Rights of Way Improvement Plan November 2006 The Environment Directorate as part of Somerset County Council is committed to The Equal Opportunities Promise. Our promise is to provide all services of equal quality which meet your needs and fulfil your rights. You can expect us to treat you fairly, with respect and dignity, and to be understanding of whoever you are and whatever your background. This document is also available in Braille, large Print, tape and disc. We can provide other translations on request. Arabic Bengali Cantonese Malayalam Portuguese Estes documentos também se encontram disponíveis em Braille, letras grandes, fita ou disco e podem ser traduzidos para Português. Polish Ten dokument jest także dostępny w wersji Braille’a, pisany dużym drukiem, na kasecie lub dysku kompaktowym i może być przetłumaczony na język polski. Spanish Estos documentos también se consiguen en braille, letra grande, cinta o disco, y se pueden traducir al español. Tagalog Ang dokumentong ito ay may bersiyong naka-Braille, malalaki ang mga letra, naka tape o disk. Maaari kaming magbigay ng ibang pagsasalin kung kailangan. Turkish 3 FOREWORD Public Rights of Way are more than a valuable recreational resource - they are also an important asset in terms of the rural economy, tourism, sustainable transport, social inclusion and health and well being. The public rights of way network is key to enabling residents and visitors alike to enjoy the beauty of Somerset’s diverse natural and built environment. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan provides an opportunity to develop the links between public rights of way and sustainable transport. Over the past three years, funding from the Local Transport Plan has helped the Rights of Way Group to make significant progress in making the network easier to use, however this Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) recognises that there are still considerable gains to be made. The public rights of way network cannot be seen in isolation. As well as the new areas of Open Access land, there are many bodies and landowners who provide additional access and the ongoing collation of information and partnership working will ensure that the implementation of the RoWIP will benefit and lead to a more integrated wider access network. However it is also important that we improve accessibility to this information and raise awareness of people’s rights and responsibilities. Following the Foot & Mouth epidemic of 2001, part of Somerset County Council’s recovery strategy was based upon regenerating the rural economy through improving and promoting access. This has resulted in the development of two new promoted routes; the Coleridge Way and the West Somerset Coast Path. The Coleridge Way, launched in April 2005 proved to be a resounding success in its first season with at least one new business being established due to demand for accommodation. Over the next four years, with funding from the second Local Transport Plan and other sources we will strive to implement the key priority areas of this Improvement Plan and make Somerset a place and a destination for enjoyable walking, riding and cycling. Hazel Prior-Sankey Planning, Transport & Waste Portfolio Holder 4 SUMMARY The Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) has been prepared by Somerset County Council in consultation with the Somerset and Exmoor Local Access Forums, Exmoor National Park Authority, the District Councils, Parish Councils, Councillors, user groups, landowners and other key stakeholders. The Plan sets out the context of the existing public rights of way network in Somerset and the findings of an extensive consultation exercise has influenced how best we can improve the network to meet the current and future needs of users. The maintenance of the existing network is a key priority, and whilst this is a statutory duty, Chapter 2 sets out how this duty will be improved through use of a new database and mapping system, employment of community initiatives and the categorisation of paths to assist in prioritising workloads. The Best Value ease of use percentage of the public rights of way network in Somerset remains in the bottom quartile of shire counties, which illustrates that the focus needs to be on improving our statutory duties of maintenance and removal of obstructions before any significant resource is directed to developing the network. A challenging target of 84% of the network easy to use by 2010/11 has been set and funding from the second Local Transport Plan will help towards achieving this. Chapters 1 & 3-8 cover the other 5 key aims of this Plan and detail actions that can be taken to develop the public rights of way service and network. Significant gains will be achieved through improving liaison with planners and partners such as Natural England. However, physical route development on the ground will require significant resource. Over 1000 improvement proposals have been suggested as a result of the consultation exercise. To assist in assessing these proposals a scorecard (Appendix F) has been developed that reflects the findings and priorities of the RoWIP. Annual Action Plans will outline how route development and the Statements of Action are taken forward. The lack of any additional funding from the Government to implement RoWIPs means that whilst some actions may qualify for Local Transport Plan funding, the implementation of many actions will rely on securing external funds. 5 CONTENTS Glossary 8 1. RoWIP Structure 10 2. Overview 11 2.1 The RoWIP process 11 2.2 Public rights of way 11 2.3 Somerset context 12 3. Aim 1: Raise the strategic profile of the public rights of way network 13 3.1 Existing situation 13 3.2 Somerset & ENP joint structure plan review/RSS 13 3.3 Transport Asset Management Plan 15 3.4 Local Transport Plan 2 15 3.5 Local Development Frameworks 15 3.6 Agri-environment Schemes 16 3.7 Development Control 16 3.8 Other strategies and plans 17 4. Aim 2: Improve how the public rights of way network is maintained 18 4.1 Context 18 4.2 Prioritising maintenance 18 4.3 Best Value Performance Indicator 178 19 4.4 Database & full network survey 20 4.5 Vegetation clearance 21 4.6 Community Paths Partnership 21 5. Aim 3: Improve how Definitive Map modification and public path orders are processed 22 5.1 Context 22 5.2 Definitive Map & Statement 22 5.3 Definitive map modification applications 22 5.4 Diversions 23 6. Aim 4: Develop a safe access network 24 6.1 Context 24 6.2 Demand & supply 24 6.3 The approach 29 6.4 Urban / urban fringe areas 29 6.5 Promoted routes 30 6.6 Accessible paths 31 6.7 The wider access network 32 6.8 County farms 33 6.9 County wildlife sites & community woodlands 33 6.10 Considerations for implementing a safer access network 34 7. Aim 5: Improve access information provision 36 7.1 Context 36 6 7.2 Signage 36 7.3 Wider access datasets 37 7.4 Education 38 8. Aim 6: Work in partnership with key organisations 40 8.1 Community Paths Partnership 40 8.2 A healthier Somerset 40 8.3 Stakeholders 41 8.4 Neighbouring authorities 42 8.5 Public transport 42 9. Statement of Action 43 9.1 Funding 43 9.2 Quick reference tables 43 9.3 Next steps 55 10 Exmoor National Park Chapter 56 10.1 Introduction 56 10.2 Existing access provision 56 10.3 Existing use of the public rights of way network 59 10.4 Context 60 10.5 Previous consultations 65 10.6 Structure of plan chapter 65 10.7 Assessment of the ability of the network to provide opportunities for recreation and meet the needs of users 67 10.8 Other issues 73 10.9 Summary of action for improvements 81 10.10 Annex 1 – Summary of consultation responses on rights of way management 2000/01 & 2004 85 Appendices A Maintenance & Enforcement Policy B Network Assessment C Quantitative Consultation D Qualitative Consultation E Parish-based Horse & Rider Census F RoWIP Scorecard & Implementation Procedure 7 GLOSSARY AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty BAP Biodiversity Action Plan BOAT Byway Open to All Traffic BVPI Best Value Performance Indicator CRoW Act Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 DC District Council de facto Exists, whether by right or not DEFRA Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs DMMO Definitive Map Modification Order DMS Definitive Map & Statement ENP(A) Exmoor National Park (Authority) ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area FWAG Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group GPS Global Positioning System HA 1980 Highways Act 1980 HLS Higher Level Stewardship IMD Index of Multiple Deprivation LAF Local Access Forum LAMP Levels and Moors Partnership LDF Local Development Framework LPA Local Planning Authority LTP Local Transport Plan Natural England The body that has replaced the Countryside Agency, Rural Development Service & English Nature NCN National Cycle Network 8 NMPV Non-Mechanically Propelled Vehicles PRoW Public Rights of Way RoW Rights of Way RSS Regional Spatial Strategy RUPP Road Used as a Public Path SAIN Somerset Access and Inclusion Network SCC Somerset County Council SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment s106 agreement Legal agreement between developer and LPAs SPAG Somerset Physical Activity Group TAMP Transport Asset Management Plan TCPA 1990 Town & Country Planning Act 1990 UUR Unsurfaced Unclassified Road 9 CHAPTER 1. RoWIP STRUCTURE This Improvement Plan is based upon 6 key aims. These are as follows: Raise the strategic profile of the public rights of way network, Improve how the public rights of way network is maintained, Improve how Definitive Map Modification and Public Path Orders are processed, Develop a safe access network, Improve access information provision, Work in partnership with key organisations. Each of these key aims is explained in more detail in their own chapter (chapters 3- 8) with supporting statements (SS) and policy statements and actions.