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Luton Rights of Way Improvement Plan: Luton’S Great Outdoors

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Luton Rights of Way Improvement Plan: Luton’S Great Outdoors LUTON RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN: LUTON’S GREAT OUTDOORS JULY 2008 Luton is a thriving multi-ethnic town. It is surrounded on three sides Contents by the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, accessed from the fringe of the town by a number of public footpaths and Introduction 1 bridleways. There are a number of excellent parks and green spaces within the town, connected by a network of other paths and How have we produced this plan 2 cycleways. However, the town has a number of deprived areas, and a recent Policy background 4 study has indicated that it has the lowest rates of life expectancy in the East of England. What are the Councils legal duties? 6 The public rights of way network, together with other paths and Use of Luton’s rights of way 8 cycleways in the town therefore forms an important resource for leisure and informal sports, as well as travel to meet our everyday How to encourage more use of Luton’s rights of way 11 needs. Information on the use of the network, on which this Plan is based, was obtained from extensive research of adults and young Action plan and priorities 12 people carried out in Spring 2007. This has highlighted five key themes of Luton’s Rights of Way Theme 1: a better signed, maintained and accessible network for 13 Improvement Plan. The most important being to encourage the whole community greater use of the network are the need for better signed, Theme 2: improved promotion of rights of way 16 maintained and accessible network, and improved safety and security. Theme 3: improving health and well-being 18 This Plan includes a number of actions, building upon recent improvements to the network of paths and cycleways in and Theme 4: improving safety and security 19 around the town, together with various initiatives to encourage greater use of them. This should lead to healthier, more cohesive Theme 5: enhanced management of greenspace and rights of 21 local communities in the town. way and an updated definitive map Get out and enjoy. Luton’s great outdoors! Appendices Appendix A: References 24 Hazel Simmons Leader of the Council Appendix B: Glossary 26 Rights of Way Improvement Plan: Luton’s Great Outdoors 1 Introduction some of the finest scenery in southeast gettingIn areas to work,defined to school,as “open and access” to shops land, and someEngland of andthe isfinest served scenery by many in southeastfootpaths othersince Novembercommunity 2005 facilities. people haveThese a right are to Walking and other pursuits in the countryside Englandand bridleways. and is servedSome ofby thesemany arefootpaths linked importantundertake localrecreational routes which activities complement on foot. Thethe are good for our health as they give the andtogether bridleways. to provide Some longer of these distance are linkedtrails formaltown is public well served rights ofby way such network. areas of varying chance for physical exercise as gentle or togethersuch as tothe provide Icknield longer Way distanceand Chilterns trails levels of accessibility, both on the edge of strenuous as each of us wishes to make it. suchWay. asTo thethe Icknieldsoutheast Way the and Upper Chilterns Lea Thisand in Plan,the built therefore, up area. goes beyond the Using local rights of way give the opportunity Way.Valley Tohas theattractive southeast riverside the Upperwalks. TheLea requirements of a RoWIP, in that it also for socialising with family or friends and ValleyNational has Cycle attractive Network riverside Route walks. 6 largely The coversThe local access network improvements of pavements to Luton’s and helps people to appreciate the scenery, Nationalfollows the Cycle river LeaNetwork through Route the town. 6 largely parkscycleways, and opentogether spaces with as other well pathsas rights in the of wildlife, plant life and history of an area. Also follows the river Lea through the town. way,town, analso approach encourages now recognisedpeople toby usethe access to green space and nature has a Governmenthealthier and as moregood practice.sustainable modes of Public Rights of Way are paths with public positive effect on mental health and is To ensure that anyone knows which paths getting to work, to school, and to shops and access that include: important for general well-being (Bird, 2007). are public rights of way, since 1980 local other community facilities. These are highway authorities have been required to important local routes which complement the • Footpaths for pedestrians only (and Introduction The Government requires local highway keep records of rights of way in their area, formal public rights of way network. mobility buggies); authorities to prepare a Rights of Way known as the definitive map. • Bridleways for pedestrians, cyclists Improvement Plan (RoWIP), which should This Plan, therefore, goes beyond the and horse riders; cover: requirements of a RoWIP, in that it also TherePublic• Bywaysarerights a number of open way toof are allparks, trafficpaths playing (BOATs),with fieldspublic & covers access improvements to Luton’s • the extent to which rights of way in andaccess• otherRoads that include: greenused as spaces public pathsthat (RUPPs)are an parks and open spaces as well as rights of Luton meet the present and likely future important resource for the enjoyment of way, an approach now recognised by the needs of the public; people•They Footpaths: canwho belive paths in for the pedestrians ontown. their Some own, only of or these(and may Government as good practice. • the opportunities rights of way provide attractpass mobilitythrough visitors buggies) anfrom area further of public afield, open such space, as for exercise and other forms of open air the•but theyMuseumBridleways: do not at generally Wardownfor pedestriansrefer Park, to pavements and andthe recreation and for enjoying Luton and Discoveryhorse Centre/Mossman riders. Cyclists areCollection permitted at its surrounding area; and Stockwoodas long Park. as they give way to other us- • how accessible rights of way in Luton There ersare a number of parks, playing fields are to blind or partially sighted people andFurthermore,• otherBOATs: green thereopen are spacesto aall number trafficthat of(BOAT),are areas an and others with mobility problems. importantdefinedbut as predominantly resource“open access” for theused land, enjoyment by both pedestri- on theof peopleedge ofans, who and horse livein the in riders thebuilt town.and up cyclistsarea, Some of of varying these Rights of way are vital for gaining access to attractlevels ofvisitors accessibility. from further afield, such as the countryside around Luton, which is one the They Museum can be atpaths Wardown on their Park, own, andor maythe of the town’s prime assets. To the north, east DiscoveryThepass throughlocal Centre/Mossmannetwork an area ofof publicpavements Collection open space, and at and south of the town, the Chilterns Area of Stockwoodcycleways,but they do Park.together not generally with other refer paths to pave-in the Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has town,ments alongalso theencourages edge of roadspeople or toto cycle- use healthier and more sustainable modes of Rights of Way Improvement Plan: Luton’s Great Outdoors 1 Introduction some of the finest scenery in southeast gettingStockwood to work, Park. to school, and to shops and someEngland of andthe isfinest served scenery by many in southeastfootpaths other community facilities. These are Walking and other pursuits in the countryside Englandand bridleways. and is servedSome ofby thesemany arefootpaths linked importantIn areas localdefined routes as which“open complement access” land, the are good for our health as they give the andtogether bridleways. to provide Some longer of these distance are linkedtrails formalsince November public rights 2005 of way people network. have a right to chance for physical exercise as gentle or togethersuch as tothe provide Icknield longer Way distanceand Chilterns trails undertake recreational activities on foot. The strenuous as each of us wishes to make it. suchWay. asTo thethe Icknieldsoutheast Way the and Upper Chilterns Lea Thistown isPlan, well servedtherefore, by such goes areas beyond of varying the Using local rights of way give the opportunity Way.Valley Tohas theattractive southeast riverside the Upperwalks. TheLea requirementslevels of accessibility, of a RoWIP, both onin thethat edgeit also of for socialising with family or friends and ValleyNational has Cycle attractive Network riverside Route walks. 6 largely The coversand in theaccess built up improvements area. to Luton’s helps people to appreciate the scenery, Nationalfollows the Cycle river LeaNetwork through Route the town. 6 largely parks and open spaces as well as rights of wildlife, plant life and history of an area. Also follows the river Lea through the town. way,The anlocal approach network now of recognisedpavements by andthe access to green space and nature has a Governmentcycleways, together as good withpractice. other paths in the Public Rights of Way are paths with public positive effect on mental health and is To ensure that anyone knows which paths town, also encourages people to use access that include: important for general well-being (Bird, 2007). are public rights of way, since 1980 local healthier and more sustainable modes of highway authorities have been required to getting to work, to school, and to shops and • Footpaths for pedestrians only (and Introduction The Government requires local highway keep records of rights of way in their area, other community facilities.
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