Minutes – Meeting 57 St Johns Church Hall, Drake Road, Newport Thursday 6 July 2017

Present at the meeting: Forum Members: Mark Earp - Chairman Cllr Paul Fuller Mike Slater Alec Lawson Steve Darch Richard Grogan Tricia Merrifield Others: Helena Hewston – P/C Mick Thirkettle – P/C Darrel Clarke - IWC Public Rights of Way Manager John Taylor – Natural England Ben Phelan – Forestry Commission Matthew Noyce – Quarr Abbey Cllr Rodney Downer – / Wroxall Ross Edmunds – Wootton P/C Gillian Belben – & P/C Terry Nolan – Gurnard P/C Lillian Hopwood - Observing Forum Secretary: Jennine Gardiner - Rights of Way Assistant, IWC Public Rights of Way Section (PROW)

1. Apologies: Apologies were received from: Cllr John Hobart Cllr John Medland John Heather John Gurney-Champion Belinda Walters Penny Edwards Iain Maclennan Emma Douglas Hugh Walding Simon Dabell Resignations: Des Jackman. Unfortunately due to new work commitments Des can no longer attend the LAF meetings. Mark Earp thanked him for his help in assisting at the LAF stall at last year’s County Show

2. Minutes of previous meeting Page 5 section 4 ANOB should read AONB (although ANOB is much funnier) Minutes accepted.

Declarations of Interest None Page | 1

Update of actions from last meeting:

Forestry Commission - Forest, Design Plans, TROTT – Ben in attendance and will update group

Planning - Guidance on difference between S106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) & Cllr Fuller to speak to Wendy Perera about the same – Cllr Fuller advised that after careful consideration the IW Council (old administration) had decided to remain with S106 agreements because S106 agreements would raise more additional funds locally than CIL, Island developments were and are much smaller than mainland equivalents and S106 agreements are more flexible in their wider use than CIL. However, as IWC now has a new administration they may want to relook at this as the focus now is regeneration and they will be considering what options will provide the best value for money.

The Planning Portal website has in depth reading for both CIL & S106 and all planning matters: See their web site at https://www.planningportal.co.uk/

Possible upgrades to Restricted Byways - Penny / Tricia compile a list of locations for Darrel – Penny was not at meeting and this was not discussed. As this has been on the agenda since 5 March 2015 it will be removed until the Rights of Way team have been presented with the list of possible upgrade sites.

Coastal Path - Letter of support regarding – Mark confirmed a letter of support had been sent to NE from the LAF

Undercliff Drive - Future access with or without motor vehicles - Mark did a site visit and talked to some fronting homeowners (14 of them) all want it reopened to “light vehicles”. Jennine had contacted / Whitwell & Town & Parish Councils, only Niton & Whitwell replied and they confirmed that the reopening of the Undercliff is the number one priority for them and if it does not reopen then the businesses in the village of Niton will not survive in their current shape. Brief group discussion regarding how practically the traffic could be restrict to “light vehicles” (the previous 6’6 restriction signage before the landslip did not deter coaches and HGV’s using it as a through route and there is a lack of traffic police on the Island to be on site to enforce), and if this was to stay as a single lane would it be one way or on traffic lights? It is disappointing that the local community doesn’t want to keep it the way it is and focus on promoting walking / cycling / horse riding but as the local parish council intend to continue to fight and campaign for its reinstatement to a vehicle through route, then the LAF will remove this item from its agenda.

Definitive Map - Write to IWC re public access to digitised map – Darrel advised that the IT department have now taken the GIS files and converted them into a digital map and from next week the map should be live for the public to use, but it cannot be called a Definitive Map, it is more of a leisure map to try and illustrate where routes run and it will have all the changes made since the original Definitive Map book was published in 2000. It will have extras such as cycle routes, and permissive routes. The Rights of Way team will be grateful of any feedback regarding this new map so they can see what needs to be changes to make it user friendly and really helpful. Link to the new map (details found on the Rights of Way page / maps via iwight.com) Rights of Way page https://www.iwight.com/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Rights-of-Way/ Map Page https://www.iwight.com/LocalViewPub/Sites/row/

Gurnard Seafront - Cllr Fuller to investigate obstruction to path near beach huts – Paul advised Gurnard Parish Council had undertaken a Disablity audit and a raft of proposals had been made. There were a few quick wins within these proposals which may be able to be implemented, such as a ramp to the hardstanding where the seats are located, but all the recommendation will be put before the Parish Council.

Access Fund – The AONB team had published a walks leaflet. AONB website http://www.wightaonb.org.uk/explore/walking-and-cycling/ Page | 2

LAF Members Re Send draft advert to members – Done, one reply from a current LAF member regarding updating the wording of the advert.

Advert was made in the County Press 5 May 2017 within the Farming & Countryside section (copy of advert for information) but we did not get any new people applying to join.

3. Role of members of the LAF – Mark Earp

Voting : Only LAF member’s i.e. those people who have completed an application form to become a member and appointed members (these are the two councillors the IWC elect to serve on the LAF) can vote.

Observers : LAF meetings are open to the public to come along and observe and if invited to take part in discussions, but observers cannot vote.

Role of Members : The 1 st duty of members is to represent the best interests of the in respect of ways to improve public access and open-air recreation for the benefit of all and then that member should be best advising regarding their represented category such as general user, walker, cyclist, horse rider, landowner / business owner or environmental / ecology specialist. No member of the LAF is paid as everyone is a volunteer.

4. IW Forestry Commission – Ben Phelan

Ben attended the meeting to update the group on a number of matters on the public access / leisure side of FC owned and managed land on the Island. Main concern is the poor TROTT provision with unacceptably out of proportion fees compared to the mainland and what that fee can give access to and that there is no way of this being enforced over here on the Island. Also the confusion that the IW FC landholding plan map from the previously published Forest Design plan caused (as part of this still shows leasehold in the Brighstone area yet LAF was under the impression all was now freehold). What if any is the access in Down, can we gain improvements in access in leasehold land such as Burntwood, and try to understand the grant opportunity’s (old and new) for improve public access in leasehold land as some parcels of leasehold land do not invite walkers or any sort of public use.

It was agreed that a special LAF meeting needs to be arranged at the FC offices at Lyndhurst in order that a few representatives of the LAF such as Chairman Mark, Paul in his capacity to represent the IW Council and AONB and Tricia representing Equestrians can meet with Ben and Page | 3 other senior managers such as Angus Clarke who can then give information on woodland grants, FC regulations and to try and find a way forward to our concerns.

LAF members are frustrated at what they feel is a lack of communication and action, not with Ben as the matters are above his authority and are really about how the FC has organised its management and set up for the Isle of Wight in that it only has part time rangers who are based on the mainland who can’t give the time and attention our woodlands deserves in respects practical management and working with groups on ideas for improved public access.

ACTION – meeting to be arranged at FC offices in Lyndhurst

5. IW Coast Path, Natural England – John Taylor

John is the lead advisor for the Isle of Wight section of the Natural England Coast Path, and is currently working on his own at the moment. He has started to meet with groups and associations and is in the process of obtaining landowner details.

He anticipates letters maybe start to be issued in October to those landowners adjacent landward and seaward side of potential coastline routes. Letters will introduce the scheme and offer the opportunity to come along to drop in sessions. The drop in sessions will be advertised and the public, Town / Parish Councils and the LAF will all be made aware of them. John thinks these will be held in about 8 locations Island wide around November, locations and dates to be confirmed. If a landowner cannot make the drop in session they will still have one to one contact.

There is a lot of needless worry about the implementation of this scheme which John hopes the drop in sessions will help to put to rest. John hopes that the Islands local business and chamber of commerce will engage with him regarding the coast scheme.

John had a lot of correspondence, both for and against, the possible inclusion of the River Medina route and he is currently preparing a report with a clear and balanced view regarding if this should or shouldn’t be included. A draft route may be able to be presented to the LAF in about April 2018, after John has been able to consult with all landowners and after taking on board their input.

6. Permissive Paths update – Mark Earp

The following three sites were discussed at the meeting

• Compton Farm / Byway F55 to Compton Down open access land

Permissive footpath link formal agreement ends 31/01/18. Land is now owned by National Trust and their tenant farmer is happy to allow access to continue.

• Wilmingham Lane to cycle track

Permissive bridleway (running over the definitive line of the footpath) has expired. This route is good for connectivity and the landowner should be located to establish the future of this route.

Action – IW Bridleways Group to investigate and contact landowner.

• Newclose cricket ground

Permissive footpath was withdrawn as the landowner passed away, the cricket ground is now for sale. This cannot move forward at the moment as a path could not be dedicated because the land is part of the estate of the late landowner and for it to be dedicated would not be in the interests of the beneficiary. This site needs to be kept on the LAF radar for the future.

Mark advised the group that it will need to review the outstanding Natural England Stewardship schemes, the first table lists the schemes the LAF still need to make a comment on the second

Page | 4 table is the schemes the LAF have already taken action or made comments. The notices for all the sites can be found visiting the Rights of Way Permissive path web page: https://www.iwight.com/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Rights-of-Way/Public-Rights- of-Way/Open-Access-Land1

Locations needing LAF comment / action:

Name End date Location Status Farm 31 July 2016 Brighstone Forest Open Access RSPB 31 July 2017 Brading Marshes Footpath – creates a Marshes southwest / northeast link across the marshes to Great Sluice Fleetlands Farm 31 October 2017 Nr Newtown Footpath – creates an alternative to road walking, runs parallel to Corf Road – also part of the coastal path Cheverton Farm 30 June 2019 Cheverton Down Bridleway – creates a north / south bridleway linking other Bridleways to the North (BS5) and South (BS10 / SW59) Garlic Farm A 30 June 2019 Land at Garlic Circular Footpath Farm Garlic Farm B 30 June 2019 Newchurch Footpath – creates circular route between Footpath NC11 & NC12 Hermitage 31 January 2020 Hermitage Open access land Dean Farm Unknown as file St Lawrence Open access land corrupted can’t read dates from NE website Farm 31 May 2020 Limerstone Down Open access land Niton Manor 30 September 2020 Niton Footpath – creates a pedestrian link north /south at two points 1st joining to footpath NT56 on St Catherin’s Hill and 2nd to bridleway NT52 Lee Farm 30 September 2020 Wellow / Bridleway along old railway (east / west) plus link to the main road at Wellow

Locations LAF have already made comment and action taken

Name End date of NE Location Notes scheme & notes if extended Westover Farm - A 31 July 2016 Bridleway – creates a Extended with Local north / south bridleway Authority / Rights of linking Clay Lane to

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Way and in force Bridleway CB16B. until landowner withdraws access Cridmore Farm 31 October 2016 Bleak Down Footpath – creates an Extended alternative to walking on the Niton Road links Landowner did not Footpath GL10 to want to go into a Bridleway GL15. formal scheme with Local Authority but is happy for access to continue Harry Ferguson 30 April 2017 Wilmingham Bridleway – creates a Farm Ended west / east bridleway links the Yarmouth / Active LAF Freshwater multi use discussions track to Wilmingham Lane Westover Farm - B 31 May 2017 Brighstone Forest: Bridleway – creates an Ended alternative to road use. parallel to Lynch Lane Assume this was links bridleway CB20 to superseded with the car park permission from site A above. No LAF action Hawthorne Manor 31 October 2017 Access withdrawn Farm Withdrawn prior to end date.

No LAF action Newclose Farm 31 January 2018 Blackwater Access withdrawn Withdrawn prior to (see above) end date.

Cricket ground site in probate and up for sale. Need to keep this under observation as important link from St Georges Down to Newport / cycle track

Ningwood Common 31 July 2018 Cranmore / Footpath – circular To Continue Ningwood footpath round Nature Reserve accessed off Hampshire & IW unadopted Solent Wildlife Trust have Road. advised they have no plans to withdraw this access after the end date of the Page | 6

scheme. Compton Farm 31 January 2018 Compton Footpath – creates a To Continue pedestrian link via farm yard (adjacent to National Trust and Byway F55) to reach tenant farmer have open access land. advised they do not (see above) plan to withdraw this after the end of the scheme. Batchelors Farm A 30 September 2019 Winford Access withdrawn Withdrawn prior to end date.

No LAF action Batchelors Farm B 30 September 2019 Access withdrawn Withdrawn prior to end date.

No LAF action

Action – LAF members to consider the sites in the first table and be ready to comment at next meeting.

7. Chairman’s Update

Tom Ranson – Has now left SUSTRANS and returned to New Zealand. Tom did great work in local schools to try and encourage parents and children to walk and cycle to school

Wightlink - has a new charging structure for pushbikes. Their website states “Each foot passenger can bring one bicycle on free of charge. Vehicles carrying bicycles will be charged an additional cost if the bicycles add additional height or length to your vehicle (the vehicles size is the true maximum length and height, including any tow-bars, overhanging items and roof loads (e.g. a top box or bicycles). See Vehicle size guide for details. Cycling on the Isle of Wight via the website http://www.wightlink.co.uk/do/cycling/

Island Roads – are reviewing their verge cutting, this may benefit wildlife.

Solent Tunnel - the LAF had been approached for comments in respect of possible future plans. The LAF decided it would not comment as it was unlikely this will ever come to fruition.

Carisbrooke Show – Sadly the LAF stall (was to be manned by Mark) had to abandon due to the torrential downpour that day. LAF information is not laminated and would have been destroyed by the wet weather.

Access to Water – Mark will try and work on a list of public landing points (different to slipways) the IWC doesn’t hold this information as the administration and set up of the different harbours proves disjointed and difficult in pulling this together, but they do exist. Once Mark had tracked these down LAF will add the list to its website.

Cuts to the Public Rights of Way service – Mark thanked Cllr Downer for publically bringing up the issue of the cuts made to the Rights of Way service. Cllr Downer feels strongly that easy and improved access to the Rights of Way network is beneficial for people’s good heath both physically and mentally and this should not be underestimated or be allowed to be compromised by lack of investment and maintenance, Cllr Downer thanked the Rights of Way team for all their hard work over the years.

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Cllr Hobart is now in charge of the portfolio which includes the Rights of Way service and there is support for the 50K which had been removed from the 2017/18 capital budget to be reinstated plus the reinstatement of the 100K capital budgets for the following years. As it stands at the present time from 2018/19 onwards the Rights of Way service has a zero capital allocation.

Action – Cllr Downer will raise this at the Full Council meeting on the 19/07/17 Update – Cllr Downer withdrew his motion at the meeting 19/07/17 but has advised he will be resubmitting this at the next meeting in about mid-September. The minutes and agendas for the full council meeting of the 19/07/17 can be found on the IWC Full Council webpage : https://www.iwight.com/Meetings/current/committeeDetail.aspx?cmteId=137

Floating Bridge No 6 - This has experienced many troubles since it was launched for public use in May 2017. The floating bridge falls into Cllr Ian Ward portfolio of responsibilities. People in East are not happy but teething problems will happen because of having to test it on site in the public eye. The IWC has published a list of frequently asked questions about Floating Bridge No 6 which can be read on the IWC Floating Bridge webpage : https://www.iwight.com/Council/OtherServices/Cowes-Floating-Bridge/Floating-Bridge-Number-6

LAF National Conference 21 June 2017 at Birmingham – Mark attended the conference on behalf of the IW LAF, there were many interesting presentations and a chance to meet and speak to members of other LAF’s, copy of the presentations at the end of these minutes along with Marks notes. It is not clear what will happen to LAF’s after Brexit. Whilst in Birmingham Mark learnt that the Birmingham LAF own 42 bikes and loan then to the public at weekends, they purchased the bike from a grant.

Lost Ways Project – this was a government directive to try and identify potential lost routes before the cut-off date of 1 January 2026 it is referred to in the DEFRA LAF Guidance Booklet (which Mark had already contacted Natural England about and they feel this guidance doesn’t need updating)

For easy reference the DEFRA guidance booklet for LAF reads:

The Discovering Lost Ways project 11. The Discovering Lost Ways project (DLW) is run by Natural England. It was set up in response to the provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, to research and facilitate the recording of public rights that will be lost if not claimed or recorded on the definitive map by the cut- off date of 1 January 2026. The research is undertaken under contract by an Archive Research Unit, and Natural England is working with partners to identify the most effective ways of transforming this research into routes for public benefit. RoWIPs have an important part to play in this process by identifying the priorities for a local area. The advice of Forums, via their contributions to the RoWIP process is therefore vital to ensure that RoWIPs reflect the views of stakeholders and properly inform the DLW process. In turn, DLW could make a significant contribution to the implementation of RoWIPs through the research process illustrating gaps in the network and providing evidence of higher rights routes – for equestrians and cyclists in particular. Information on the Project is available on the Natural England website at: www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Access/DLW/index.asp

(Note the above website no longer exists). The Natural England run lost ways project was scrapped in about 2008. It is now down to users groups or individuals to research and put forward the evidence to try and add any missing (lost) Public Rights of Way to the definitive map before the 2026 cut-off date.

Mark feels a team of at least two people (doesn’t have to be LAF members) are needed to do historical research to ensure any routes not recorded on the definitive map or adopted highway network are identified. John Hauge at the IW Ramblers did start to look into this but it is very time consuming and more help is needed.

Dr Phil Wadey offers training sessions regarding researching lost ways and it was thought appropriate that the LAF invite him to attend a future LAF meeting. Refer to the website for his book called Restoring the Record http://www.restoringtherecord.org.uk/ Page | 8

Action – Invite Dr Wadey to a future LAF meeting Update – Dr Wadey is not taking any booking until after September, and he would only be able to come to the Island on a Saturday. Reference to his website now shows an event on Saturday 14 th October 2017 at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight for systematic research training .

8. UPDATES

• Rights of Way – Darrel

Compton Steps Island Roads have constructed the new outfall. This work finished on Monday and we immediately met with the National Trust on Tuesday to plan the reinstatement of the beach access steps. A contactor has been instructed and we are aiming to get the new steps in and open in time for the school summer holidays.

Homestead Farm The new bridleway at Ningwood was finally opened last month which is an excellent addition to the network following a section of the old Newport to Freshwater old railway line.

Gunville Greenway Some positive news on this in that the school governors are now very keen to see the greenway formed subject to the diocese agreeing. The chairman for the governors has drawn up a detailed plan setting out their requirements including a link to Westminster Lane. This plan will now go to senior management for agreement in principle and I will then go back to the school and ask them to seek agreement from the diocese. Actual works will require funding.

New Staff Members We have two new members of staff in our maintenance team. One is an operative to replace someone who has retired and the other is a deputy to our Maintenance Officer, Neil. They have been with us for a month and it is working out very well.

Budget The new administration is looking to resolve the budget situation for Rights of Way but as it currently stands there is zero capital budget forecasted for the following four years, with this year’s budget cut by half to £50k.

Signage There is a reduced allocation for signage (road ends and waymarking). The signage is done reactively i.e. when a member of the public reports it to us. Also in rural off road areas we are replacing metal signposts with wooden way marker posts with discs.

• IW Bridleways Group – Tricia Merrifield

Riders are delighted with the new Ningwood Bridleway along the old railway.

There was a fatality at Cranmore when a horse slipped on the road, the rider was trapped under the horse and her shoulder broken, the horse had to be put to sleep. Disappointingly cars did not stop and continued to drive past whilst this all unfolded with the rider was trapped under the fallen horse. Tricia asked Alex if he can ask the cycling groups if they can campaign to report road defects and problems.

Derek Thomas MP for St Ives will be addressing Parliament regarding the safety of riders and horses on rural roads. The transcript of the debate can be read by looking at the www.parliament.uk website https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-07- 04/debates/42E902FC-16E3-40C2-A159-4028F96486A1/SafetyOfRidersAndHorsesOnRuralRoads It is a move forward and hopefully shows something needs to be done.

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• Cycle Wight – Alex Lawson

The IW Cycling Festival will be 23 September to 1 October 2017 the events are organised by local groups, website: http://www.iwcyclefest.com/

Both the Cowes terminal and Newport Riverside Centre cycle hubs are now open. There are repair stands and showers at the Riverside Centre.

Cyclewight are liaising with Chris Gregory regarding the Access Fund.

IWC are to undertake a Newport traffic study and Cyclewight want to ensure this will include cycling, and they have written to the IWC to offer their participation in this.

Cycle Strategy, the IWC should have a published cycle strategy document just like other authority’s do. Cyclewight are preparing a document to put forward to the IWC.

May 2017 newsletter can be read at: http://www.cyclewight.org.uk/files/May%202017_2.pdf

• IW Ramblers – David Howarth

IW Ramblers 50 year anniversary coming up and to celebrate path improvements in Brading Marshes are being funded and a new permissive path created in

• IW 4X 4 Club – Steve Darch

No matters arising.

9. Any Other Business

Brading Station – what has happened to the cattle creep path East Wight Landscape Partnership (EWLP) were looking to try and get created? This project had stalled because the train operator cut off communication with the EWLP. However, a new train operator will soon be in place and conversations may be able to restart.

Possible upgrade to B69 Footpath at side of railway line (between Yar Bridge to Brading station) to allow cycling? From Yar bridge to access this path there is a steep set up steps and then it is a narrow path between the railway fencing and the river bank.

Action – Alex to provide a map of the potential route for next LAF (or sent to Darrel before hand)

Future 2017 dates – all start at 4pm on a Thursday @ St Johns Church Hall, Drake Road, Newport 7 September 7 December

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LAF list of regularly used abbreviations and words:

AONB = Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. IW AONB team can be contacted at Seaclose Offices, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS Telephone 01983 823855 or Email [email protected] Website www.wightaonb.org.uk

Capital = the money which is allocated for network improvements over and above general maintenance and repairs.

CIL = Community Infrastructure Levy, this is a planning charge. A way for Local Authority’s to try to help deliver infrastructure to support the development of their area (also see S106).

CMT = Contract Management Team. CMT’s are teams within the IW Council who deal with a particular contractor i.e. the Highways CMT deal with Island Roads and the Waste CMT deal with Amey

Definitive = a definitive right of way is one that is recorded in the legal record of such ways i.e. the Definitive Map. The Definitive Map records Public Footpaths, Public Bridleways and Byways Open to All Traffic (no Restricted Byways are currently recorded on the Isle of Wight Definitive Map).

EWLP = East Wight Landscape Partnership www.downtothecoast.co.uk

IR = Island Roads is the name for the IWC Highways Contractor, they can be contacted at: St. Christopher House, 42 Daish Way, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5XJ or Telephone 01983 822440 or email [email protected] Website: www.islandroads.com

IWC = Isle of Wight Council. Address County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD or Telephone 01983 821000 + add the extension when prompted if you know it or Email [email protected] or the specific services email if you know it. Website www.iwight.com

Permissive = a permissive path is one that a landowner allows the public to use in a certain way (i.e. walking, cycling, horse-riding) but the route has not been dedicated to the public. It is not therefore recorded on the Definitive Map and the landowner can withdraw their permission for the public to use it at any time.

PROW = Public Rights of Way recorded on the Definitive Map. The IWC Rights of Way team can be contacted at County Hall or Telephone 01983 821000 X 8745 or email [email protected] Website www.iwight.com/Residents/Rights-of-Way/Public-Rights-of-Way/About

Revenue = the money which is allocated for general repair and maintenance, staff costs and normal reoccurring bills and running costs.

ROWIP = Rights of Way Improvement Plan. Every local authority must have a ROWIP. This document is reviewed every 10 years and it will explain how improvements will be made to the PROW network to provide a better experience for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, horse and carriage drivers, people with mobility problems and people using motorised vehicles. The original IWC ROWIP can be viewed on the Council website @ www.iwight.com/azservices/documents/2782-D6- Rights-of-Way-Improvement-Plan.pdf

S106 = Section 106 is an agreement between the Local Authority and developers and is attached to a planning permission make acceptable development which would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms. S106 must be directly relevant to the proposed development.

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