involved throughout the ROWIP process. Focus group meetings were also held with Countryside Services Officers and managers.
Meetings have been held with a wide range of interested groups and parties, which have included: -
1. Forestry Commission 2. Other Powys County Council service providers e.g. Tourism and Highways 3. Disability Powys 4. Brecon Access Group 5. NHS 6. Healthy Lifestyles Forum 7. Powys Equalities Forum 8. Walking your way to Health programme 9. EcoDyfi 10.Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust.
The information from the public consultation, focus groups, workshops, seminars and meetings with other organisations has been gathered, to allow analysis of the needs and demands of all current and potential users of countryside access.
19
2.2 Survey Responses
The table below breaks down to whom the individual surveys were sent and number of responses received.
Table 4 ROWIP Consultation Surveys
Survey Type Who was it sent to? How many responses were received?
General Powys Citizens Panel; all 1,072 statutory consultees, User Groups, Local Access Forum members, County Councillors, advertised in local media
Landholders Powys members of: 266 Country Land & Business Association, Farmers Union of Wales and the National Farmers Union
Town and Community All 75 councils outside the 44 Councils Brecon Beacons National Park
Tourist Information Sent to all 16 Tourist 15 Centres Information Centres in Powys
Accommodation All providers listed in the 22 Providers Accommodation Booklet published by PCC
The response to all the surveys has been encouraging; the high level of return means that for the first time Countryside Services has comprehensive information from its customers (the public), which has been utilised to inform the development of the Action Plans.
20
2.3 Findings
2.3i) General Survey
The General Survey has provided Countryside Services with a wealth of information regarding the current usage of, and demand for, the PROW network. The survey sought clarification on a wide range of issues affecting legal and practical management of rights of way.
• Graph 1 highlights that a very large percentage of the respondents use the PROW network. The majority of those that utilise the network do so for leisure, recreation and exercise purposes.
• Nearly half of the respondents have encountered problems whilst using the PROW network with lack of signage being the most commonly encountered problem.
21 Table 5 Satisfaction with Services Provided by Countryside Services
Service Satisfaction Ranking Surfaces 1 Staff 2 Long Distance trails 3 Furniture 4 Overall 5 Improvements 6 Promotion 7 Enforcement 8 1 = most satisfied 8 = least satisfied
• Respondents were most satisfied with surfaces, staff and promoted long-distance trails and least satisfied with enforcement.
• Obstructions were the most common reason why people didn’t use the network, closely followed by people not knowing the routes and the dislike of walking on someone else’s land.
22
• The issue that would most encourage greater use of the PROW network is more and improved information closely followed by more leisure time and an improved PROW network.
Table 6 Where should future work be prioritised? Priority Rankings
Priority
Maintenance 1 Waymarking 2 Information 3 Access Land 4 Practical Improvements 4 Definitive Map 5 Integrated transport system 5 Routes to work and school 6 Lost Ways 7 Health & Wellbeing 8 Education 9 Promoted routes 10 1 = High Priority 10 = Lower Priority
• One of the main aims of the public consultation was to find out where Countryside Services should be prioritising future resources. Maintenance came back as the number one priority followed by waymarking and the provision of information.
23
• Respondents were asked to prioritise Public Path Orders, the results showed that Diversions out of farmyards and private gardens should receive the highest priority when managing applications.
• Respondents felt that the Definitive Map needed to be made more accessible, with libraries and the Internet being the most popular locations for access.
• Respondents were asked to make a choice between opening up currently obstructed paths OR maintaining routes already open, as this was a particular issue that Countryside Services felt needed resolving. The results show that more emphasis needs to be placed on the maintenance of opened routes in the future.
24
• When asked if the Council should develop more long distance routes or local, circular trails, respondents clearly preferred the option of developing local, circular routes.
2.3ii) Landholder Survey
The Landholders Survey looked at the issues surrounding countryside access for the owners and occupiers of the land, and how Countryside Services can improve its management in the future. Key findings from the landholder survey include:
• 72% of landholders that responded are aware of the existence of PROW on their property, with 5% not knowing whether they do or not.
25
• Of those landholders with known PROW on their land, 40% have had problems relating to them. The most common problem is gates being left open, with dogs off leads and people getting lost as the next most frequent issues.
• 48% of respondents stated they don’t know their legal duties regarding PROW, with 75% unaware of the assistance and support available from Countryside Services with regards to PROW work.
• From those landholders who have worked with Countryside Services; satisfaction was found to be highest with the quality and provision of furniture and with the staff. Satisfaction was lowest with surfaces and enforcement.
2.3iii) Town and Community Council Survey
All of the Town and Community Council’s, lying partially or wholly outside the Brecon Beacons National Park, were contacted and their views sought on the demand for and management of the PROW network. Some of the main issues highlighted by the local Councils are shown below:
• 30% of the local Councils are already involved with PROW maintenance to some extent, with 20% interested in becoming involved.
• 73% want to see more work to maintain and improve routes already open.
• 78% want priority to be given to the development of local, circular routes.
• The local Councils were asked to rate the provision and importance of suggested improvements to the PROW network. These improvements fall outside general PROW work. The results from these questions have been calculated to give a priority ranking for the different issues. Table 7 on the next page, shows the results of this ranking.
26
Table 7 Provision and Importance of Countryside Service Improvements
Priority Improvements Ranking Links which create local circular routes 1 Attractive routes which support tourism 2 Routes to enable people to avoid busy roads 2 Routes for local journeys to shops, work, doctors etc 3 Routes accessible for the less mobile 3 Routes used to improve health and well-being 4 Routes accessible for blind of partially sighted people 4 Access to areas or features of particular interest 5 Routes used in conjunction with public transport 6 Routes from centres of population which allow access to the countryside 7 Routes that link with other forms of access 8 Promoted long-distance routes in your community 8 Access to commons and open access land 8 1 – Highest priority 8 = Lower Priority
• Local, circular routes, attractive routes to support tourism and routes to enable people to avoid busy roads are the improvements that the local Council’s feel require increased funding, whereas access to commons and long-distance routes are generally already well catered for, or of low importance.
• The local Council’s were also asked to prioritise general PROW management issues and the results show that work should concentrate on maintenance, waymarking and the Definitive Map.
2.3iv) Tourist Information Centre Survey
All 16 of the Powys Tourist Information Centres (TICs) were surveyed and the results of the survey are shown below:
• All the TICs were asked for information on walks and walking every day.
• 69% of TICs are asked for information on cycling daily, with 100% weekly.
• 15% of TICs are asked for information on horse-riding daily, with 77% being asked at least once a week.
27
• 15% of TICs are asked for information on horse-carriage driving at least once a month, although 23% have never been asked.
• 15% of TICs are asked for information on motorcycle routes weekly, with 46% being asked at least once a month.
• 31% of TICs are asked for information on 4x4 driving weekly.
• 54% of TICs are asked for information on disabled access weekly, with 85% stating they are asked at least once a month.
• 92% of TICs said people are most interested in local, circular routes around settlements.
• 77% of TICs receive complaints from the public about PROW.
• Comments received from TIC staff range from poor signage and waymarking, blocked footpaths, beautiful scenery to shame about the weather!
• The current provision of guides and leaflets is classed as ‘OK’.
• TIC staff said they would like more printed information and leaflets.
• TIC Staff would like better communication with PROW Officers and training on access to the countryside.
2.3v) Accommodation Providers Survey
A survey was sent out to all of the accommodation providers listed in the Powys Accommodation Guide: Walking in Mid Wales and the Brecon Beacons 2006/7. The main findings of this survey are:-
• 82% of the businesses stated that under 25% of their visitors use the general rights of way network.
28
• 45% classed the recreational trails as essential or very important to their business.
• 90% are asked for information on walks and rides in Powys by their guests, with 77% stocking such information.
• Of those that stocked Powys County Council leaflets and booklets, 78% classed them as ‘good’ quality.
29 2. 4 User Group Assessments
There are many groups and individuals who use the PROW network to varying extents. The graph below shows a breakdown from the General Survey outlining the participation in some of the activities undertaken on the PROW network.
Graph 9 Participation in activities on PROW
80.00 70.00 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 % of sample 20.00 10.00 0.00 run 4x4 walk cycle dog drive walking carriage horse ride motorcycle Activity
The largest user group are the walkers. More people walk on the network than all the other activities put together. Dog walking is the second most popular activity, followed by cycling.
The ROWIP needs to address the needs and issues of different users. The major user groups have been identified and examined below. Actions relating to each activity are outlined at the end of each section.
2.4i) Walkers and Dog-Walkers
Walkers and dog-walkers have a legal right of access to 100% of the PROW and recreational trails network.
The results of the General Survey show us that 74% of respondents walk on the network at least once a month (54% at least once a week) and are the majority user group. Of these respondents, 26% use the network to regularly walk their dogs. Demand for access on foot is already high and expected to grow in the future. The economic value of tourism related to
30 walking is expected to rise to £700 million by 20109 which is certainly important to economic growth, and also for the health and well being of local inhabitants and visitors to the county.
Although walkers and dog-walkers have access to the whole network, there are particular issues involved. Standard stiles are obstacles to access for many people with mobility difficulties and those with dogs. All the surveys showed that the PROW network provides better access for walkers and dog walkers than for any other user group.
One of the main findings from the consultation was the desire for local, circular routes around settlements. 79% of respondents wanted to see more circular routes opened up. In general walkers and dog walkers want better provision in their local areas, as opposed to new long distance routes.
Following the ROWIP consultation a ‘least restrictive’ access practice has been adopted. This practice promotes a least restrictive approach, with gap, gate, dog stile, and standard stile being the descending furniture choices. As an incentive for landholders to improve access, landholder grants will no longer be available for stile installation. Grants continue for the installation of dog-stiles and gates. This is aimed at improving access for more people, whether that is individuals, dog walkers, families with pushchairs or people with mobility difficulties.
Actions
B.3 a) Implement ‘least restrictive’ access practices.
B.3 c) To provide landholder grants for the installation of dog-stiles and gates, in support of least restrictive access practices.
B.5 Identify and develop local, circular routes around settlements.
B.6 Work with internal and external partners to improve countryside access in Powys.
2.4 ii) Cyclists
Cycling both on and off road is a popular activity in Powys, with a wide range of routes available for users. Cyclists have a right of access to 36% of the PROW network and this is shown on Map 3.
9 Wales Tourist Board, Get Up and Go, 2003.
31 Powys also has a number of urban cycle networks and other routes and trails that are suitable for everyone, whatever their age or cycling ability. These routes may be on recognised PROW. Powys also has some off road mountain biking trails in the Llanwrtyd Wells and Machynlleth areas. Powys’ Recreational Trail, the Epynt Way, is also fully open to cyclists. Forestry Commission land is also a valuable resource with many forests allowing access for cyclists.
Powys is at the heart of the National Cycle Network with 129 miles of completed network running through the county and a further 115 miles due for future completion. Where possible, the network uses traffic free or quiet lanes away from busier sections of county or trunk roads. Some of the most popular cycle routes and trails include sections of the National and Regional cycle network running through Powys – Lon Las Cymru NCR 8, Lon Cambria Route 81 from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury and the Radnor Ring Regional regional cycle route 25.
Of the general survey respondents, 17% cycle on the PROW network at least once a month. The cycle tourism industry is estimated to grow by 67% to £172 million by 2010, according to the Wales Tourist Board. The issues raised by cyclists during the consultation were in line with other users with signage, obstructions and furniture all being important.
Powys Countryside Services are working to improve access for cyclists across the county. The work of the Warden’s team includes opening paths across Access Land; these paths are mostly bridleways, therefore improving access opportunities for cyclists.
Wardens and PROW Maintenance Officers’ work is based substantially on a Priority Community approach. As a result of the ROWIP consultation, from 2007, staff will provide a higher priority to bridleways within a community, therefore improving access for cyclists and a wider range of users.
Actions
B.1 b) Give priority to higher status paths within Priority Communities.
B.6 Work with internal and external partners to improve countryside access in Powys.
32
33 2.4 iii) Horse-Riders
The county of Powys has a dense network of bridleways offering good opportunities for access on horseback. Riding provides an excellent opportunity for access to the countryside by people with mobility and sensory difficulties. Horse-riders in Powys have the right to use 36% of the PROW network (including BBNP). The distribution of access for horse-riders is highlighted on Map 3 on the previous page.
Although the network available to horse-riders is less than that available to walkers, the percentage of their network open and easy to use is far higher. Analysis of the last three years of Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) data shows that 56% of the bridleway network is open and easy to use, compared to only 46.5% of the entire network. The work of the Countryside Services team now prioritises work on bridleways. Of the work to open PROW in 2006-07, 56% occurred on paths of bridleway status or higher.
The work of the Countryside Wardens Team includes opening paths to and across Access Land. The majority of these paths are bridleways, therefore improving access opportunities for horse-riders. Maintenance staff work on a Priority Community approach and from 2007 staff will prioritise bridleways as the highest priority within a community, thereby improving access for horse-riders and a wider range of users first.
As well as the general PROW network, the Recreational Trails network provides access on horseback. The Epynt Way in Breconshire developed by a partnership of the MoD and PCC, is a new circular bridleway entirely open to horse-riders and cyclists. Parts of other Recreational and National Trails within Powys are also open to horses, such as lengths of the Glyndwr’s Way. Recent trail improvements include the provision of a new car park and safer road access at the Cider House along the Kerry Ridgeway, specifically laid out to improve safety and also designed to include space for horse trailers.
Powys CC have also worked alongside the British Horse Society (BHS) to produce ‘Powys on Horseback’, Wales’ only dedicated BHS guide. The BHS are currently working to create new long-distance rides. Countryside Services aim to work in partnership with the BHS and others, to improve access, where this can be accommodated within the priority system for managing PROW access across Powys.
34 The results of the General Survey showed us that 5% of the respondents ride horses on the PROW network at least once a month. The Wales Tourist Board forecasts a 65% cumulative growth in equestrian tourism with an estimated value of £27 million by 2010. Equestrian tourism in Powys is therefore likely to increase and it offers new opportunities, especially for farm diversification.
The results of the surveys highlighted the issues horse-riders have with the network; these are similar to those of other users with signage and obstructions being significant considerations. However, they also highlight the specific issue of the difficulties in using road verges, due to the clutter of signs and notices. The provision of high quality furniture, especially gates that are easy to open and close, is also very important.
Actions
B.1 b) Give priority to higher status paths within Priority Communities.
B.1 e) Ensure high quality gates and installation to allow easy access for horse-riders.
B.1 f) Liaise with PCC and the Highways Agency over issue of highway furniture on road verges and the effect on equestrian usage.
B.6 Work with internal and external partners to improve countryside access in Powys.
2.4 iv) Motorised Vehicles
Mechanically propelled vehicles (MPV’s) can include any vehicle powered by a motor, such as a 4x4, off-road truck, car or motorcycle. Powys is used as an area for motorised access, and currently vehicles can legally access 650km of PROW in Powys (including BBNP), which equates to 7% of the network.
The results of the General Survey show that less than 1% of the respondent’s use MPV’s on the PROW network. Throughout the ROWIP consultation processes, the response from MPV users, both from groups and individuals, has been on a very small scale.
Demand for motorised access can be problematic. The main problem cited by landholders and other users, is the harm caused by inappropriate use of MPV’s on un-surfaced routes, leading to severe ruts and surface damage. Whilst the use of MPV’s on BOATs is entirely lawful, it can
35 lead to conflict. Motorised access can damage flora and fauna, and its activity and management does have visible implications on the landscape. There are also reported cases of conflict between users and landholders, and between vehicular and other types of user.
The problem facing Powys County Council is the scale and technical difficulties in the management and maintenance of the byway network. Resources are currently insufficient to quickly repair byways that have been damaged by vehicle use, and in some cases Traffic Regulation Orders have been used, to allow the surface time to recover. Powys CC is now working with user groups, to identify, prioritise and carry out byway repair work. Consideration of sustainability must also form part of any assessment, with the long-term management of vehicular routes, including surface condition, level of use and seasonal conditions all being looked at. The new NERC Act also places a duty on PCC to consider the impact on biodiversity.
The challenge is to provide quality access for MPV’s, which does not impact on the natural environment that the users have come to enjoy. The importance and benefits of motorised access must also not be overlooked, as there are economic benefits, with people travelling and staying in Powys to use our byway network. MPV’s can also provide access to the Powys countryside for people with mobility difficulties.
The problem of illegal motorised access in Powys is reportedly on the increase. Illegal activity ranges from local motorcyclists to organised groups of 4x4s driving and riding on commons, Access Land, lower status PROW and private property. Illegal riding and driving is primarily a matter for the police authorities; although PCC are being pro-active about the situation by signing areas where it is known to be a problem.
Countryside Services will continue to be pro-active in their approach to the situation, and work with user groups on a local and national level to address problems and look to identify sustainable vehicular networks. Partnerships with Dyfed Powys Police, the Forestry Commission, CCW, Elan Valley Trust and neighbouring authorities will be utilised to try and provide facilities for legal off-roading and develop enforcement procedures. Emphasis will also be placed on educating people on the situation, including better information on site and in providing clearer details of when routes are subject to temporary closure.
36
Actions
B.1 g) Continue to seek resources to manage and maintain the byway network.
B.6 Work with internal and external partners to improve countryside access in Powys.
37
2.5 Assessing the needs of people with mobility and sensory impairments
The Welsh Assembly Government’s statutory advice on producing a ROWIP highlights that particular attention be paid to the accessibility of local PROW to blind or partially sighted people and those with mobility impairments.
The Statutory Guidance states that “Local authorities when assessing their local rights of way and in developing a statement of action, should always consider the ways in which reasonable changes to paths can develop routes which are free from barriers to use. A basic principle in making improvements to local rights of way should be the opening up of 10 the network to a wider range of people.”
2.5i) Context
A person has a disability if he or she has a ‘physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his 11 or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
There are an estimated 11 million disabled adults in the United Kingdom, which equates to about 1 in 5 of the total adult population. They include people with physical and mobility impairments, mental disabilities including depression and stress-related conditions such as anxiety, learning difficulties including dyslexia, people with visual and hearing impairments, and people with terminal and long-term illnesses including 12 Cancer, Aids and Multiple Sclerosis.
The range is very wide and there is a lot to consider when looking at access and at how it may affect different groups of people in different ways. A barrier on a PROW may be a problem for one disabled person but not for another. Consideration must also be given to the friends and family and how different access opportunities impact on them.
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 places a duty upon all public bodies to promote equality for disabled people in everything that it does
10 Welsh Assembly Government, Rights of Way Improvement Plans: Guidance to Local Highway Authorities in Wales, Appendix C, P.31, 2002. 11 Powys County Council, Disability Equality Scheme 2006-2009. 12 Ibid.
38 as an organisation. Powys County Council aims to make its services fully 13 accessible to all.
The Powys County Council Disability Equality Scheme 2006-2009 states that this means ‘considering, analysing, researching, and involving disabled people across every service, and making any necessary changes that will ensure the promotion of disability equality, in everything we do.’
Countryside access is no exception to this commitment and the Powys County Council Access Policy lays out how the Council will work to achieving this principle. Section 3.6.1 states that ‘The County Council will aim to identify paths for provision of disabled access and will work with its partners toward adapting and promoting such paths.’
2.5ii) Assessment
As part of the consultation process, views were sought from people with mobility and sight impairments. The general survey showed that 19% of respondents fit into these categories. This fits in with the national figures from the Disability Rights Commission, which states that around 1 in 5 people have a disability. All surveys were available in large print format by request.
13 Powys County Council, Access Policy, 2nd Edition, 2003
39
Graph 10 shows results from the General Survey. The graph shows that surfaces are the issue most negatively affecting disabled access, closely followed by obstructions (legal & illegal). The issue that disabled people would most like to see improved on the PROW network is for the furniture and path surfaces to be made more accessible. 47% of the respondents who classed themselves as having a disability (temporary or permanent) said they would use the PROW network more if there were more routes available that were accessible for all.
The ROWIP consultation highlighted the concerns that people have over access to the PROW network by people with disabilities. Respondents were asked to rate the network in terms of access provision. Out of all the different user groups; walkers, horse-riders, cyclists, motor bikers etc, the PROW network was rated as providing the worst service for people with mobility impairments. This theme came back strongly throughout the consultation and across the different surveys.
Meetings and discussions have been held with local disability groups including Disability Powys, the Powys Equalities Forum and the Brecknock Access Group, and with the Council’s Equalities, Welsh Language and Corporate Policy Officers.
Following a meeting with Disability Powys the three local Access Groups were contacted. Amongst the three shire Access Groups, the Brecknock group took the opportunity offered for a presentation and discussion session. This highlighted the needs of local disabled people and provided valuable feedback on ‘least restrictive’ working practices.
2.5iii) Outcomes
Countryside Services have revisited this theme on a number of occasions during the ROWIP process and sought training and advice from the Fieldfare Trust, Centrewire and local disability groups. Training has also been provided to the Powys Local Access Forums.
The meetings and results of the consultation have concluded the adoption of a ‘least restrictive’ working practice, which operates under the presumption of gap-gate-dog stile-standard stile. This practice has been put into operation by the Countryside Services team and results are already visible. In 2006-07, 67% of all furniture installed on paths were
40 gates, and only 33% were stiles. One of the aims is to see the percentage of stiles installed falling year on year.
One of the actions of the ROWIP, highlighted below, prioritises the higher status paths for attention first within communities. As higher status paths only have gates not stiles along them, this will improve access for disabled users who may walk, ride, cycle, horse-ride or drive on the PROW network.
2.5iv)‘Least Restrictive’ Working Practices
Wherever the occasion arises to replace, repair or install items of path furniture, the opportunity will be taken to negotiate the least restrictive option. The first option should be a gap, down through the range of gates, kissing gates, dog stiles and only in the last resort are standard stiles to be installed. Landholder grants will no longer be payable for the installation of standard stiles along footpaths, although the stile itself will still be supplied.
All bridges and culverts will have a minimum width of 1.2 metres wherever reasonably practicable. Where diversions of PROW now take place, there is a presumption against stiles on the new path. Stiles are no longer installed alongside gateways.
Each case will be individually assessed by the relevant Countryside Services Officer taking into account the:
1. Path status 2. Definitive map and statement 3. Historical furniture on site 4. Topography 5. Nature of farming and land use 6. Local circumstances 7. Wishes of the Landowner.
Actions
B.3 Improve access to public rights of way and Access Land by improving 5% of furniture installed per annum (e.g. replacing stiles with gates).
B.3 a) Implement ‘least restrictive’ access practices.
B.3 b) Monitor least restrictive access implementation for network and Trails.
41 Actions Continued
B.3 c) To provide landholder grants for the installation of dog-stiles and gates, in support of least restrictive access practices.
B.4 Identify and improve routes that are most likely to be accessed by people with mobility and sensory difficulties.
D.1 c) All information produced by Countryside Services will aim to be available, appropriate, accurate and accessible.
D.1 d) Monitor and update, as necessary, the Access to Countryside Locations in Powys: A Guide to Accessibility.
2.6 User Needs Assessment Conclusions
Public consultation has presented an opportunity to critically evaluate current practices with respect to meeting public demands.
Consultation has thrown up few findings that were wholly unexpected or surprising but has highlighted and focussed existing trains of thought. There is the danger when running a consultation exercise that different surveys might yield contrasting results, however this has not generally occurred. The surveys have come back with remarkably similar trends and viewpoints.
The extensive public consultation exercise has provided for an in-depth look at the issues surrounding countryside access and allowed central themes to be drawn out. These are :-
• The extent to which local rights of way meet the present and future likely needs of the public
The three main surveys all addressed the suitability of the current rights of way network for all users. The message came back clearly that the network provides well for walkers and dog walkers. At the other end of the scale the results show that provision is worst for people with mobility and sensory difficulties. This is an area where future work can be pursued.
• The opportunities provided by local rights of way for exercise and other forms of open-air recreation, and the enjoyment of their area
The General Survey has shown that 84% of the 1,072 respondents
42 consider themselves to use PROW. The survey results indicate that a large number of people use local paths. Powys has a huge path network of over 9,250 km, which provides many opportunities for exercise and open- air recreation. PROWs provide the most comprehensive means of accessing the countryside in Powys. This is further supported by extensive areas of Access Land, public forest, commons and other area based opportunities for visiting the countryside.
The Powys PROW network is analysed in more detail in Section 5 - The Definitive Map and Statement, this fully explores the opportunities and access available for all users.
• The accessibility of rights of way to blind or partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems
The accessibility of the PROW network for people of all mobilities was explored in the public consultation. Of all the 1,072 respondents, 19% classified themselves as having restricted mobility. Of this 19%, ¾ classed themselves as users, however infrequent, of the PROW network. All the survey results recognised that the current network provides worst for people with mobility and sensory difficulties; meetings held with local disabled people and Disability Powys have further confirmed this.
2.7 Strategic Findings
The consultation has raised a number of clear findings and recommendations.
The main strategic issues that have emerged from the consultation are outlined below:
• The main aim of Countryside Services should be the continued and measured opening up of the existing rights of way network, but with more importance placed on maintaining the paths already opened.
• Higher priority needs to be placed on improving waymarking and signage at the start and along rights of way.
• Higher emphasis needs to be placed on the development of local, circular routes around settlements.
43 • There is support for the Council’s approach in diverting paths away from farmyards and property as the highest priority cases.
• There is demand for more and better information, both on and off route.
• The network needs to improve its provision for people with mobility and sensory difficulties.
• Obstructions are a major barrier to people using the rights of way network; work needs to be improved in this area with the need for an Enforcement Officer clearly highlighted.
• Continue to invest in the existing promoted Recreational and National Trails, rather than the development of new trails.
The consultation has gathered opinions from a cross section of the people of Powys. This information has been analysed and broken down into the strategic themes outlined above.
44
Section 3 - Theme A: Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network
3.1 The Network
The county of Powys has just under 9,250 km of rights of way. When you exclude the paths that fall under the jurisdiction of Brecon Beacons National Park, Powys County Council is responsible for more than 8,150km of PROW. To put this figure into perspective, this is further than the distance across the Atlantic Ocean!
Table 8 Public Rights of Way In Powys (km)
Path Brecknockshire Montgomeryshire Radnorshire Total BBNP Total Status PCC in Powys Footpath 552.6 3,490.7 1,193.3 5,236.6 675.2 5,911.7
Bridleway 604.9 898.9 820.6 2,324.3 263.7 2,588.0
Byway 115.0 229.5 153.8 498.4 152.0 650.4 Open to All Traffic Restricted 93.1 0.3 93.4 0.5 93.9 Byway Total 1,272.5 4,712.2 2,168 8,152.7 1,091.4 9,244.1
(These figures are liable to change due to the current work on modifying and consolidating the Definitive Map and Statement.)
The spread of the network is not uniform across the county, with more than half of the network occurring in the old county of Montgomeryshire.
45
Map 4 above displays the distribution of access across Montgomeryshire. The map clearly highlights the very dense network running across the eastern side of the shire with a less dense network on the western edge. The gaps in the PROW network interestingly correspond with the areas of Access Land shown in yellow, leading to a thorough spread of access for walkers across the shire. Gaps in access are most likely to occur for other user groups; therefore prioritising bridleways and higher status routes is of particular importance in these areas.
46
Proportionally, Radnorshire has a higher percentage of bridleways and byways than Montgomeryshire, allowing higher levels of access. The distribution of paths across the Shire is pretty even, with any gaps in the network again being compensated for by large areas of Access Land. By prioritising the higher status paths first, Countryside Services could provide an improved network in Radnorshire, for a wider range of users.
47
Brecknockshire has a more uneven distribution of paths with large areas of limited linear access. However, as shown in yellow on Map 6, these too generally correspond with significant areas of Access Land with provision for access on foot. There is exceptional provision of Access Land in the National Park but this is limited to walkers. Prioritisation of higher status paths would benefit a wider range of users in Brecknockshire.
48
Table 9 Percentage of Network Broken Down by Path Status
Path Status Legal Users Total in Powys (including BBNP) Footpath Walkers, dog walkers 5,911.7 Bridleway As above plus horse 2,588.0 riders & cyclists Restricted Byway As above plus horse- 93.9 drawn carriages Byway Open to All As above plus all 650.4 Traffic motorised vehicles Total 9,244.1
Table 9 above shows the breakdown of the PROW network by path status. Graph 12 below shows the percentages of these paths. We can see that the majority of the network (64%) is made up of footpaths; bridleways make up 28% of the network; Byways Open to All Traffic make up 7% of the network with 1% of paths classified as Restricted Byways.
Clearly the network provides the most access for walkers and dog walkers. Countryside Services are working to implement a practice of prioritising higher status paths first in a community, therefore helping to increase access for a wider range of users.
49 3.2 Condition of the Network
Within the remit of the ROWIP, it was deemed impractical for a 100% condition survey to be undertaken due to the large scale of the Powys network. As an alternative, electronic data already held on the network was evaluated and analysed.
To date, three statutory Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) 5% surveys have been undertaken on the rights of way network and all of this data is held on a Geographical Information System database. Data is also held from the Countryside Council for Wales’s rights of way survey of 2002. In total this equates to information on 24.5% of the total network in Powys. Statistically, this sample provides a reliable figure for cross- analysis purposes.
Analysis of the available data suggests that 46.5%, or 3,873km of the network is in a satisfactory condition, with paths open and easy to use.
Graph 13 below shows a breakdown of the percentage of paths in satisfactory condition, broken down by path status.
The graph highlights that the paths of a higher status would appear to be in better condition than the footpath network. Of the bridleways surveyed, 56% are in satisfactory condition with 69% of restricted byways and 53% of the byway network in the same open and easy to use state. The data records all maintenance issues along the rights of way surveyed, and on average there are 4.2 maintenance issues (problems) per km, or
50 one problem every 238 metres. This suggests that there are around 35,000 maintenance problems yet to be addressed on the whole network.
These figures are closely matched by the results from the public consultation, which highlighted that 48% of people have encountered maintenance problems whilst using the rights of way network.
These results are in line with the findings of the CCW Wales Rights of Way Condition Survey of 2002. In Powys there were 56 obstacles that rendered paths unusable or inconvenient per 10km, or 5.6 per km. The report highlighted that 31% of paths in Powys were classified as satisfactory, compared to the Welsh average of 51%.
3.3 Improving the Public Rights of Way Network
The data breaks the path problems into type and standardised costs were agreed with ROW officers, so that a cost analysis could be undertaken. The average cost per km to rectify all the path problems comes to £691.83 per km.
An estimated £5,800,000 is needed to rectify all the path problems on the public rights of way network, excluding surface requirements.
This figure excludes the costs of surface management, particularly where related to the maintenance of byways.
This figure is likely to be fair and accurate. The 2002 CCW Condition Survey estimated the cost of bringing the whole Wales network into a satisfactory condition, to be approximately £26 million. With the Powys network being 9,250km this would estimate Powys’ share to be £7,280,000. However, this figure does include work on surfaces, when this is taken into consideration the two figures would likely to be more in line with each other.
The PCC data analysis also calculated that 18,742 new items of infrastructure are needed to bring the network up to a basic open standard, at an estimated cost of £4,650,000. This clearly shows that the biggest outlay needed on the PROW network is on new items of furniture. The remaining costs relate to the maintenance of existing structures.
51 All of these figures are based on the presumption of 46.5% of the network being in satisfactory condition. To date, the 5% BVPI survey results have been highly variable and this can obviously have a major effect on resulting statistics. However, the gross costs for improving the situation are still broadly comparable, being between £5.5 and £6.5 million.
The figures so far have related to existing maintenance problems that need rectifying but attention also has been paid to the ongoing maintenance needed to keep open paths in a satisfactory condition.
With an average of 4.07 items of infrastructure per km on the network, this equates to 33,935 pieces of furniture requiring maintenance. Based on average current costs an estimated £630,000 per annum is needed to keep the existing level of open paths in their present condition.
An estimated £630,000 per annum is required to maintain the current network and infrastructure in its present condition.
Once the required new items of infrastructure are installed and the network is fully open, an annual maintenance budget of £920,000 would be needed to keep the network in good order, excluding seasonal vegetation clearance.
The CCW Condition Survey estimated that a total annual maintenance budget of £5.2 million is needed for the entire Welsh network, or for Powys an annual figure of £1,456,000.
Comparisons with the CCW Wales Condition Survey of 2002 have shown that the ROWIP assessments have produced extremely realistic figures, which may even be underestimating the scale of resources needed to bring the network into a satisfactory condition and then maintain it thereafter.
Countryside Services carries out a general network annual seasonal maintenance programme, the cost of which, for 2007/08 is £6,898 (ex VAT) covering 383.58km, about 9p/square metre.
52 3.4 The Need for Improving and Maintaining the Public Rights of Way Network
The Wales Tourist Board has estimated the annual economic value of the 14 path network to be £548 million; Powys’ share of this would be £153 million per annum (by network size). When we consider the value of the PROW network in this way the increased investments needed to bring the network into a satisfactory condition and then to maintain it seem a lot more reasonable and justifiable.
The public consultation has shown that people want the County Council to concentrate on maintaining routes that have already been opened, with 55% of respondents preferring this option to opening up routes that have received no maintenance to date. The landholder survey showed that 89% of landholders would prefer work to be concentrated on maintaining routes already open.
In considering this issue, the Local Access Forums confirmed their desire to see increased emphasis on maintaining opened paths but also acknowledged the need to make progress with opening blocked routes. They also noted that without increased investment, this would be a difficult task.
3.5 The Current Situation
The countryside access management budget in 2006/7 was £115,000. This is allocated between a team of 3 ROW Officers, 3 Countryside Wardens, Head Warden and Senior ROW Officer. An additional capital budget of £15,000 was also allocated in 2006/7, for capital bridge works. The Enforcement Officer has a budget of £35,000. External grants were also obtained during this period, but with an annual bidding round, the future availability of this money is uncertain. An unsuccessful bid for Lottery funding to develop circular trails has confirmed the difficulties in gaining external grants for work set against a statutory framework.
Assuming zero inflation and with static staffing and budget, it will take 50 years to complete the outstanding work to open the total network. However, during this 50 year period, existing (and new) furniture will have fallen into disrepair at least twice if not three times. Therefore at
14 CCW, Wales Rights of Way Condition Survey 2002, May 2003.
53 current funding levels, it is not possible to achieve a network that is completely open and easy to use.
ROWIP consultation and data analysis have clearly shown that considerably greater resources are needed to bring the full rights of way network up to a minimum standard in Powys. This includes the need for more staff on the ground and supporting revenue budget.
With current base-line capital and revenue management budgets of £130,000, and 7 field-staff, it is predicted to take 38 years to achieve an 80% open and easy to use PROW network. This reflects only the infrastructure costs of stiles, gates, etc. and does not take into account any legal costs, Definitive Map work or surface management.
Consultation has shown an overwhelming desire to see this timescale substantially reduced to within the lifetime of the Plan itself. For this to be achieved, an additional £500,000 revenue and capital budget and 5 new members of staff are needed.
Actions
A.1 To have an open, easy to use and well-signed public rights of way network.
To achieve 80% of the public rights of way network as open, easy to use and well signed by 2017.
A.1 a) Seek additional funding and staff to open public rights of way. On top of current resource levels an additional £361,000 per annum is required, plus 5 members of staff to spend this extra money. In total £500,000 per annum would be required over the 10-year plan.
A.1 b) Implement 10-year plan to have 80% of network open and easy to use. Open 3.5% of the network per annum, this target does not include paths already open or any maintenance on existing furniture.
A.2 To have an open, easy to use and well-signed public rights of way network.
Effectively manage, monitor and maintain opened paths in a satisfactory condition.
A.2 a) Re-open public rights of way.
A.2 b) Area Maintenance Officers and Volunteer Co-ordinator to design and implement a monitoring and reporting system on opened rights of way.
54
Section 4 - Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way
4.1 Introduction
Managing the PROW network, Access Land and National and Recreational Trails is the backbone of the work of Countryside Services. Through the ROWIP public consultation, a vigorous assessment into how these assets are managed has been undertaken. As a result, more customer focused and efficient working methods and practices have been established.
4.2 The Countryside Services Team
Fostering good working relationships with users, landholders, and all other interested parties has long been a high priority for PROW Officers and Wardens. This has been reflected in the high level of satisfaction with Countryside Services staff, as shown in the ROWIP consultation results.
The team of experienced staff in Countryside Services is an invaluable resource. Importance must be placed on retaining this experience and providing development opportunities.
4.3 Existing Policies and Working Practices
The current policies and working practices largely stem from the now obsolete 1995 publication A Strategy for Public Rights of Way in Powys. The development of working practices has been carried out over the years, to provide the best possible service within budgetary constraints. The Condition of the Rights of Way Network in Section 3 highlights the current state of the network and the resources needed to bring it into a satisfactory state of repair. As these extra resources are extremely unlikely in the foreseeable future, prioritisation is of paramount importance to ensure that existing funding is directed to provide practical support for landholders and to achieve the highest standard of access for the public.
Action B.1 Continually review and assess existing and potential working practices to improve access to the countryside.
55 4.4 Priority Community Areas
PROW maintenance work can be driven by proactive measures, however the main impetus of the work is reactive and led by reports received from the public. The number of reports received, outweighs the capacity of the staff and resources available to resolve them. As a result, after detailed discussion with the Local Access Forums, key interest groups and through the ROW Committee, Powys County Council has adopted a Priority Community Area approach. By using the number of reports weighted against the size of the network in each community, Area Access Officers concentrate their time and budget in the communities identified as having the highest demand. This is also subject to prior discussion with the respective local Town and Community Councils.
Once the reports within a priority community have been dealt with or resolved, the Officer will move on to the community which is next highest in terms of demand. This has proven to be a cost and time efficient method of distributing scarce resources. Whilst work is substantially driven by public demand, there are a number of exceptions that are dealt with outside this Priority Community Area approach. These include the management of serious health and safety issues and support for the WAG Tir Gofal scheme (See 4.6).
Actions
B.1 a) Implement the Priority Community Area approach.
B.1 b) Give priority to higher status paths within Priority Communities.
B.6 Work with internal and external partners to improve countryside access in Powys.
B.6 a) Work in partnership with Town and Community Councils to manage, maintain, improve and promote their PROW networks. Seek further discussions over future maintenance of PROW with those T&CC who expressed such wishes during the consultation process.
4.5 Signage
The 2005 ROWIP General Survey showed that ‘improved signage’ is the issue that respondents would most like to see improved. The results showed throughout, the importance of waymarking and signage.
56 To meet this demand, once a route has been opened or reviewed as being in satisfactory condition, Countryside Services install a fingerpost where the PROW meets a metalled road. Waymarker discs are also installed as appropriate once the path has been opened.
The level of waymarking will be appropriate to the landscape and likely level of use. The intensity of waymarking will generally be higher in areas with an anticipated greater level of use and on promoted recreational trails. In the expansive upland and remote areas, waymarking will be more selective.
Signage also covers the conveyance of information to users along routes. To assist both landholders and users, Countryside Services has produced a wide range of information signs such as ‘Please close the gate’. Other notices for use in a number of circumstances have also been provided and these have been consistently welcomed by landholders.
Actions
B.1 c) Once fully opened, routes are signed from all metalled roads and appropriately way-marked.
B.1 d) Continue to use and review appropriate information notices along public rights of way.
B.6 b) Work with internal and external partners to improve the provision of information along PROW and on Access Land.
4.6 Tir Gofal Scheme
One of the exceptions within the ‘Priority Community Area’ approach is to work with landholders entering into the Tir Gofal scheme. The Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme managed by the Welsh Assembly Government, places a high level of importance on PROW, with payments being withheld if paths are obstructed.
Tir Gofal Project Officers advise landholders with PROW on their holding to contact the relevant Countryside Services Officer, who then makes arrangements to fit site visits into their schedule. As this is an exception to the Priority Community Area Approach, no landholder grants will be issued for work that the landholder has a statutory duty to comply with. However, Powys County Council will provide the furniture
57 for installation, therefore ensuring good quality furniture on the PROW network.
Exceptions to this rule apply where landholders agree to make improvements on their paths, for example installing a self-closing gate on a footpath, instead of a stile, then Countryside Services would pay the installation costs as well as providing the furniture. Landholders would also still be paid where they do work on behalf of Powys County Council, such as the installation of fingerposts and waymarker posts. Between 2004-2006, 164 km of path were re-opened on Tir Gofal holdings with assistance from Countryside Services.
A new scheme set up in 2005, also by the WAG, is Tir Cynnal. This is the baseline, agri-environment scheme sitting below the soon to be extinct Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme (ESAs) and Tir Gofal. As part of the Tir Cynnal scheme, each landholding is required to have a Resource Management Plan. As an integral part of the scheme they must have all PROW on their property free from obstruction, all paths must be promptly re-instated following disturbance such as ploughing, and public access must not be restricted on Access Land without authorisation. If these statutory conditions are not adhered to, this would be a breach of their contract. Tir Cynnal is a strongly self-governed scheme with minimal inspections to ensure all conditions are adhered to. However, knowledge of participation in this scheme could be advantageous to Countryside Services staff when meeting with landholders as a bargaining tool.
Actions
B.6 c) Work with WAG to ensure good lines of communication and understanding with regards to the Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal schemes.
4.7 Health and Safety
As with nearly all areas of work, health and safety is now a major consideration. With regard to PROW, this not only applies to the welfare of Council staff and its contractors, but the Council also has a duty of care to members of the public using PROW. This is in addition to the landholder’s legal responsibilities. As a consequence, reports of serious health and safety risks are treated as a high priority and dealt with urgently. Reports of broken bridges and damaged furniture are examples.
58 4.8 Open Access in Powys
In May 2005, the public gained a new right of access to the countryside on land designated by the CCW as Access Land. The new access arises from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and is sometimes, misleadingly, referred to as the ‘right to roam’. The Act has given the right for people to carry out many recreational activities that can be undertaken on foot. These can include walking, running, bird watching and picnicking; however no additional rights of access have been given to horse-riders, cyclists or vehicle users.
Access Land includes all Common Land and designated ‘open country’. In addition, the Forestry Commission has also dedicated most of the land within its control as Access Land. Due to its largely upland nature, Powys has a higher than average proportion of Access Land, with 150,000 hectares (579 square miles) which equates to 29% of the county’s land area. This corresponds to one third of the total Access Land in Wales.
Even after deducting the Access Land that lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park, which is managed by the National Park Authority, and forests managed by the Forestry Commission Wales, Powys Countryside Services is responsible for managing access to 88,000 hectares (340 square miles), which corresponds to over 24% of the total Common Land and ‘open country’ in Wales.
4.8i) The Countryside Wardens Team in Powys
In reaction to the designation of Access Land and the new rights of access on foot, the County Council set up a Countryside Wardens Team comprising of a Head Warden and three Area Wardens. Each Warden has responsibility for one shire area, with additional support directly provided by the Head Warden in the Dyfi Valley area.
The Countryside Wardens provide advice to landholders and the public on their rights and responsibilities with regard to Access Land, and undertake work programmes to develop access to and across these areas. This can include securing access from an adjacent highway or adjoining area of Access Land in addition to managing existing PROW. Officers also work closely with colleagues at Forestry Commission Wales in developing key links between forest and ‘open country’ areas of Access land.
59
The improvement of access to Access Land is usually along existing PROW and therefore the work of the Countryside Wardens Team is very closely integrated with that of the Rights of Way Team. The two teams work side by side to improve access to the countryside in a holistic way. Whilst wearing their ‘rights of way hats’, the Wardens work in the same way as the PROW Officers and implement the Priority Community approach within their given work area.
4.8ii) Signing of Access Land
ROWIP consultation has shown that 72% of the general survey respondents prefer waymarked routes across Access Land, rather than choosing to exercise their right to wander freely in such areas. Signing all PROW and other routes across Access Land is a significant undertaking and could take a minimum of a decade to complete, even to a basic level.
Following detailed discussion and agreement with the three Local Access Forums, the Countryside Wardens Team aims to sign and waymark Access Land to a minimum standard. This is likely to mean that only key access point will be signed using the standard access symbols. The majority of these exits and entrances will be along existing PROW.
4.8 iii) The Future for Access Land
In consulting on this theme, the results have been mixed. The public have generally ranked work associated with Access Land as a relatively low priority, though it is important to landholders. Both groups give a high priority to the development of PROW.
In considering this issue, the LAFs have concluded that work should be concentrated on opening and improving access using the existing PROW network. Other access points will be developed where requested by a landowner.
The revenue budget available to the Countryside Wardens is very modest and can only deliver small-scale access improvements. To date the CCW has provided valuable additional funding for work on Access Land and continued assistance is considered essential to maintain progress.
60 In delivering access improvements the Countryside Wardens have been given a Service objective to ‘make 95% of Access Land available to the public by 2012’ and an annual target to ‘add 9 areas of Access Land as open during the year.’
The consultation highlighted a lack of public knowledge on the provision of Access Land. As a result, Countryside Services is looking to produce an appropriate guide with LAF support, to inform landholders and users of their rights and responsibilities. This local guide will be produced in partnership with the CCW’s regional officers.
Actions
B.6 b) Work with internal and external partners to improve the provision of information along PROW and on Access Land.
B.8 Make 95% of Access Land available to a basic standard by 2012.
B.8 a) Add nine areas of Access Land as open per year. Being open to a basic standard requires at least one access point to be available.
B.8 b) Open and way-mark routes across Access Land.
B.8 c) Secure additional funds for the opening and signing of access points and PROW to and across Access Land to meet 2012 target.
D. 1 e) The development of a guide to Access Land in Powys.
4.9 Powys Countryside Volunteers
Countryside Services employ a Volunteer Co-ordinator whose work is supported by approximately 140 volunteers across Powys. With an annual budget of around £20,000, in the last 3 years, this group has opened around 80km of path, replaced 65 bridges and repaired and inspected a further 50. The work of the volunteers is largely dependent upon external grant support from the CCW.
Since April 2005 the efforts of the Powys Countryside Volunteers have been substantially directed towards the maintenance and installation of bridges.
Powys has an unknown number of bridges on the PROW network, with many missing or in a poor state of repair. Due to the Council’s liability,
61 or in some cases joint liability to maintain bridges that cross natural streams or obstacles, the Volunteer Co-ordinator has devised a system where all known or suspected bridges and bridge sites have now begun to be inspected and a file created on each one. Liaison with colleagues in Transportation & Environmental Services resulted in the formation of a pro-forma that has now been utilised for recording and inspecting bridges.
The bridge inspection programme has only been possible due to the introduction of an Assistant Volunteer Co-ordinator post. This 11-month post has been funded by Powys County Council, and targets students looking for a sandwich year placement as part of their Countryside Management HND or Degree course. The funding runs out in March 2008 and without it the student placement and review of bridges will largely stop.
The programme has highlighted the need for extra resources. The ROWIP Action Plan will set out an objective to seek additional funding for three additional full-time and permanent Volunteer Co-ordinator posts, one for each old shire in the county. With these additional Volunteer posts, and an increased maintenance budget, huge improvements could be made to the bridges and PROW infrastructure of Powys.
The ROWIP public consultation results have shown that there is a strong desire for paths to be monitored and maintained after they have been opened up. The volunteer programme in Powys is one way in which Countryside Services could aim to meet this new expectation.
Actions
A.2 b) Area Maintenance Officers and Volunteer Co-ordinator to design and implement a monitoring and reporting system on opened rights of way.
B.7 Increase volunteer working on the PROW network.
B.7 a) Seek funding for three additional full-time and permanent Volunteer Co-ordinator posts and corresponding maintenance budgets.
B.7 b) Work with volunteers to monitor and maintain opened paths.
62 4.10 Enforcement
In a minority of cases, problems on public rights of way cannot be resolved with the landholder. When this occurs Countryside Services will seek to achieve compliance with existing legislation through proportional enforcement action.
The ROWIP consultation has highlighted the demand from users and landholders for the development of a rigorous and clear enforcement policy. As a result funding has been sought and received to employ a Countryside Access Enforcement Officer.
An ‘Enforcement policy and operational procedures guide’ will be developed and published. It will set out the approach to be taken by enforcement officers in exercising their countryside access enforcement duties. This will ensure that legislation is effectively complied with, that a consistent approach based on best practice is taken in each instance, and that Powys takes fair and efficient enforcement action when necessary.
Actions
D.1 f) Produce and publish an Enforcement Guide.
4.11 Biodiversity
Powys County Council is required to pay regard to biodiversity when carrying out all its functions, as set out under s.40 of the NERC Act, 2006. The section states that ‘Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity’.
There is considerable interaction between public access and the wildlife- rich habitats across Powys. Many areas have statutory designations for their biodiversity importance, such as the Pumlumon and Berwyn Mountains all designated as SSSIs, or the Elan Valley attracting European Special Protection Area and Special Area for Conservation status.
Many of Powys’ rivers are designated as SSSIs, the River Wye is also designated as a Special Area for Conservation, to reflect that its’ wildlife is of European importance. The Montgomery Canal, some of which
63 forms part of the Offa’s Dyke Path and Severn Way, is similarly designated for its aquatic plant-life.
The importance of these designations clearly has implications for countryside access work; in seeking appropriate permissions, in considering design, promotion, etc. and in monitoring or regulating use if it causes harm to biodiversity interests.
Wildlife and wildlife law also has implications for the timing of access work, such as being careful to avoid cutting vegetation in woodlands, or along hedgerows, when nesting birds may be present.
Biodiversity is intrinsic to our enjoyment of the countryside, and public rights of way are the means by which the majority of us can directly experience the wildlife that Powys has to offer. Our biodiversity-rich landscape is recognised as being a key asset to tourism, which plays a major role in Powys’ economy. The key to sustaining our enjoyment will be to maintain the careful balance between conservation and recreation. Supporting tourism measures that conserve and enhance the landscape and its’ biodiversity, are key priorities.
4.11 i) Case Study: Monks Trod
An unusual example of partnership working, which highlights the conflict between conservation and access can be found on the Monk’s Trod, a byway open-to-all-traffic and unclassified road located on the border between Powys and Ceredigion, in the Elan Valley. The 11.25 km route follows a route used by monks travelling from Strata Florida to Abbeycwmhir.
The Monk’s Trod crosses over some of the most protected areas for nature conservation in Britain. It’s many designations include a Site of Special Scientific Interest, part National Nature Reserve, Special Landscape Area, Environmentally Sensitive Area, and also Special Area for Conservation and Special Protection Area designated by the European Union.
Following severe degradation of the route, caused by legal motorised users, the decision was taken in 1990 to put in place a permanent Traffic Regulation Order limiting vehicular use. Given the international importance of the Elan Valley area, traversed by the Monks Trod, Powys and Ceredigion County Councils are obliged under European law to set out options for its care and management that are ecologically sound.
64 Before any management work can take place, the Countryside Council for Wales must approve a detailed Environmental Assessment and Management Plan in association with the Welsh Assembly Government.
As a result of this highly complex situation, the two authorities set-up an advisory group consisting of the Elan Valley Trust, CCW and a wide range of local user and interest groups. This group has been party to research carried out by the two Councils and has considered a series of options for the future management of the Monk’s Trod, with choices over route and status of users being hot topics. Special meetings have been held with the two Local Access Forums to further deliberate on the issues presented in this case, and further consider options for use and management. To date no final solution has been agreed upon.
65 4.12 Recreational Trails
Powys has two National Trails, the Offa’s Dyke Path and Glyndwr’s Way and a large number of regionally important promoted trails. These currently include the Wye Valley Walk, Severn Way, Ann Griffiths Walk, Kerry Ridgeway, Pererindod Melangell and the Epynt Way. Collectively these national and regional routes are referred to as Recreational Trails for the purposes of the ROWIP. There are other routes in Powys promoted by outside organisations e.g. Cambrian Way, Radnor Forest Ride and many more, however the ROWIP only looks at those routes managed by Countryside Services.
The Offa’s Dyke Path, Glyndwr’s Way and Epynt Way each have a dedicated officer supporting their management, improvement and promotion. Glyndwr’s Way falls fully within the county of Powys, the Offa’s Dyke in comparison is managed in partnership with the other authorities that the path runs through. The Recreational Trails Officer currently manages the Wye Valley Walk, Severn Way, Kerry Ridgeway, Ann Griffiths Walk and the Pererindod Melangell trail. The cycling routes across Powys are co-ordinated by the Cycling Development Officer based within Technical and Local Services.
4.12 i) Condition of the Recreational Trails Network
The Recreational Trails of Powys receive a higher priority for maintenance and promotion than the general PROW network. All the routes are open and intended to be consistently easy to use. Maintenance and improvement programmes over future years will include measures to improve path furniture to make routes as accessible to as many people as possible. Current expenditure on the Recreational Trails (excluding the National Trails) is around £15,000 per annum, which gives a figure of around £62 per kilometre of trail. It must be highlighted that this figure includes the maintenance, improvement and promotion of the trails. The budget for the Glyndwr’s Way is on average £21,500 per annum, which equates to £99 per kilometre.
The general PROW network has an expenditure of £12.43 per kilometre of path, which shows the priority given to the Recreational Trails of Powys. However, the £61.73 figure when put into perspective is still only enough to purchase a single stile kit per kilometre, without any
66 installation costs. This compares with Worcestershire County Council’s expenditure on the Severn Way, which in 2004 was £110 per kilometre.
An independent survey of the Severn Way carried out by the Environment Agency in 2006, looked at the condition of the trail and the costs associated with bringing the route into a basic minimum standard. The estimated costs for the 88 kilometres of the Severn Way in Powys is £29,337, or £333.38 per kilometre. The Severn Way is considered to be of an average standard for Recreational Trails in Powys, and assuming its condition as an average for the other trails we can estimate that £81,010 would be needed to bring all the Recreational Trails (excluding National Trails) up to a basic, minimum standard which is well signed, free of obstructions and safe to use. These figures do not take into account the extra costs of improvements, for example replacing stiles with self- closing gates to make the Trails more accessible.
4.12 ii) The Importance of the Recreational Trails Network
The importance of National Trails to the local and indeed national economies is being increasingly recognised, especially following the Countryside Council for Wales funded report into ‘The Benefits to Business of the National Trails in Wales’ published in March 2006. The report concluded that ‘National Trails are a marketable attraction… They offer an opportunity for economic development in rural areas where alternatives are limited, often acting as a catalyst for value added development.’ This is valid for all of the Recreational Trails in Powys.
The ROWIP public consultation has further highlighted the importance of these Recreational Trails to local people, visitors and businesses. The general survey has shown that 45% of the respondents use Recreational Trails in Powys with the Offa’s Dyke path being the most popular of the routes. Satisfaction with these trails and their management has been rated as high by the respondents of the general survey and the Town and Community Councils, with people being satisfied with the provision and standard of the routes. The landholder survey respondents rated Recreational Trails as their third highest priority out of all the services provided by Countryside Services.
The ROWIP consultation has targeted local people, landholders, Town and Community Councils and visitors to the area, all of the surveys have shown overwhelmingly that demand for the trails is high and that they offer significant contributions to local economies. Satisfaction with the
67 provision and standard of the routes is also high. This level of interest and contentment with current management supports the decision to invest in the high levels of management and development of these routes by Countryside Services. This work should be continued and strengthened into the future. Developing links between the Recreational Trails and local people, businesses and services is essential.
The Powys Accommodation Providers Survey showed that nearly half (45%) of the businesses surveyed, classed the recreational trails as being essential or very important to their business, with 90% of them being asked for information on the trails by their guests during their stay. These results are in line with CCW research which showed that over one third of accommodation providers located on or near a National Trail describe 14 the Trails as ‘very important to the profitability’ of their business.
Recreational Trails provide a resource for recreation and tourism, and offer great benefits for the health and well being of locals and visitors. They also provide significant economic benefits to the local communities, including local pubs, guesthouses, B&Bs, village shops and amenities. All these elements are important themes in the current strategies of the major bodies, including Powys County Council, Visit Wales, National Assembly of Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Natural England.
4.12 iii) Development of the Recreational Trails Network
The Recreational Trails’ budgets are currently subject to considerable grant aid support. The Countryside Council for Wales substantially funds Powys’ Recreational and National Trails through annual grant schemes. This support has been vital in the development of these trails over the last 15 years. However, it is seen as essential that a secure, permanent base budget for Recreational Trails is sought, to secure the long-term future of the trails.
Working in partnership with other organisations such as the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency, has enabled further European funding to be accessed for improvement and promotional activities on the trails. As part of a major Woodland Tourism project led by the Forestry Commission, £95,000 of European funding was made available for improvements to the Source of the Severn path on Plynlimon – work that
14 Report to Countryside Council for Wales, The Tourism Company, The Benefits to Business of the National Trails in Wales, March 2006.
68 has greatly benefited the Severn Way. Over £20,000 was also made available, through the same project, for improvements on the Kerry Ridgeway. Another European bid, led by the Environment Agency, has seen improvement to interpretation along the Severn Way. Partnership working has long been an essential tool in the management of the Recreational Trails network in Powys. Officers will continue to work in partnership with appropriate organisations and communities; this work will aim to be extended in the future.
In order to improve the management standard of the Trails, funding will be sought to appoint an Officer to manage a Recreational Trails Volunteer team. Funding will also be sought to appoint an Officer to assist in the management of the two National Trails.
Work is being continually carried out to improve the accessibility of the recreational trails with improvements being made to the path furniture along the routes to make them increasingly accessible to all. Recently the CCW, in conjunction with the National Trails Officers, produced Welsh Quality Standards for all of the National Trails. Powys County Council will look to develop Quality Standards for the remaining Recreational Trails.
There is great potential for the increased use of the Recreational Trails network in Powys, with increased and improved promotional activities being very beneficial. However, gathering further information on visitor usage and requirements will be essential for the future development of the Trails.
Actions
B.2 Ensure the long-term sustainable management, improvement and promotion of the Recreational Trails in Powys.
B.2 a) Secure permanent base budget for Recreational Trails. • Produce detailed, costed Action Plans for all Recreational Trails. • Use these Action Plans to approach Powys County Council, CCW, CA, MoD and other partners to try and secure permanent funding for Officer and revenue budgets.
B.2 b) Implement National Trail Quality Standards.
Increased budget likely to implement standards.
69 Actions Continued
B.2 c) Develop Powys Quality Standards for Recreational Trails.
Increased budget likely to implement standards.
B.2 d) Seek out opportunities to bid for funding to bring the Recreational Trails to a basic minimum standard.
B.2 e) Improve the quality and range of marketing activities.
• All Recreational Trail Officers to receive marketing and interpretive planning training. • Review current marketing activities and develop Interpretive Plans for all Recreational Trails. • Implement Interpretive Plans.
B.2 f) Develop links between the Recreational & National Trails and local people, businesses and services.
• Funding for Officer support and corresponding budget required - £30k per annum for three-year project.
B.2 g) Secure more local volunteer involvement in the management of the Recreational Trails.
• Funding for new Volunteer Co-ordinator to manage volunteers (£42k per annum) • Seek funding for new Recreational Trails Volunteer Co-ordinator to manage volunteers in the monitoring and basic maintenance of the Recreational Trails. • Recreational Trails Volunteer Co-ordinator to work with volunteers to extend and broaden the Trails Tempters Guided Walk Programme.
B.2 h) Seek out opportunities to make improvements to the National and Recreational Trails to make them more accessible.
B.2 i) Accurate monitoring of visitor numbers and satisfaction.
B.2 j) Secure funding for NTO Assistant, to support Offa’s Dyke Path and Glyndwr’s Way Officers in managing maintenance work and landowner negotiation; to assist with creating links with local businesses and communities.
70 Section 5 - Theme C: Definitive Map and Statement
5.1 Introduction
The Definitive Map and Statement (DMS) is the legal document that records the location and status of PROW. The DMS underpins the work of the whole countryside access team by providing the definitive record of the location and status of PROW. It is also a vital tool in answering questions relating to local land charges, planning applications, Tir Gofal applications and so on.
5.2 Local Context
The former County Councils of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire were dissolved in 1974 and since that time Powys County Council has been responsible for the maintenance and review of three complete DMS.
Since 1974 several administrative boundary changes have occurred, resulting in Powys becoming responsible for a substantial portion of a 4th DMS from the former Clwyd County Council, and smaller areas from West Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire. The current DMS of Powys now comprises approximately 300 A1 map sheets.
The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has delegated powers to make its own Public Path Orders and Definitive Map Modification Orders within Powys; but Powys County Council retains overall responsibility for the whole Brecknockshire DMS (i.e. for consolidation and publication).
5.3 The Definitive Map Team
There are currently two officers in the Definitive Map Team who are responsible for the management and processing of Public Path Orders and evidential Modification Orders.
71 5.4 Legal Searches on the Definitive Map
The DMS is in daily use for land charges, planning applications and private searches. These demand an accurate response and an up-to-date DMS. There is one full-time Officer (currently externally funded) in Countryside Services who deals exclusively with these searches; but the number being received is steadily increasing, resulting in difficulty meeting the set short response times. In 2006, over 1,600 land charge searches were received and 265 planning applications. In the last two years the planning applications alone have risen by 25%. Time spent on interpretation and digitisation of the DMS will significantly help to speed up these processes and reduce inaccuracies.
5.5 Legal Events altering the Definitive Map and Statement
‘Legal events’ are orders that change or correct details of PROW recorded on the DMS, and include: Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMOs) and Public Path Orders (PPOs) made by the County Council, Magistrates Court Orders, Side Roads Orders made by Central Government, and Enabling Acts of Parliament required for major civil- engineering projects such as reservoir construction.
The process to alter the Definitive Map by DMMO or PPO is a very public one, with all interested parties including affected landowners being consulted. A period of public advertisement follows the order making, to allow any objections to be lodged. If there are any, a local public inquiry before an inspector is normally held to hear these and determine the outcome.
5.6 Outstanding Work on the Definitive Map
5.6.i) Consolidation
‘Consolidation’ of a DMS is the formal process of updating and re- publishing the set of map sheets on a more modern map base, and incorporating details of legal changes that have been made. There are currently over 700, and rising, legal events waiting to be incorporated onto the DMS of Powys.
Consolidation of the DMS requires considerable staff time and resources. At current staffing levels, the remaining consolidation of all the
72 Definitive Maps is expected to take another 5 to 7 years work. This timescale could be reduced significantly, to as little as 3 to 4 years, with a dedicated Officer working solely on consolidation.
5.6.ii) Legal Orders
The work of the Definitive Map Team has become increasingly dominated by backlogs of both PPOs and DMMOs.
The DMMO backlog has been reduced recently by the use of consultants, to undertake such time-consuming tasks as interviewing witnesses and researching documentary evidence at the National Archives, in Kew. However an estimated minimum of 3 years work remains on existing DMMO applications, within current staffing and budgets.
PPO applications suffer from a similar problem, with sometimes up to 100 cases in the backlog. This represents an estimated minimum of 5 years work at current resource levels. The creation of an additional 3-year post could significantly reduce or even eliminate the current backlog of orders.
Officers are also considering ways to give PPO applicants the opportunity to undertake more of the preliminary work themselves, or to employ a consultant to do so. This could significantly reduce officer time dealing with some cases, and allow more applications to be processed. To support this approach, a trial pack could be produced to facilitate applicants undertaking pre-order consultations themselves. This would speed up the preliminary work needed to fully consider a PPO application. However, because of the number of new applications being received, significant backlogs in PPO and DMMO work are likely to remain, unless more resources are consistently made available to address the problem.
5.6.iii) Errors and Anomalies (Definitive Map Review)
PROWs shown on the Powys DMS contain a range of anomalies that limit their usefulness. Examples range from “dead-ends” at farmyards, buildings, unadopted roads or old parish or county boundaries, to changes in status and “missing links” between the Definitive Map record and the List of Streets. Some may simply be caused by mapping errors at earlier production stages, or they can result from something inherently wrong with the information upon which the first maps were based.
73 One issue of increasing interest since the announced ‘closing’ of the DMS in 2026 is that of “Lost Ways”, or paths which have never been identified for recording on the DMS. The extent of this phenomenon cannot be easily quantified due to its very nature.
Powys County Council has taken the view that priority should be given to resolving problems on paths that are already recorded on the DMS, before seeking to research and record new routes. This reflects the results of the public consultation exercise, which showed that the issue of Lost Ways featured as a low priority.
The scale and nature of the anomalies problem is currently being assessed. It is provisionally concluded that about 2,000 anomalies exist throughout Powys. The lowest number is found in Brecknockshire with the largest number in Montgomeryshire; but the greatest concentration is in Radnorshire.
If every anomaly were to become a potential DMMO case, the resource implications would be enormous. With the closure of the DMS in 2026, there is also a tight deadline for undertaking this workload. Additional resources are needed if any effective action is to the taken to tackle this situation; the employment of an extra Definitive Map Officer to deal with anomalies is seen as crucial.
5.7 Current Policies and Working Practices
5.7.i) Prioritisation For Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMOs)
The demand for DMMOs greatly outstrips the current capacity to supply. As a consequence, prioritisation of casework has to apply and Committee has approved a “statement of priorities”. Factors such as the potential benefit of a DMMO application to the local PROW network can be considered, as well as whether efficiency gains can be made through combining the research effort of more than one claim in a given area. Whilst chronological order remains the initial basis for prioritisation, other factors determine whether one is promoted in the queue.
5.7.ii) Prioritisation For Public Path Orders (PPOs)
A prioritisation rationale for Public Path Orders has been difficult to formulate and in 2005, Committee approval was given for Officers to
74 continue to determine priority for PPOs, based on the case merits. Officers have been given authority to make and confirm Orders in uncontested cases. Farmyard diversions will remain a high priority for PPO work, as confirmed by the consultation findings.
5.7.iii) Charging Policy for Public Path Orders
Charging levels for PPOs vary widely across England & Wales. In 2005, Powys County Council reviewed its policy and set the charge for making an order, under both the Highways Act and the Town and Country Planning Act, at £1,000 plus £100 for each additional path included in the order. These charges include the costs of advertising and VAT, and are subject to a 3-yearly review.
The cost of diverting restricted byways and BOATs in a Magistrates Court is more difficult to assess, but is likely to be in the region of £1,500.
There are categories of exemption from charging, such as in the resolution of anomalies, or other public benefits and issues of public safety such as farmyard diversions.
5.8 Conclusions and Actions for the Future
The main problem faced by the Definitive Map Team is the lack of resources to maintain the accuracy of the DMS record and improve its quality and utility, while keeping pace with order applications.
The work involved in legal orders is increasingly complex, with the evolution of case law and an increased use of consultants and lawyers to challenge the decisions of the Council.
The PPO workload has also increased as a result of the greater number of maintenance officers encountering problems most easily resolved through diverting paths. Examples include paths illegally obstructed by buildings given planning consent many years ago by predecessor authorities, or not subject to the planning process at all, such as agricultural structures. Although the Highways Act gives the County Council power to remove them, the moral authority to do so perhaps 20 years after the event is not so obvious.
75 There are many advantages to having a digitally produced version of the DMS, although maintaining a large paper version cannot currently be avoided. A digital map could be easily and quickly updated and in time be made widely available on the Council’s website. This would provide substantial benefits to both the Authority and public, providing accurate information about public access for the needs of leisure and tourism as well as to internal partners such as Planning Services.
Actions
C.1 Achieve an accurate and up-to-date Definitive Map and Statement.
C.1 a) Seek short-term funding for Definitive Map Officer support to consolidate the DMS, reduce the backlog of legal orders and pursue the resolution of existing anomalies.
C.1 b) Address the problem of anomalies on the Definitive Map and Statement.
C.1 c) Reduce the backlog of Public Path and Definitive Map Modification Orders.
C.1 d) Develop a system whereby more impetus is placed on PPO applicants, to reduce the workload of Definitive Map Officers.
C.1 e) Produce a Public Path Application Pack for Developers.
C.2 Make the Definitive Map and Statement widely available in appropriate formats.
C.2 a) Create electronic version of the Definitive Map and Statement. Work to be carried out by the Rights of Way Officer in between other Definitive Map tasks.
C.2 b) Make electronic version available to all staff in Powys County Council, to external partners where necessary and on the Powys website.
C.3 Secure permanent funding for continuation of the Countryside Services Clerk post.
76 Section 6
Theme D: Publicity and Promotion Review
The promotion and publicity of the PROW network is important, as highlighted in the Welsh Assembly’s Guidance.
Information to the public can improve their understanding of the countryside and its long-term care. It also helps to increase the confidence of users and landowners about their rights and responsibilities. Information is the key to encouraging visitors to an area and promoting the opportunities for them to enjoy the 15 countryside through walking, cycling and horse riding.
Information is provided to the public in a variety of different forms; this can be in promotional leaflets or booklets, via a website or the provision of information along a route.
Countryside Services identified the provision of information as important many years ago and already provides a wide range of leaflets, guidebooks and posters, which are distributed to the general public via the Tourist Information Centres across the county. Some can also be purchased direct from the department itself.
A large percentage of the leaflets are bilingual. Currently none are available in large print or Braille, however, copies of the information in electronic form can be sent out, so that people can enlarge them to a size to suit. Throughout the design process, thought is given to making the information as accessible as possible, with print generally no smaller than 12pt and on contrasting backgrounds.
Examination and comparisons of Countryside Service literature with other information produced by outside organisations was made during the ROWIP assessments. Generally the quality of promotional material for ease of use, clarity of text and graphic presentation is good across the 16 range of information produced by organisations in Powys. However, information on provision for disabled users was lacking in most of the material reviewed, and information on other facilities and services, as well as transport connections, was inconsistent.
15 Welsh Assembly Government, Statutory Guidance, 3.3.11. 16 Powys Rights of Way Improvement Plan, Part 2 Promotion and Information Provision to the Public, for Powys County Council by Land Use Consultants, P. 14.
77 6.1 Trail Tempters Programme
One of the most widely distributed leaflets is the annual guide for the Trail Tempters programme, which advertises the free guided walks, organised by Countryside Services, which take place during the summer months. This leaflet and a variety of posters are distributed across the county to all Tourist Information Centres, doctors surgeries, libraries and sports centres.
Adverts are placed in a number of publications including Explore the Marches, Holiday Maker and the local press. Prior to every walk, promotional flyers are also placed in local shops, pubs and Post Offices. Feedback is obtained from those taking part and a database kept of participants to ensure they are sent details of future events. The Trail Tempters are advertised on the Internet and promoted through the County Council’s Tourism and the Wye Valley Walk websites. This allows a wider spread of information than the flyers, posters and adverts can achieve alone.
All the walks are well planned and executed with all due regard taken to ensure the safety of participants and Countryside Service staff. All walks are surveyed a number of times before the event and risk assessments carried out. Staff involved undertake First Aid training and carry First Aid kits, walkie-talkies and mobile phones.
The Trail Tempters programme is a very successful way of encouraging new people to go walking in Powys. The feedback from all the walks has always been extremely positive with an 80% increase in attendance for 2005. Comments on the walks have included ‘Excellent’, ‘More please!’ and ‘We would never have done it without the guides’.
The programme is a superb way of promoting the good work carried out by the Countryside Services team, however the benefits extend further as they are an excellent way of encouraging people to start walking and improve health and well-being. The programme is likely to be extended in the future to incorporate new partners to offer specialist walks.
6.2 Accessible Countryside
Countryside Services produce a guide of Accessible Countryside locations, produced in consultation with local groups for the disabled and the Ramblers Association. The bilingual guide has been very popular and
78 is now in its second print in a new full-colour format. It is expected that this guide will be extended and updated again before a further reprint.
6.3 Information for the Public and Professionals As well as guides to encourage people to use the PROW in Powys, Countryside Services also produces a range of literature aimed at informing landholders and managers of their legal rights and responsibilities and what services are available to assist them.
The Public Rights of Way in Powys: A Guide for Farmers, Managers and Landholders has been very popular and sets out the legal background to public rights of way and their rights and responsibilities. The guide was produced in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Association, Farmers Union of Wales and the National Farmers Union and has been distributed widely across Powys.
The Public Rights of Way in Powys: A Guide for Woodland Managers, Owners and Professionals advises managers and owners of woodlands and forests of their responsibilities concerning PROW and countryside access. By improving awareness of PROW and peoples’ rights and responsibilities concerning them, Countryside Services is working to improve access to information for users and landholders alike.
The Development and Public Rights of Way: A Practitioners Guide is aimed at raising awareness of PROW law within the Planning System. It is hoped that the guide will help reduce conflicts between public access and planning developments.
The development of guides for Enforcement and to Access Land in Powys are actions outlined within the ROWIP.
6.4 External Publications
As well as the guides and leaflets produced by Powys County Council there are a huge number produced by outside organisations and groups. These publications vary in quality and nature. Routes publicised by Powys County Council receive a higher priority in terms of maintenance, which cannot be guaranteed for routes promoted by outside organisations.
6.5 Website
79
Countryside Services has web pages linked to the Powys County Council main website. The web pages provide a range of information under the themes of what public rights of way are, what the Definitive Map and Statement is, maintenance of rights of way and the ROWIP.
The site is still under construction and further development is planned. There are plans to develop an electronic report form so that maintenance problems can be reported directly to the local area officer and interactive maps so users can find promoted route information. More detailed information would also be included on PROW maintenance, enforcement, Access Land and links to the other council pages, which provide information on local countryside amenity sites.
With a comprehensive and detailed web presence it may be possible to reduce the number of enquiries that the service receives. Countryside Services currently receives an estimated 4,000 letters, 17,000 emails and makes or receives 21,000 telephone calls per annum. If these enquiries could be reduced through a better web presence, staff time could be freed up.
6.6 Information en route
Another form of information provided by Countryside Services is sitebased. Information can take many forms from a standard waymark disc, to notices stating ‘Please shut the gate’, and ‘No through route’ etc to interpretation boards detailing local history, geography and route plans.
The Countryside Act 1968 s 27 imposes a duty and a power on highway authorities to signpost all footpaths, bridleways and byways where they leave a metalled road. Countryside Services has a working practice of waymarking routes once they have been opened up. Beyond signposting and waymarking; promoted long-distance recreational trails have a higher standard of information provision. For example, along the Kerry Ridgeway there are now fingerposts that point to the nearest villages and their distances.
Many recreational trails also have interpretation boards installed at appropriate points. A stone cairn with panorama boards has been constructed along the Kerry Ridgeway, whilst bronze bibles produced by the local community provide information along the Ann Griffiths Walk. Tastefully and carefully done, interpretation can enhance a route experience.
80
Actions
D.1 Increase the range and quality of public information in a variety of formats.
D.1 a) Improve Countryside Services Web Site.
Update Countryside Services website. Include a wider range of information for the public. Make all free guides available to download from the website. Include information on Trails.
D.1 b) Improve and increase the range of information on and about countryside access. • Training for staff in interpretation and marketing. • Review all current interpretation and publications. Develop a Powys Interpretive Plan, which sets out clear guidelines to follow when producing information of any kind. Specific attention must be paid to the needs of disabled people. Information must be widely available to people of all ages and backgrounds.
£10,000 per publication needed.
D.1 c) All information produced by Countryside Services will aim to be available, appropriate, accurate and accessible.
D.1 d) Monitor and update, as necessary, the Access to Countryside Locations in Powys: A Guide to Accessibility.
D. 1 e) The development of a guide to Access Land in Powys.
D.1 f) Produce and publish an Enforcement Guide.
D. 1 g) Ensure TICs have access to stocks of Countryside Service – approved Recreational Trail and circular trail leaflets and guides.
D.1 h) Provide training for TIC staff on countryside access and develop good communication links.
81 Section 7 - Internal and External Partners
Countryside access is not the exclusive domain of Countryside Services, but involves a range of other internal and external partners to Powys County Council. This section briefly looks at some of these and how they are linked with rights of way and countryside access.
7.1 Internal Partners within Powys County Council
Improving the corporate health of Powys County Council is one of the objectives set out under the Corporate Improvement Plan. One of the actions that sit under this objective is the improved communication and processes between the different sections of the Council.
Countryside Services has been working over a number of years to improve internal communication. Some examples of internal working partnerships are outlined below.
7.1 (i) Planning Services
The work of Powys County Council’s Planning Services can affect public rights of way and countryside. The granting of planning permission for buildings can have a negative impact if paths and access are obstructed. In seeking to tackle this issue, in 2007 Countryside and Planning Services published Development and Public Rights of Way: A Practitioners Guide, which has been distributed to all developers and agents operating in Powys and Community Councils. It will also be made available to others seeking planning permission. By making developers aware, in the early planning stages, of rights of way and the issues surrounding them, it will help minimise problems later on. Further work is required with ongoing training and support to planning officers to ensure countryside access is fully taken into account within the planning system.
7.1 (ii) Transportation and Environmental Services
Transportation and Environmental Services and Countryside Services work together to look after selected PROW. Generally, surfaced paths within urban areas are managed directly by TES, alongside other surfaced roads and footways.
82 7.1(iii) Cycling Development Officer for Powys County Council
Powys County Council employs a Cycling Development Officer who works closely with officers across the Authority within Road Safety, Traffic Management, Highway Design and Tourism services and with external partners (such as local community groups, Sustrans and the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency).
The County Council’s aims and objectives in respect of cycling are set out in its Local Transport Plan (LTP) which will be replaced by a Regional Transport Plan (RTP) for Mid Wales from April 2008.The RTP will be developed by TRACC, the Transport consortium for Mid Wales.
Around 8% of car journeys in Wales are less than 1 mile, 26% are under 2 miles and 60% are under 5 miles.20 When seen alongside employee and school travel surveys undertaken by Powys County Council, statistics such as these indicate significant potential to transfer shorter journeys from the car to walking or cycling.
To encourage more cycling, the County Council and its partners aim to:
• Provide coherent, linked pedestrian and cycle routes – on or off-road • Build walking and cycling routes into new development design - e.g. segregated cycle or shared use routes • Provide safer environments – street lighting, Toucan, Zebra or Pelican crossings and traffic calming.
From 2008 it is anticipated that the bidding process and funding mechanism will be changed as the new Regional Transport Plan comes into force.
In its Walking and Cycling Strategy for Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government sets targets for increasing the length of national cycle routes in Wales. There are over 950 miles of the network in Wales and Sustrans expects over 100 million trips to be made using the network each year.
Powys is at the heart of the National Cycle Network with 129 miles of Completed Network running through the county and a further 115 miles for future completion. The NCN is publicised mainly by Sustrans and
20 DfT, National Travel Survey, 2004.
83 local authorities are expected to fund the upkeep of the routes, including replacement signs and waymarking, and improvements to sections of the NCN. NCN maintenance is funded from the Council’s cycle route maintenance budget.
The existence of sections of the national network is widely believed to contribute to increased utility cycling and walking trips within local authority areas (not just for leisure) and plays an important economic role in attracting visitors to the area.
Perhaps one of the most prominent and successful partnership arrangements has been between Powys County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government in the delivery of the ‘Safe Routes to School’ initiative, managed by the Cycling Development Officer. Projects seek to promote walking and cycling as healthy and environmentally sustainable ways of travelling to and from school, as well as reducing traffic congestion associated with the ‘school run’. In addition, SRTS projects aim to make school travel safer and compliment the work of the County Council’s Traffic and Road Safety Service and the provision of home to school transport.
A Safer Routes network was completed in Newtown in 2002 and infrastructure works have recently been completed in Brecon, Ystradgynlais and Machynlleth. The Ystradgynlais SRTS project has won two prestigious national transport awards.
The Council’s Cycling Officer works with schools to develop travel plans, addressing key travel and road safety issues. In addition, the County Council must implement a robust monitoring regime based on accident statistics (particularly those involving children) and the modal share of journeys to school. This element has been underdeveloped to date and further work is needed to ensure that resources are being targeted effectively.
With the success of Safe Routes to School in Powys, there is a growing expectation that similar projects can be implemented near many more schools across the County. The Welsh Assembly Governments’ Transport Grant has funded this programme and the annual bidding round is becoming increasingly competitive. The process demands considerable officer time to prepare bids, whether they are successful or not.
84
There are a number of proposed pedestrian/ cycling schemes, which run alongside the Trunk road network in Powys, and are dependent upon funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
7.1 (iv) Tourism Services
Tourism Services promotes and publicises access to the countryside in Powys. In partnership with Countryside Services, marketing information on the national and recreational trails is published, along with an Accommodation Guide. This information is distributed at a local, national and international level. Consultation has revealed a desire by TIC staff for regular training and briefing sessions on countryside access.
7.1 (v) The Arts
Discussions have begun over the potential of joint projects between Countryside Services and the Arts Development Officer; enhancing the experience of access to the countryside with sculpture is one idea that has been discussed.
7.1 (vi) Health Intervention Scheme
Links are also being developed with colleagues working in the health sector, resulting in the Trails Tempters leaflets now being advertised and distributed through the ‘Health Intervention Scheme’ run by Powys County Council, and associated with ‘Health Challenge Wales’. Circular walks have also been developed in support of the ‘Health Walks’ initiative. The development of both the Trail Tempters programme and emerging Health Walks have been seen as closely linked to the much larger health and well being agenda and further development is needed.
7.2 External Partners
Access to the countryside is not just the domain of Powys County Council. There is a wide spectrum of access provided by other individuals and organisations. Building strong and healthy external partnerships has always been central to the work of public rights of way.
85 7.2 (i) Landholders
The vast majority of access through public rights of way and Access Land is across privately owned land, and as such Countryside Services staff have to work in partnership with a huge number of individuals and groups who own or manage land. Building good partnerships with landholders is very important to manage and improve access to the countryside.
In association with the Powys LAFs, the publication of ‘Public Rights of Way: A guide to farmers, managers and landholders’ has been part of the process of building relationships, providing information and giving confidence.
7.2 (ii) Town and Community Councils
Communication and positive relations with Powys’ local Town and Community Councils are essential to successful engagement with local communities and management at a local level.
Local Councils are a consultee for proposed Public Path Orders and Modification Orders. Dialogue and participation is also sought from local area officers before the commencement of work programmes in priority communities.
Consultation also showed that 20% of the Community Councils who responded indicated that they were interested in further discussions on delivering path management themselves in their area.
Local councils can offer significant support to local officers in building community support in developing and opening up paths in their areas. Feedback and individual support to and from local landholders can make real differences in delivering more effective and efficient work programmes.
7.2 (iii) Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) represent a key partner for the County Council. Through agreement, they act for the Council in managing and maintaining PROW, and in pursuing all Modification Order work related to their area of Powys. The BBNPA also independently hold powers to carry out public path orders and can
86 make traffic regulation orders for certain types of highways. The BBNPA have undertaken and published an independent ROWIP for the National Park area.
7.2 (iv) Countryside Council for Wales & Natural England
The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) annually funds a number of access projects managed by Countryside Services. National and Recreational Trails are substantially supported by the CCW, as is the work of the Volunteer Co-ordinator, and in opening up Access Land.
The Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail Officer is also jointly supported by Natural England and CCW.
7.2 (v) User Groups
Interaction with user groups and their members happens in a variety of ways. The local membership can provide very effective ‘eyes and ears’ in monitoring and reporting issues affecting the path network. They significantly support the work of officers in delivering work programmes through work with the Powys Countryside Volunteers, and independently in undertaking surveys and guided walks.
User group representatives also act as consultees for proposed legal orders, offering advice and comment to officers from a local user perspective. At a national level, user groups can also affect change through lobbying, and are often able to promote issues on a political stage with greater effect than may be achieved by local authorities and their staff.
Working closely with the Ramblers’ Association and the British Horse Society has also led to successful access promotions, most notably the development and publication of Access to countryside locations in Powys: Guide to accessibility and Powys on Horseback.
7.2 (vi) Forestry Commission Wales
Forestry Commission Wales (FC Wales) is the largest landholder in Powys, managing 19,000 hectares of Access Land across the county, outside of the BBNP.
87 The Council and FC Wales have worked together for many years, with regular meetings held between local staff. The work of the FC Wales does in its very nature impact upon access, however FC Wales also has a remit to provide access opportunities within its forests, which seeks to balance the needs of economics and recreation. As a result work by FC Wales on walking, riding and cycling trails is commonplace.
Powys County Council and FC Wales have also worked together on a number of joint partnership projects, with creation of the Source of the Severn path and the new car park at the Kerry Ridgeway being two good examples.
7.2 (vii) British Waterways Board (BWB)
The Montgomery Canal offers a substantial access corridor within the Severn Valley, and has considerable links with the wider PROW network. Much of it is designated as Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail or Severn Way, and Countryside Services are working in partnership to develop a series of circular trails linked to the canal, following a successful partnership grant aid bid by the British Waterways Board (BWB). BWB are also central to maintaining and improving access along the towpath, and are planning work to improve access as part of the grant programme.
7.2 (viii) Local Access Forums
The three Powys Local Access Forums (LAFs) offer independent comment and advice on outdoor recreation issues, and their membership includes balanced user and landholder interests. With Countryside Services officers offering a secretariat service and acting as advisors to the LAFs, partnership working has led to the publication Public Rights of Way: A guide for farmers, managers and landholders and also Public Rights of Way: A guide for woodland managers, owners and professionals. A further guide aimed at landholders with Access Land in Powys is also proposed.
The LAFs have also contributed significantly to the ROWIP, development of working practices and priorities for Access Land, and offer advice to the County Council on budgets and staffing issues.
88 7. 2 (ix) Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust
The Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) is an educational charity and one of four regional trusts that cover Wales. Set up in the 1970s their role has developed from the traditional ‘rescue archaeology’ type work to a more curatorial role in recent decades. The trust is based in two offices in Welshpool. The Trust keeps and updates the Regional Historic Environment Record on behalf of Powys County Council who partly helps to fund the organisation.
The promotion of the ROW network is also an opportunity to educate people on the archaeological sites of interest in the countryside they will be passing through. Interpretation boards along routes are another opportunity to educate and improve awareness on archaeological issues. If people are better educated they are less likely to cause damage.
7.3 Neighbouring Local Authorities
Powys County Council’s Countryside Services have worked in partnership with a number of neighbouring authorities over recent years.
Examples include the review of management of the Monk’s Trod with Ceredigion CC; the management and monitoring of Pistyll Rhaeadr by Denbighshire Countryside Services; joint local authority partnership groups to review, evaluate and promote the Wye Valley Walk and Severn Way; arrangements with Gwynedd CC to manage cross-border Access Land; an agreement with the BBNPA to manage PROW in the National park within Powys; joint arrangements with Gwynedd, Herefordshire and Shropshire to manage bridges along the County boundaries.
The list of partners of Countryside Services is extensive and only a few have been mentioned here, however, every partner is valued. Countryside Services, throughout the life of this Plan, will seek to extend and improve internal and external partnerships, and take all reasonable opportunities to improve access to the countryside of Powys.
Actions B.6 Improve partnership working.
B.6 a) Work in partnership with Town and Community Councils to manage, maintain, improve and promote their PROW networks. Seek further discussions over future maintenance of PROW with those T&CC who expressed such wishes during the consultation process.
89 Actions Continued
B.6 b) Work with internal and external partners to improve the provision of information along PROW and on Access Land.
B.6 c) Work with WAG to ensure good lines of communication and understanding with regards to the Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal schemes.
B.6 d) Work in partnership with neighbouring local authorities. Consider and participate in cross-border initiatives, where benefits exceed investment. Take the opportunity to learn from the best practice of other local authorities.
B.6 e) Continue to develop collaborative working with the dedicated Transportation and Tourism Services within the County Council.
B.6 f) Provide training and support to Planning Services and TIC staff on countryside access issues.
B.6 g) Participate in collaborative partnership working with external partners to achieve mutually beneficial aims.
B.6 h) Seek improvements to the National Cycle network.
B.6 i) Seek continued funding to implement and promote the Safe Routes to School initiative.
B.6 j) Implement a monitoring scheme linked to Safe Routes to School and child accident rates.
B.6 k) Continue to develop and promote the Trail Tempters programme and develop partnerships in its promotion and distribution.
B.6 l) Participate in the development and success of the Walking your Way for Health & Health Walks initiatives.
90 Section 8 Public Rights of Way Action Plan
8.1 Action Plan Introduction
Four main themes have been identified during the ROWIP process. These themes have been identified as being key to delivering our vision for access to the Powys countryside. They are:
Themes A Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network
B Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land
C Definitive Map and Statement
D Publicity and Promotion
Under these priorities sit the aims that will be the key goals supporting each of the themes.
Aims Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network
• To have an open, easy to use and well-signed public rights of way network.
• Effectively manage, monitor and maintain opened paths in a satisfactory condition.
Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land
• Take all reasonable steps to improve access for all.
• Identify and develop local, circular routes around settlements.
• Improve and increase access onto and across Access Land.
91
• Ensure the long-term success of the recreational trails in Powys.
Definitive Map and Statement
• Achieve an accurate and up-to-date Definitive Map and Statement.
• Make the Definitive Map and Statement widely available in appropriate formats.
Publicity and Promotion
• Increase the range and quality of public information in a variety of formats.
These themes and aims address the major issues arising from the public consultation and assessments and provide the backbone to the Action Plan and the improvements planned for Countryside Services over the 10 years of the ROWIP.
8.2 The Action Plan
The Action Plan sets out the aims and objectives of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and the actions needed to make these possible. The Action Plan also sets out how these aims fit in with Powys County Council’s corporate priorities.
Extra funding will be required in order for some of the objectives to be realised. However, as this may not be possible in all circumstances, the Action Plan also outlines objectives that can be achieved within current funding levels.
92 8.3 Key to ROWIP Action Plans
Improvements that can be made, if current funding and staffing levels are remain at current levels.
BVPS Best Value Performance Statistics
Partners Key Assessment & Plans and Strategies Key BHS British Horse Society CCW Countryside Council for AOW Audit Commission Wales Wales CH Climbing Higher, Welsh CS Countryside Services Assembly Government DP Disability Powys LBAP Local Biodiversity Action EU European Union Plan FC Forestry Commission LTP/RTP Local Transport Plan/ Wales Regional Transport Plan IT Information Technology PCC CIP Powys Corporate LHB Local Health Board Improvement Plan MoD Ministry of Defence PCC UDP Powys Unitary NE Natural England Development Plan Other LA’s Other Local Authorities PCS Powys Community PAG Powys Access Groups Strategy PCC Powys County Council ROWIP: GS General Survey PCV Powys Countryside ROWIP: LH Landholder Survey Volunteers ROWIP: AP Accommodation Provider PS Planning Services Survey T&CC Town & Community ROWIP: TIC Tourist Information Councils Centre Survey TES Transportation & ROWIP: T&CC Town and Environmental Services Community TICs Tourist Information Council Survey Centres UG User Groups WAG Welsh Assembly Government
Appendix 1 Copies of all questionnaires
93 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme A: Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network Ref: A.1
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment
To have an open, easy to use and well-signed public Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim rights of way network 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
To achieve 80% of the public rights of way network as 50% 53.5% 57% 60.5% 64% 80% Improvement Objective open, easy to use and well signed by 2017.
Additional Resources Required to meet £500k £500k £500k £500k £500k £500k Objective per Increase in staff and maintenance budgets annum £ - Financial # 5 # 5 # 5 # 5 # 5 # 5 # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
A.1 a) Seek additional funding and staff to open public rights of way. On top of current resource levels an additional £361,000 ROWIP: GS, LH, per annum is required, plus 5 members of staff to spend this PCC, CCW, WAG Complete by April 2008 T&CC. PCC CIP, extra money. In total £500,000 per annum would be required PCS, CH over the 10-year plan.
A.1 b) Implement 10-year plan to have 80% of network open ROWIP: GS, LH, Annual review of progress and easy to use. Open 3.5% of the network per annum, this PCC, CCW, WAG Complete by April 2018 T&CC, PCC CIP, and indicators. Evaluation of target does not include paths already open or any maintenance PCS, CH BVPS survey results. on existing furniture.
94
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme A: Condition of the Public Rights of Way Network Ref: A.2
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment
1. To have an open, easy to use and well-signed Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aims public rights of way network Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017 2. Effectively manage, monitor and maintain opened paths in a satisfactory condition
1. To increase the proportion of public rights of way Improvement Objective that are open, easy to use and well
2. Develop and implement a system of monitoring 450km 450km 450km 450km 450km 450km and maintaining opened public rights of way
(Figures shown = km per annum to be re-opened and monitored) Additional Resources Required to meet Objective Sustain current levels of staff and funding for £ £ £ £
£ - Financial Maintenance and Volunteer Sections # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
Annual review of progress ROWIP: GS, LH, PCC, PCV, CCW, and indicator. Assess 5% A.2 a) Re-open public rights of way Ongoing T&CC. PCC CIP, WAG condition survey results. PCS, CH, AOW
Complete design of system – April A.2 b) Area Maintenance Officers and Volunteer Co-ordinator to ROWIP: GS, LH. PCC, PCV 2008 design and implement a monitoring and reporting system on PCC CIP, PCS, CH, Progress reviewed annually Implement from this date opened rights of way AOW
95 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.1
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Develop effective and efficient working practices. Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Continually review and assess existing and potential Improvement Objective working practices to improve access to the countryside.
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective Sustain current levels of staff and funding for £ £ £ £
£ - Financial Countryside Services # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
ROWIP: GS, LH. B.1 a) Implement the Priority Community Area approach PCC, PCV Ongoing PCC CIP, PCS, CH, Progress reviewed annually Powys T&CC AOW
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.1 b) Give priority to higher status paths within Priority PCC, BHS Ongoing T&CC. PCC CIP, Progress reviewed annually Communities PCS, CH
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.1 c) Once fully opened, routes are signed from all metalled PCC Ongoing T&CC. PCC CIP, Progress reviewed annually roads and appropriately way-marked. PCS, CH
96
B.1 d) Continue to use and review appropriate information ROWIP: GS, LH. PCC Ongoing Progress reviewed annually notices along public rights of way PCC CIP, PCS
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.1 e) Ensure high quality gates and installation to allow easy PCC, BHS, PCV Ongoing PCC CIP, PCS, CH, Progress reviewed annually access for horse-riders. AOW
B.1 f) Liaise with PCC and the Highways Agency over issue of ROWIP: GS, LH, CS, TES highway furniture on road verges and the effect on equestrian Action by April 08/09 PCC CIP, PCS, CH, Review progress April 08/09 Highways Agency usage. AOW
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.1 g) Continue to seek resources to manage and maintain the PCC, CCW Action by April 08/09 T&CC. PCC CIP, Review progress April 09/10 byway network. User Groups PCS, CH
97 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.2
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Ensure learning opportunities for all • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Ensure the long-term sustainable management, improvement Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim and promotion of the Recreational Trails in Powys 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017 Ensure the long-term sustainable management, improvement
Improvement Objective and promotion of the Recreational Trails in Powys
Additional Resources Required to meet £ £ £ £ Objective As outlined in Actions below # # # # £ - Financial # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date B.2 a) Secure permanent base budget for Recreational Trails.
Annual progress of Action • Produce detailed, costed Action Plans for all Recreational ROWIP: GS, LH, CS, PCV, CCW, Action Plans to be completed by April Plans to be reviewed as part Trails. T&CC, PCC CIP, MoD, NE 2012 of Business Planning AOW, PCS, CH • Use these Action Plans to approach PCC, CCW, MoD and process from 2008 other partners to try and secure permanent funding for Officer and revenue budgets. Recreational & B.2 b) Implement National Trail Quality Standards. National Trails Start implementation by April 2008 ROWIP: GS, LH, Annual review of progress
Officers, PCV, then ongoing T&CC, PCC CIP, PCS and Quality Standards Increased budget likely to implement standards CCW, NE, MoD, CS Recreational & B2 c) Develop Powys Quality Standards for Recreational Trails. National Trails Devise method for survey Start survey and collation of ROWIP: GS, LH, Officers, PCV, and timescale for setting out information T&CC, PCC CIP, PCS Increased budget likely to implement standards CCW, NE, MoD, CS standards
98 Recreational Trail B.2 d) Seek out opportunities to bid for funding to bring the Officers, CCW, Apply for funding by April 2008, ROWIP: GS, AOW, Annual review of progress Recreational Trails to a basic minimum standard. National Lottery, then ongoing PCC CIP, PCS, CH PCC, WAG, EU B.2 e) Improve the quality and range of marketing activities.
Interpretive Plans to be completed by • All Recreational Trail Officers to receive marketing and Recreational and April 2013. ROWIP: GS, PCS, Annual review of progress interpretive planning training. National Trail Implementation to start after AOW and Plans • Review current marketing activities and develop Officers completion of the Interpretive Plans Interpretive Plans for all Recreational Trails. • Implement Interpretive Plans B.2 f) Develop links between the Recreational & National Trails and local people, businesses and services Recreational and ROWIP: GS, PCC National Trail Apply for funding by 2014 Annual review of progress • Funding for Officer support and corresponding CIP, AOW, CH Officers, CCW budget required - £30k per annum for three-year project B.2 g) Secure more local volunteer involvement in the management of the Recreational Trails
• Funding for new Volunteer Co-ordinator to manage Recreational Trail Apply for funding by April 2010 volunteers (£42k per annum) Officers, CCW, then ongoing ROWIP: GS, AOW, • Seek funding for new Recreational Trails Volunteer Annual review of progress other internal and PCC CIP, PCS Co-ordinator to manage volunteers in the monitoring external partners and basic maintenance of the Recreational Trails. • Recreational Trails Volunteer Co-ordinator to work with volunteers to extend and broaden the Trails Tempters Guided Walk Programme. National and Recreational Trail B.2 h) Seek out opportunities to make improvements to the Apply for funding by April 2008 ROWIP: GS. AOW, Officers, CCW, Annual review of progress National and Recreational Trails to make them more accessible. then ongoing PCC CIP, PCS, CH National Lottery, PCC, WAG, EU
National and Continue to monitor existing people Recreational Trail B.2 i) Accurate monitoring of visitor numbers and satisfaction. counters on Recreational & National PCS, CH, AOW Annual review of progress Officers, CCW, Trails National Lottery, PCC, WAG
B.2 j) Secure funding for NTO Assistant, to support Offa’s Dyke Path and Glyndwr’s Way Officers in managing CCW, National Apply for funding by April 2010 ROWIP: GS, AOW, Annual review of progress maintenance work and landowner negotiation; to assist Lottery, PCC then ongoing PCC CIP, PCS, CH with creating links with local businesses and communities.
99
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.3
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Take all reasonable steps to improve access for all Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017 Improve access to public rights of way and Access Land 5% Improvement Objective by improving 5% of furniture installed per annum (e.g. 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% per replacing stiles with gates) annum Additional Resources Required to meet Objective £ £ £ £ Sustain current levels of staff and funding £ - Financial # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date ROWIP: GS, AOW, B.3 a) Implement ‘least restrictive’ access practices. PCC, CCW, DP Ongoing Progress reviewed annually PCC CIP, PCS, CH
B.3 b) Monitor least restrictive access implementation for ROWIP: GS, AOW, PCC Ongoing Progress reviewed annually network and Trails. PCC CIP, PCS, CH
B.3 c) To provide landholder grants for the installation of dog- ROWIP: GS, AOW, PCC Ongoing Progress reviewed annually stiles and gates, in support of least restrictive access practices. PCC CIP, PCS, CH
100
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land
Ref: B.4
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Take all reasonable steps to improve access for all Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Identify and improve routes that are most likely to be Improvement Objective accessed by people with mobility and sensory difficulties
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective Project Officer and associated budget required to meet this £45k £45k £45k £45k £45k £45k
£ - Financial Objective # 1 # 1 # 1# # 1 # 1 # 1 # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.4 a) Seek funding for Access Project Officer and associated PCC, CCW Apply for funding by 2010 for 3-year Once project is running, T&CC, PCC CIP, budget National Lottery project annual reviews of progress AOW, PCS, CH
B.4 b) Identify and survey routes around key settlements and Access Project Complete work programme, one ROWIP: GS, LH, ‘honey-pot’ locations. Work with local communities and access Officer, PCC, DP, Shire at a time. T&CC, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress groups to identify and prioritise routes. PAG AOW, PCS, CH
Access Project Officer To be completed by the end of 3-year ROWIP: GS, LH, B.4 c) Carry out physical works on the routes. Promote and Volunteers Annual review of progress project and good practice finding T&CC, PCC CIP, publicise good practices and approach of project Local Community reported to LAFs placed on PCC web site AOW, PCS, CH Groups
101
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.5
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Identify and develop local, circular routes around Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim settlements 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Identify and develop local, circular routes around Powys’ Improvement Objective minor settlements
Additional Resources Required to meet £45k £45k £45k Objective Project Officer and associated budget required to meet this
£ - Financial Objective # 1 # 1 # 1 # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.5 a) Seek funding for Circular Routes Project Officer and PCC, CCW, Apply for funding by April 2008 T&CC, PCC CIP, associated budget National Lottery AOW, PCS, CH
B.5 b) Work with local communities, businesses, services and ROWIP: GS, LH, Circular Routes One year after employment of Project access groups to identify circular routes and agree work T&CC, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress Project Officer Officer programmes. AOW, PCS, CH
B.5 c) Work programmes to use ‘least restrictive access Circular Routes To be completed by the end of 3 year ROWIP: GS, PCC Annual review of progress principles Project Officer project CIP, AOW, PCS, CH
102 B.5 d) Promote and publicise routes in a variety of appropriate Circular Routes To be completed by the end of 3 year ROWIP: GS, AOW, Annual review of progress formats Project Officer project PCS Circular Routes ROWIP: GS, LH, B.5 e) Agree and implement system of monitoring and Project Officer Ongoing T&CC, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress maintenance of routes with local volunteers Volunteer Co- AOW, PCS, CH ordinator
103
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.6
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Improve partnership working Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Work with internal and external partners to improve Improvement Objective countryside access in Powys
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective £ £ £ £ Sustain current staffing and funding levels £ - Financial # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
B.6 a) Work in partnership with Town and Community Councils to manage, maintain, improve and promote their PROW ROWIP: T&CC, networks. Seek further discussions over future maintenance of PCC, T&CC Ongoing Annual review of progress PCC CIP, PCS PROW with those T&CC who expressed such wishes during the consultation process.
B.6 b) Work with internal and external partners to improve the CS, FC Wales, ROWIP: GS, LH, Ongoing Annual review of progress provision of information along PROW and on Access Land. CCW T&CC, AOW, PCS
B.6 c) Work with WAG to ensure good lines of communication ROWIP: GS, LH, and understanding with regards to the Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal CS, WAG Ongoing T&CC, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress schemes. AOW, PCS
104
B.6 d) Work in partnership with neighbouring local authorities. Consider and participate in cross-border initiatives, where ROWIP: GS, PCC PCC, Other LA’s Ongoing Annual review of progress benefits exceed investment. Take the opportunity to learn from CIP, AOW, PCS, TRP the best practice of other local authorities.
B.6 e) Continue to develop collaborative working with the CS, TES ROWIP: GS, PCC dedicated Transportation and Tourism Services within the Ongoing Annual review of progress Tourism Services CIP, AOW, PCS, RTP County Council.
B.6 f) Provide training and support to Planning Services and ROWIP: GS, PCC Ongoing Annual review of progress TIC staff on countryside access issues CS, TICs, PS CIP, PCS, CH
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.6 g) Participate in collaborative partnership working with CS & other partners Ongoing T&CC, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress external partners to achieve mutually beneficial aims. AOW, PCS, CH, RTP
ROWIP: GS, PCS, B.6 h) Seek improvements to the National Cycle network. PCC Ongoing Annual review of progress CH, RTP
B.6 i) Seek continued funding to implement and promote the ROWIP: GS, PCC PCC Ongoing Annual review of progress Safe Routes to School initiative. CIP, PCS, RTP
B.6 j) Implement a monitoring scheme linked to Safe Routes to ROWIP: GS, PCC PCC Ongoing Annual review of progress School and child accident rates. CIP, PCS, CH, RTP
B.6 k) Continue to develop and promote the Trail Tempters ROWIP: GS, LH, programme and develop partnerships in its promotion and CS & other partners Ongoing T&CC, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress distribution. AOW, PCS, CH
ROWIP: GS, PCC B.6 l) Participate in the development and success of the PCC, LHB Ongoing CIP, AOW, PCS, CH Annual review of progress Walking your Way for Health & Health Walks initiatives.
105 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.7
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Ensure learning opportunities for all • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Increase volunteer working on the PROW network Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Improvement Objective Increase volunteer working on the PROW network
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective £ £ £ £
£ - Financial # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
B.7 a) Seek funding for three additional full-time and permanent ROWIP: GS, LH, CS, CCW, National Volunteer Co-ordinator posts and corresponding maintenance Securing of post & budget T&CC, PCC CIP, Creation of post Lottery budgets AOW, PCS, CH
Countryside Recording of ‘adopted B.7 b) Work with volunteers to monitor and maintain opened Volunteer ROWIP: GS, T&CC, Ongoing routes subject to monitoring paths. Co-ordinator AOW, PCS, CH &/or management’
106
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme B: Management and Enforcement of Public Rights of Way and Access Land Ref: B.8
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Support social and economic development • Enhance the natural and built environment • Improve our corporate health
Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Increase access onto and across Access Land Target Target Target Target Target Target 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017 To make 95% of Access Land available to a basic Improvement Objective standard by 2012 9 9 9 9 9
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective Sustain current staff and funding levels £15k £15k £15k £15k £15k £15k £ - Financial # - Staff # # # #
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
B.8 a) To add 9 areas of Access Land as open per year. Being ROWIP: GS, LH, open to a basic standard requires at least one access point to PCC, CCW To be completed by 2012 PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, Annual review of progress be available. CH
ROWIP: GS, LH, B.8 b) Open and way-mark routes across Access Land. PCC, CCW To be completed by 2012 PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, Annual review of progress CH
B.8 c) Secure additional funds for the opening and signing of ROWIP: GS, LH, access points and PROW to and across Access Land to meet PCC, CCW To be completed by 2012 PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, Annual review of progress 2012 target. CH
107
Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme C: Definitive Map and Statement Ref: C.1
Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities Improve our corporate health
Achieve an accurate and up-to-date Definitive Map and Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Statement 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Achieve an accurate and up-to-date Definitive Map and Improvement Objective Statement
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective Funding for two additional Definitive Map Assistants and £75k £75k £75k
£ - Financial corresponding budgets for a three-year project # 2 # 2 # 2 # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
C.1 a) Seek short-term funding for Definitive Map Officer PCC,CCW, ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, support to consolidate the DMS, reduce the backlog of legal April 2009 Securing of additional funds WAG, RTP T&CC orders and pursue the resolution of existing anomalies.
C.1 b) Address the problem of anomalies on the Definitive Map PCC, CCW, Three-year project from receipt of ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, Annual review of progress and Statement. WAG, RTP funding T&CC
C.1 c) Reduce the backlog of Public Path and Definitive Map PCC, CCW, Three-year project from receipt of ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, Annual review of progress Modification Orders WAG, RTP funding T&CC
C.1 d) Develop a system whereby more impetus is placed on ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, PPO applicants, to reduce the workload of Definitive Map PCC System to be in place by April 2009 Annual review of progress T&CC Officers
ROWIP: GS, UG, PCC System to be in place by April 2009 Annual review of progress T&CC
108 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme C: Definitive Map and Statement Ref: C.2
Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities Improve our corporate health
Make the Definitive Map and Statement widely available in Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim appropriate formats 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Create electronic version of the Definitive Map and Improvement Objective Statement
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective £ £ £ £ Sustain current levels of staff and funding £ - Financial # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
C.2 a) Create electronic version of the Definitive Map and Montgomeryshire completed – 2008/9 Statement. Work to be carried out by the Rights of Way Officer Rights of Way ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, Breconshire completed – 2011/12 Annual review of progress in between other Definitive Map tasks. Officer, GIS T&CC Radnorshire completed – 2015/16
C.2 b) Make electronic version available to all staff in Powys County Council, to external partners where necessary and on Rights of Way ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, End of ROWIP - 2017 Annual review of progress the Powys website. Officer, GIS, IT T&CC
109 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme C: Definitive Map and Statement Ref: C.3
Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities Improve our corporate health
Achieve an accurate and up-to-date Definitive Map and Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim Statement 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Secure permanent funding for continuation of the Improvement Objective Countryside Services Clerk post.
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective £ 30k £ 30k £ 30k £ 30k £ 30k £ 30k Funding for one post £ - Financial # 1 # 1 # 1 # 1 # 1 # 1 # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
C.3 a) Secure continuation of Countryside Services Clerk position to carry out planning, Official Land Search, solicitor and ROWIP: GS, LH, UG, Secure full-time post beyond PCC Apply for funding by April 2008 Tir Gofal searches on the Definitive Map T&CC March 2008
110 Rights of Way Improvement Action Plan Theme D: Publicity and Promotion Ref: D.1
• Promote health, social care and well-being Corporate Improvement Plan Priorities • Ensure learning opportunities for all • Improve our corporate health
Increase the range and quality of public information in a Target Target Target Target Target Target Rights of Way Improvement Plan Aim variety of formats 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 2017
Increase the range and quality of public information in a Improvement Objective variety of formats
Additional Resources Required to meet Objective £ £ £ £ As per Action £ - Financial # # # # # - Staff
Action Key Partners Milestone: Links to Remedial Action: Dates / Indicators of significant Assessments Monitoring of progress and progress & appropriate remedial Plans / Strategies measures if required Planned Completion Date
D.1 a) Improve Countryside Services Web Site
ROWIP: GS, TICs, • Update Countryside Services website. Include a wider PCC Complete by April 2009 PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, Annual review of progress range of information for the public. Make all free CH guides available to download from the website. Include information on Trails.
111
D.1 b) Improve and increase the range of information on and about countryside access. • Training for staff in interpretation and marketing. • Review all current interpretation and publications. Develop a Powys Interpretive Plan, which sets out ROWIP: GS, LH, Draft plan outline by 2009 clear guidelines to follow when producing information PCC Complete Interpretive Plan April 2012 PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, of any kind. Specific attention must be paid to the CH Annual review of progress needs of disabled people. Information must be widely available to people of all ages and backgrounds.
£10,000 per publication needed.
D.1 c) All information produced by Countryside Services will aim PCC, CCW, FC ROWIP: GS, TICs, Ongoing Publication evidence to be available, appropriate, accurate and accessible Wales, DP PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, CH
ROWIP: GS, T&CC, D.1 d) Monitor and update, as necessary, the Access to PCC, CCW , DP, Complete a review by 2007/8 TICs, PCC CIP, Annual review of progress Countryside Locations in Powys: A Guide to Accessibility. PAG AOW, PCS, CH
ROWIP: GS, LH, D. 1 e) The development of a guide to Access Land in Powys PCC, CCW, LAFs April 2009 Publication evidence PCS, CH
ROWIP: GS, LH, D.1 f) Produce and publish an Enforcement Guide PCC April 2009 Draft produced by 2007/8 AOW, PCS
Ongoing D. 1 g) Ensure TICs have access to stocks of Countryside Countryside ROWIP: GS, LH,
Service – approved Recreational Trail and circular trail Services and PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, TIC ad-hoc survey Meeting and report to leaflets and guides. Tourism Services CH Tourism Services Manager
Countryside Training sessions agreed ROWIP: GS, LH, D.1 h) Provide training for TIC staff on countryside access Services and With Tourism Services and Training offered annually PCC CIP, AOW, PCS, and develop good communication links. Tourism Services delivered by Countryside CH Services staff
112