Appendix C Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2010 - 2020 1 Forward This is the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) for the London Borough of Redbridge 2010 – 2020. It sets out how we intend to improve our public rights of way, namely footpaths, bridleways and byways, for the benefit of all current and future users. Where possible these improvements are linked to proposals outlined in existing borough policy documents which will also work toward meeting a number of objectives set out in the overarching London strategies. The Plan has been prepared by consultants working on our behalf and has been approved by Members. I would like to thank all those who have assisted with the preparation of this document. Dave Renvoize Chief Highways and Engineering Officer Contents The Vision Page 1. Introduction 1 2. Aims of the Rights of Way Plan 1 2.1 Requirements 1 2.2 Guidance 2 2.3 Assessment 3 2.4 Scope and Objectives 3 2.5 Benefits of public rights of way 4 3. About Redbridge 4 3.1 Geography 4 3.2 Demographics 6 3.3 Open Spaces and the Countryside 6 3.3.1 Open Spaces 7 3.3.2 Traditional Parks 9 4. Current Policies and Strategy 10 4.1 London wide 11 4.2 Borough wide 15 5. The Definitive Map and Statement (DMS) 21 5.1 Statutory duty 21 5.2 History of the Definitive Map and Statement (DMS) for Redbridge 22 5.3 The public rights of way network 22 5.4 Maintenance of the public rights of way network 23 5.5 Review of the current network – Ease of Use survey 23 5.6 Current provision 25 5.7 Changes to the public rights of way network 26 5.8 Future review of the PRoW network 28 5.9 Promoted routes 28 5.9.1 Walking 28 5.9.2 Cycling 29 6. Assessment and Evaluation 30 6.1 Responses 31 7. Statement of Actions 43 8. Funding 48 9. Programming 50 10. Appendices 55 Appendix 1: Copy of RoWIP questionnaire Appendix 2: Copy of RoWIP article Appendix 3: Map extracts from the sub Regional Development Framework (SRDF) – East London (May 2006) Appendix A: The London Borough of Redbridge – Local Implementation Plan 2005/06 to 2010/11: THE VISION In November 2004 The London Borough of Redbridge adopted a new “vision”: “Our ambition is for Redbridge to be a better place to live” To reflect the wide range of Council responsibilities and to meet this vision the Council adopted six key aims: • Redbridge: A safer place to live • Redbridge: A cleaner, greener place to live • Redbridge: A better place to learn • Redbridge: A better place to care • Redbridge: A better place for business • Redbridge: A better place to live together These aims are reflected within the strategic policies of the Council and are further endorsed within the Rights Of Way Improvement Plan. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan will help to deliver these aims and meet the overarching vision by outlining the Council’s commitment to delivering a rights of way network, including cycling, within the borough, that provides access to open spaces, is accessible by all and well maintained. The Core Actions set out in the Statement of Actions will demonstrate how this will be achieved. The London Borough of Redbridge will recognise the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and Statement of Actions as a strategic policy and where possible will co-ordinate with existing strategic plans and documents to secure funding for delivery. It is proposed to re-assess the outcome of this RoWIP and republish a new RoWIP within 10 years. 1. Introduction The Council is the highway authority for all highways within the Borough (except the Transport for London Road Network) including classified roads, streets, byways, restricted byways, cycletracks, bridleways and footpaths. Together these form the network of routes that enable people, visitors and residents alike, to travel around the Borough, whether for work, shopping, exercise, getting to school or for whatever other purpose. Most of the highways are roads with pavements alongside. However, a small but significant portion are routes that are recorded on the Definitive Map and Statement (DMS). These routes are footpaths, bridleways, byways and restricted byways and are referred to as 'public rights of way' (PRoW) and it is these that the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) is mainly concerned with. Other routes that are included within the scope of the RoWIP are: Cycle tracks: these routes are designated for cycle use only and possibly on foot. They may form part of the footway where shared use (segregated or unsegregated) has been formalised. They can also exist where definitive footpaths have been formally converted to cycle track. They are not recorded on the DMS. Permissive routes: the use of these routes is by permission of the landowner and can exist as footpaths, bridleways or cycle tracks. They are not recorded on the DMS, and the use can be revoked at any time by the landowner. 2. Aims of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) 2.1 Requirements The RoWIP is a strategic document, which demonstrates how the highway authority intends to improve the PRoW for the current and future needs of all users of the network. The requirement to draw up a RoWIP comes from section 60 of the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. This places a duty on all local highway authorities to prepare a plan which must: • cover the whole of their area; 1 • include an assessment of the current Public Rights of Way (PRoW) network; • assess the extent to which local rights of way meet the present and likely future needs of the public; • assess the opportunities that local rights of way provide to the public for exercise and other forms of open air recreation and for the enjoyment of the area; • assess the accessibility of the rights of way to blind or partially sighted people and others with mobility problems; • highlight how the provision of local rights of way link to other strategic policies already in place with the Council; • produce a Statement of Action (SoA) that should outline Core Actions that will meet the requirements as highlighted from the assessment. 2.2 Guidance The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued detailed guidance in 2002 as to how plans should be prepared and this draft plan has been researched and written with that as its guide1. There is also a body of other legislation that concerns public rights of way and their management; this legislation will be referred to, briefly, at the relevant parts within the plan. Where considered helpful, extracts are included. The intention of the RoWIP is to set out how those ‘routes’ considered to be ‘public rights of way’, and referred to above, can be improved to meet the current and foreseeable future needs of users, including those with mobility problems. It is important that the RoWIP is seen as a strategic proposal for action and the 'Statement of Actions' will play a key part in the implementation of the programming of improvements. _ 1 Adapted as Good Practice Guide. Visit www.iprow.co.uk/gpg 2 2.3 Assessment As discussed above the document must include an assessment of the current PRoW network. This assessment was undertaken by way of a questionnaire that was inserted within the free magazine “Redbridge Life” and accompanied by an article outlining the purpose of the questionnaire and directing the public to the webpage. The magazine was delivered to all households within the borough. The questionnaire was also made available at key points, namely OneStopShops, libraries, including the mobile library, and receptions at all Council buildings, and was also accessible from the Redbridge website (www.redbridge.gov.uk). The period of consultation took place for 6 weeks from 23rd June to 1st August 2008. See Appendix 1 for a copy of the ROWIP Questionnaire. See Appendix 2 for a copy of the ROWIP article. The responses have been analysed and are discussed at section 6.1. The consultation exercise was conducted in accordance with section 2.3.13 of the Defra guidance. This included the neighbouring Authorities, namely the London Boroughs’ of Newham, Barking and Waltham Forest, and PRoW user groups as well as the general public. 2.4 Scope and objectives. The scope and objectives of the RoWIP are much wider than detailed in this particular document as it is recognized that the borough does not have an up-to-date Definitive Map and Statement (DMS) for the area that makes up the London Borough of Redbridge. However, there are 166 routes that are used and considered to be PRoW, which are inspected and maintained as such, and it is with consideration to them that this document has been drafted. The Statement of Action (SoA) will set out Core Actions that aim to meet the statutory obligations and to develop and improve the PRoW network once it has been legally defined. In particular Core Action A addresses the requirement for the borough to have an up-to-date DMS and work has already started on mapping routes previously recorded in Essex which are now located in the London Borough of Redbridge. 3 2.5 Benefits of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Greater public access to the outdoors has many benefits to both the individual and to society as a whole. For the individual, benefits include: • better physical health – reduced obesity and disease associated with sedentary lifestyles; • better mental health – reduced stress and increased self-esteem through direct contact with wildlife, greenspace and landscape etc.; • Improved overall quality of life – outdoor recreation with friends and family, source of artistic inspiration and cultural creativity.