WLAF49

WREXHAM LOCAL ACCESS FORUM

Minutes of the Forty ninth meeting held on Friday 22nd February 2013 at Ty Mawr Country Park, Cefn Mawr.

01/11 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES

Attendance:

SECRETARY: Caroline Selby (CS)

CHAIR: Mabyn Pickering (MP)

MEMBERS: Sue Gittins (SG) Katarzyna Phillips (KP) Mike Crawshaw (MC) Gerald Moss (GM) Bill Stephens (BS) Tim Stratton (TS) Martin Howorth (MH)

NON-MEMBERS: Sean Hanratty (SH) WCBC Alun Price (AP) CCW – until 3.55pm Jill Meyer (JM) CCW – until 3.45pm Bryan Harrison (BH) Flintshire LAF Jean Rosenfeld (JR) Flintshire LAF

Apologies:

John Evans Gwynfor Jones Ken Mumford Edward Wardle Sion Roberts

MP welcomed everyone to the meeting, especially Jill Meyer from CCW and Bryan Harrison and Jean Rosenfeld representing Flintshire LAF.

1 02/11 MINUTES & MATTERS ARISING FROM MEETING HELD ON 30th NOVEMBER 2012

Page 5 05/11 sentence should read Provisional maps will be produced by August 2013.

With this correction the minutes were proposed by Tim Stratton, seconded by Katarzyna Phillips, agreed as an accurate record and signed by the chairman.

 Annual Report – in hand.  Etape – CS to email members to send comments re Etape event. A letter will be drafted and sent to Etape, County Borough Council and Aled Roberts A.M.  Working Party to meet National Trust representatives – still to be held.  GM to liaise with AP – this was done via Ramblers Association.  Historical Routes – to be raised at the next LAF Chairs meeting.  Lost Ways – SH sent report to TS. Sub group to arrange meeting, members KP – SG – TS – KM – MP.  SH re Glenside – MP has spoken to Cllr. M Pr who informed that WCBC will deal with this matter. SR is the appropriate person to do so.

It was proposed by Tim Stratton, seconded by Gerald Moss and agreed that: “This matter be dealt with by Sean Roberts and Council”.

 MH contacted IT Team with thanks and congratulations.  Sign at Ty Mawr boundary with Aqueduct – discussions taking place re leasing of additional land by Aqueduct. Decision to be made when outcome is known.  Moss Valley Country Park – MH contacted the relevant people who contacted the contractors.

ACTION: Annual Report to be progressed. CS to email members re Etape comments. Members to send comments re Etape to CS. CS to draft letter re Etape. Working Party re National Trust to meet. Sub committee re Historical Routes / Lost Ways to meet.

03/11 CHAIRS REPORT

Wayfarers Mike Crawshaw and others continue to monitor the situation. In the meantime Kat, Tim and myself have spoken to Aled Roberts, A.M.. Powys County

2 Council “downgraded” a similar track and was taken to court by LARA. Powys lost in the Magistrates Court and the situation is now moving to the High Court for a decision. As a solicitor, the advice from Aled Roberts was to wait for the High Court decision. Would a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) sign help the situation?

Following discussion it was agreed that as damage is being caused to SSSI land, then an TRO would be helpful. WCBC to be contacted re this. CCW to be alerted to the damage being caused – a letter, including other tracks in the area that are being damaged or have been damaged, to be sent to AP asking him to report to CCW. It was noted that the Environment Bill is an ideal opportunity to make representation re redefinition of access, tracks, etc. JR, as chair of LAF chairs, to be asked to obtain views of other LAFs with similar problems. MP and MC had copies of maps which would be looked at with SH.

Developments Wrexham Energy 1 – LAF has asked to be consulted about the access / improved access at the appropriate time. Hafod Brickworks – Our advice was to wait until / if the site goes into a settlement boundary then we could discuss access issues.

Northern Marches Grants, up to £100,000 are availed, from Toyota. Perhaps LAF members could look into these. MH stated that it is not a function of LAF to apply for grants.

Active Travel Bill This will focus on walking and cycling so the Local Authorities will need to address these issues. We will extend an initiation to Flintshire and Denbighshire LAFs, as both counties have experience in these routes.

Legacy Railway 36 Metres I am waiting for a reply re dedicating the line as a path.

Glenside Members of Esclusham Community Council continue to complain about the path at Bersham that has been closed by Glenside.

JR reported that Flintshire LAF held seven meetings with community and town councils plus events were organised to highlight volunteering, publicity, obstruction free walks.

ACTION: CS to contact WCBC to request TRO on Wayfarers and SSSI due to damage caused by 4 x 4 vehicles. CS write to AP to raise with CCW, including other tracks in the Ceiriog Valley that have been / are being damaged.

3 CS write to JR to raise at LAF chairs meeting. MP, MC and SH to view maps.

04/11 VICE CHAIRS REPORT

North Discussed the Active Travel Bill, specifically the possibility of Wales legislation to enable easing reclassifying Unclassified AM Unmetalled Roads and BOATs.

Denb’s In response to an invitation, attended as an Observer. LAF Reciprocal attendance by a Denb’s officer was discussed. See Agenda as attached. Denb’s are developing Permissive Bridleways along the Clwydian range on council-owned land. This is being shown on CCW’s Outdoor Wales Online map. Also, Bridleway east of the Ponderosa being made accessible. Brymbo With the Bridleways Association and RoW, have discussed the Dev. possibility of BDL dedicating Byways/Bridleways during Corp. Planning the next phase of development. LAF 1. Natural Resources Wales Chairs’ Neither Morgan Parry, Board Member & Tim Jones, Executive Meeting Director Operations – North attended. 20/2/12 Policy is reserved to the , with the NRW Agency working as an operational body. This includes current evolving policy on Forestry. Details are available on the WG Website. NRW (i.e. current CCW) will review County Councils’ development and implementation of RoWIP’s during 2013/14. The methodology is being developed now, as ITT’s and a contract with a 3rd party are being agreed. 2. Tranquil Urban Greenspaces: Martin McVay, Welsh Government, briefly described the Environmental Noise Directive and how it is being applied in Wales. Only the southern urban areas are sufficiently large to fall within the Directive’s requirements. The Noise Map is due to be published on the WG Website – it is a computer model derived from noise pollution associated with roads, rather than from observations and measurements. As Martin indicated that urban noise is often dampened by buildings, this produced a reaction from rural members. 3. Glastir Advance: Max Grant, Ramblers Association, presented developments to date – this has already been circulated to LAF members by the secretary. 4. Improving LAF working practices Initial discussion around what changes might be needed to improve effectiveness of LAFs in Wales (Lucy Swannell, CCW).

4 Following round-table observations, Lucy and Jean Rosenfeld will circulate a questionnaire to LAF’s. This should be seen in the context of the NRW RoWIP review (above) and drafting the forthcoming Environment Bill. This Bill may be used to amend legislation governing LAF and RoWIP practice (and their continuance). Conclusions drawn from the LAF responses will form part of the LAF Chairs’ Conference in June. 5. CCW Access Update (Jont Bulbeck, CCW) Funding of RoWIP for 2013/14 is £1 million (a reduction of £400,000) and further funding is likely to depend on the outcome of the NRW review (i.e., funding to date can demonstrate value). The position of EU funding, particularly for the Coastal Path, is unclear. The forthcoming Environment Bill will contain proposed legislation on Access and RoW. It was confirmed that Unclassified Unmetalled Roads are not currently devolved, though WG is aware of problems in this area (such as the Wayfarers) and there are also English studies being undertaken. 6. Other Business Henry Langen of Pembrokeshire LAF ([email protected] ), and now deputy to Jean Rosenfeld for LAF Chairs, is more than willing to assist Kat in networking Disabled issues and concerns. John Morgan, Ceredigion Chair, agreed to forward the Memoradum of Understanding they use with their Council as an example of good practice for our consideration. The Ceredigion RoWIP is a living plan, updated annually and agreed with the Council. Mike Scott Archer circulated a draft Code of Conduct for Routes with several User Groups (see attached). This will be circulated to LAF’s and Stakeholders (such as BHS, Climbers) for comment.

Review of how LAFs are working, inc procedural and governance. ROWIPs – how active are these documents and need to see how progress can be made, monitored and implemented. It was suggested that joint meetings could be held with Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham LAFs. The Environment Bill may include these points. Secretary’s are to be contacted for views on LAF and Local Authorities. Active Travel Bill – this is only for commuting e.g. cycling and walking not recreation. Sustrans are to commence mapping across Wrexham in the near future and LAF may be contacted.

5 ACTION: Joint meetings to be considered. Secretary to respond, when requested, with views re LAF and LA. LAF to respond to Sustrans, if contacted.

05/11 PRESENTATION re OUTDOOR WALES on LINE

Jill Meyer, Project Officer CCW, gave a power point presentation outlining

Outdoor Wales on Line / Crwydro Cymru art Lein

This is a partner led project featuring interactive sites on a scale of 1 : 25000 The functions include map tools, map window and search. All the data is checked on an annual basis.

Features – Walking and Cycling – On the Water – Mountain Bike Centres and Climbing Crags – Places To Visit.

It was suggested that partners be asked about accessibility of facilities e.g. public toilets, times of opening, whether seasonal opening, is a key required, etc. This information could then be included on the website.

Links are provided by partner organisations / agencies for additional information. Work in being undertaken with partners to convert routes into downloadable apps for smart phones, using GPS.

TS reported that routes for riders and carriage drivers are not included on the website. TS has information re routes and will contact SR re possible inclusion on WCBC website which could then be included in Outdoor Wales on Line website.

www.ccw.gov.uk/oudoorwalesonline www.ccgc.gov.uk/crwydrocymruartlein

ACTION: CS email JM - contacting partners re accessibility of facilities information. TS send information to SR.

JM left the meeting at this point

06/11 COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL for WALES

AP gave an update on the Decadal Review of Open Access Mapping. Representations are now being looked at and a map(s) will be produced by 7th August 2013. The last date for appeal by landowners will be 7th November 2013.

6 Statistics are to be emailed to LAF secretaries.

AP left the meeting at this point

07/11 SECRETARYS REPORT

The secretary reported on work undertaken.

Since the last meeting I have typed and circulated documents and information

 Agenda  Minutes  Information received re meetings, papers, inc. National LAF, etc.

Contacted  Ty Mawr Country Park re booking  Denbighshire and Flintshire LAFs  Jill Meyer at CCW

I have met with Martin Howarth, for the Performance Review and Career Development (Annual Appraisal).

I have received copies of the following:

 Public Path Diversion Order 2012 (Allington Public Footpaths 16 and 17 in the Community of Rossett)  Public Path Diversion Order 2012 (Penley Footpath Number 20 in the Community of Maelor South)  Definitive Map Modification Order 2013 (Brymbo 90)

The order of work following a meeting of LAF is as follows:

 Date of next meeting circulated to members not present at meeting  Venue booked for next meeting

 Type up draft minutes, within 2 weeks, and send to Chair and Vice chair  When comments received back, amend minutes accordingly and circulate to LAF members and send for translation  Send to webmaster, when received from Translation Dept., for posting on website

 Following discussion with Chair, contact speakers re next meeting

7  When agenda is confirmed by Chair, it is circulated to LAF members and sent for translation  Agenda sent to webmaster for posting on website when received from Translation Dept.

 Other work is undertaken as and when appropriate between meetings.

It is not possible to put the minutes or agenda on the website until these have been translated. In the meantime, the date of the next meeting could be put on the website as soon as it has been agreed

ACTION: CS to send date of next meeting to webmaster to post on website immediately following meeting.

08/11 MODIFICATION ORDERS UPDATE

SH circulated a paper with updated information.

Current cases as of 22 February 2013

Flash Bwlchgwyn

Objections received. Preparing to send order and objections to Planning Inspectorate.

Llangollen Rural BOAT 73 downgrade

Inquiry date set 03 and 04 April 2013.

Minera Lime Kilns Minera Lynwood

Currently investigating evidence for both routes.

Glyntraian 36

Order made and advertised. Awaiting end of objection period (21 December 2012).

Brymbo 90

Order advertised 14 February 2013.

8 09/11 ACCESS RANGERS REPORT

An issue re access to a railway line or path in the Penycae area has been raised. MP to contact SR.

ACTION: MP to contact SR re access to railway line / path in Penycae area.

10/11 GLASTIR

A CD has been sent to LAF secretaries – this was received and given to MP as LAF chair. Recommendations can be made to permissive paths. Wrexham LAF drew up recommendations, which were delivered by hand, in October 2012. No response has been received. It was agreed to review the recommendations made and submit any further alterations / recommendations. It was reported that a second CD featuring the recommendations received is to be sent to LAF secretaries.

Notes by Max Grant - Glastir Permissive Access Briefing Notes for Local Access Forums on Production of Maps Showing Useful Permissive Access. These had been emailed to members and copies were available at the meeting.

ACTION: Review of recommendations to be undertaken.

11/11 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a) Walking Festival leaflets. BS thanked SH and team for all their assistance and support.

b) JR gave brief description of how Flintshire LAF operates; this is at a more strategic level. He was interested in the different ways Wrexham operates.

c) AONB - a Joint Advisory Committee is being set up. Each LAF should send a representative, in an advisory capacity. This is still being established. Further information is available form Howard Sutcliffe, Denbighshire.

9 d) LAF involvement re maps – sub group to be formed to look at what is currently available and identify gaps. SH and SR to be contacted with information. e) If LAF have any issues then Cllr. Bob Dutton, Lead Member fro the Environment, should be contacted.

f) It was suggested that groups which are not currently represented on LAF could be invited to attend a meeting to give a presentation as to what access is required by their members or would be desirable. It was also suggested that a more informal event could be held featuring short presentations from LAF and organisations. Members were asked to send names of organisations, with contact details if possible.

ACTION: CS contact MH - email contact for HS. Sub group to be formed re maps. Information to be sent to SH and SR re maps. Details of organisations to be sent to CS.

12/11 ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA

 Sub Groups / Working Parties.  Update on Sustrans routes – Glyn Evans to be asked to attend either next meeting or the following meeting.

ACTION: CS contact GE re next meeting.

13/11 NEXT MEETING

Date - Thursday 9th May 2013 Venue – Ty Mawr Country Park Time – 1.30pm

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