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Integrated Access Management

Integrated Access Management

What is Integrated Access Management?

Integrated Access Management is a new way of improving access to the countryside. The new approach provides higher quality access to the countryside for everyone. At the same time, a better relationship with landowners helps deliver benefits for the environment and the local economy, resulting in a number of gains and the achievement of wider goals. Integrated Access Management means assessing the needs of the widest possible audience, reviewing present access opportunities and information, identifying the main obstacles and then finding ways of removing them. It represents a shift in thinking for landowners and access providers. It moves beyond the enforcement of rights of way, reaches further than the provision and maintenance of the network and tackles the barriers to countryside recreation in a collaborative way.

Who is involved?

1. Local authorities. They have a number of statutory duties relating to rights of way and countryside access. 2. Landowners. They have a major role in the provision of countryside access where rights of way cross their land, or where their land is designated as access land. Access provision is a priority for many of the big voluntary and public sector landowners (eg. the National Trust, county wildlife trusts, the Forestry Commission and Crown Estates). 3. Customers. It is important to engage with access users, the customers, including both present customers and potential future access users. 4. Local Access Forums. Established by local authorities to advise on countryside access, members of these include representatives from user groups such as the Ramblers Association and the British Horse Society.

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5. A wider constituency of public sector interests. This can include tourism and transport operators, as well as those involved in education, youth services, community development and health. 6. Government bodies. Integrated Access Management falls within the remit of a range of Government bodies. At a national level the lead department is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); at a regional level it is of importance to regional development agencies, to Government offices for the regions and to regional assemblies. 7. Commercial operators. There are opportunities to work with a variety of commercial interests creating various partnerships leading to public benefits.

How does it work?

The basic idea behind Integrated Access Management is to find ways of improving access involving a proactive, exploratory approach. It involves building on traditional and existing access and rights of way work, but focussing on the needs of users and working with landowners and land managers, in partnerships with the other public and private sector interests. A demand study, good partnership working, serious commitment on all sides (users, land managers and local authorities), and innovative ideas are all essentials.

Where did the ideas come from?

In 2000 the Countryside Agency decided to support and subsequently review six demonstration integrated access projects across England. These projects aimed to show how existing access could be improved by linking countryside recreation to wider issues such as public transport and the availability of better information. Lancashire County Council and Surrey County Council hosted county-wide projects. Another, in southeast Hampshire, was also hosted by a county council, but covered only part of the county.Two projects operated within protected landscapes.These were hosted by the Chilterns AONB Unit and the Lake District National Park Authority. The sixth project was hosted by Yorkshire Water plc, focusing on the land holdings belonging to this water company in and around Rishworth Moor.

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Integrated Access Management

What have been the results of the demonstration projects?

The results from these projects were extremely encouraging, with some very worthwhile outcomes. Some projects had a focus on physical improvements to the rights of way network or involved public transport initiatives, such as new cycle carriages on a steam train, (enabling users to enjoy a circular route). Others had a focus on better information or Typical responses included: on helping access providers gain a better understanding of the needs “This has been a very timely and provision of access improvements geared to specific user groups, intervention…very worthwhile.” including black minority ethnic communities, young people or other “I don’t think there were any negative specific local needs. Researching and providing for the most important aspects to this work.” local needs is a key element in Integrated Access Management. “We could do with more partnership Integrated Access means joint working across traditional projects like this.” departmental and organisational boundaries and those involved have been virtually unanimous in agreeing that outputs have exceeded expectations.

The demonstration projects have shown: how access can deliver social and economic benefits; how access can be successfully integrated with conservation and land management, and in particular how it can lead to better understanding between access organisations and landowners; ways of managing of recreational traffic, and supporting public transport; how to deliver information to the public in ways that meets the needs of the users.

What are the benefits?

The demonstration projects were able to: deliver against a wide range of objectives (social, economic and environmental); challenge some preconceptions about access, and about who uses the countryside; engage with a very wide range of stake-holders, going well beyond those normally involved in countryside access; draw down substantial amounts of project funding from a wide range of sources; show that countryside users need information which encourages exploration and addresses their concerns; they need a means by which they can travel to the countryside; and they need a good ‘countryside experience’ once they arrive.

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Integrated Access Management addresses all these issues

The result is that Integrated Access Management adds value by: changing perceptions, so that action is driven by the goal of providing access, rather than simply providing the components which contribute to access; establishing and creating wider benefits, stronger relationships, new steering groups and better provision of access; leading to joined-up working, crossing traditional boundaries, drawing on resources from other sectors, including regeneration, health and transport; having an impact on partner organisations, so that they too change their way of working; making a major contribution to the development of Rights of Way Improvement Plans; and linking closely to the work of Local Access Forums.

The organisations involved in the demonstration programme are now absorbing the principles and practice of Integrated Access into their mainstream work. Partner organisations are also changing their way of working as a result of their involvement in the programme.The Countryside Agency believes the case for adopting Integrated Access Management has now been proved.

Key elements of making Integrated Access Management work

A balance must be struck between implementing projects on the ground and influencing a wide range of partner organisations. There is a key role for innovative work, using new techniques. The main input required is in terms of officer time, energy and resourcefulness. Integrated Access Management should build on existing access and rights of way work, and on existing relationships, not start completely anew. Integrated Access Management requires a new approach.Traditional rights of way management can be reactive and defensive; Integrated Access Management employs a proactive, exploratory approach.

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Integrated Access Management

Practical considerations of Integrated Access Management

A dedicated Integrated Access officer can act as a focus. Setting up proactive steering groups, comprising representatives from varied backgrounds can benefit both individual projects and the overall programme of work. A structured approach is needed.This should be based on the best information available concerning need and demand for access, and an audit of the supply of access facilities and opportunities in the project area. This structured approach needs to be balanced with a flexible, rapid response capability. Long term investment must be committed to Integrated Access Management, if maximum returns are to be achieved. Integrated Access Management can be based in a local authority or another organisation. A modest ring fenced budget for a wide range of projects can persuade others to commit financially. Local authority Best Value Performance Indicators may skew the way some Integrated Access outcomes are evaluated.

For more information go to www.countryside.gov.uk

Integrated Access Demonstration Project contacts:

Lake District National Park Authority Environment Directorate Murely Moss Lancashire County Council Oxenholme Road PO Box 9, Guild House Kendal LA9 7RL Cross Street Tel: 01539 724555 Preston PR1 8RD Picture credits: Tel: 01772 263920 Front cover Hampshire County Council Countryside Service Chilterns Conservation Board Hampshire County Council Chilterns AONB Surrey County Council British Mountaineering Council Mottisfont Court 8 Summerleys Road Page 1 High Street Princes Risborough Lake District National Parks Authority Page 2 Winchester SO23 8ZF Bucks HP27 9DT Lake District National Parks Authority Lancashire County Council Tel: 01962 847717 Tel: 01844 271302 Hampshire County Council Page 3 Surrey County Council Surrey County Council Yorkshire Water Lake District National Parks Authority County Hall Western House Page 4 Lancashire County Council Kingston upon Thames Western Way, Halifax Road Graham Ramsden Surrey KT1 2DY Bradford BD6 2LZ Page 6 Surrey County Council Tel: 020 8541 7005 Tel: 01274 691111

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John Dower House, Crescent Place Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3RA Tel: 01242 521381 Fax: 01242 584270 www.countryside.gov.uk

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This document is printed on recycled paper comprising 75% recycled post consumer waste.

June 2004 1K