Minutes of Tees Valley Local Access Forum AGM

Ward Jackson Park, , 5th March 2012, 4:00pm

Present: Robin Daniels (Chair), Judith Underwood, Rob Brown, Deborah Jefferson, Norman Leslie, Fiona Campbell.

Officers present: Beryl Bird (DO), Chris Scaife (Hartlepool), Malcolm Thompson (Darlington), Rob Morrow (Stockton)

Guests: Ian Moran of Limestone Landscapes, Victor Cadaxa Vice Chair Tyne & Wear, Jim Milner of Natural England

Apologies: Mike Roff, David Leyshon, Steve Scoffin, Graham Clingan, Councillor Nicola Walker, Stewart Williams (Middlesbrough).

1. Introductions Robin Daniels welcomed everyone to the meeting and all introduced themselves.

2. Apologies As above.

3. Minutes of meeting held 10th October 2011 and Extra –Ordinary Meeting of the 5th December 2012 Rob Brown attended the meeting on 10th October 2011.

4. Matters Arising The Landscape Partnership Bid had been submitted with a response expected by late June/early July 2012. The Friends Group had been constituted.

5. Chairs Report The Regional Chairs was described as ‘developing nicely’ with presentations from the NFU, (where contact details were swapped) and theh nort east regional Manager of Natural England Adrian Vass. A Regional Cycling Strategy was considered, and feedback given on the Independent Panel on Forestry visit to the north east. The TVLAF hopes to work with Durham LAF on the Teesdale Way maintenance and profile; a joint statement was issued in support of the two Landscape Bids. River Tees Rediscovered is also in support. The LAF north east National conference last week was very interesting – with NE and Defra hoping to learn more about the Friends. (Papers have been circulated from the Conference.) RD thanked Judith Underwood, Deborah Jefferson and BBr fo their work on the Access WG and the Friends.

6. Election of Chair and Vice Chair CS managed the election of Chair and Vice Chair, Robin Daniels was again elected, unanimously, by the Forum for a further year to the post of Chair, proposed by Rob Brown and seconded by Deborah Jefferson. Rob Brown stood as Vice Chair, proposed by Robin Daniels and seconded by Deborah Jefferson.

Minutes of Meeting 5.3.12

1. Limestone Landscapes Update by Ian Moran, Interpretation & Community Engagement Officer

Ian brought the meeting up to speed with developments; projects in the four categories include,

‐Conserving & Restoring – two projects in Durham increasing the grassland area and seed bank ‐Historic Environment ‐ Western Tower in Bishop Auckland, Hawthorn, the Old Smithy at Hetton and the lifeboat Building at Seaham. Rig and Furrow at Garmondsey, defended land at the Haugh Battery, Hawthorn Dene, Troutpoint at Sunderland and the Listening Trumpet at Fulwell. ‐Landscape Feature – field boundary dry stone walling at Cleadon ‐ Geodiversity – Tunstall Reef at Sunderland, other quarries dependant on successful access include Thrislington, Crime Rigg, Raisby and Quarrington Hill.

Leg it Across the Landscape include circular paths at Hart and Elwick, with two new footbridges planned for Hart to Haswell, and paths between Monk Heseldon and Nesbitt and Murton and Durham

Green Exercise is also underway, a large project linking with all the local authorities. There are both regional and local steering groups, with links to Coastal access, Parish Paths Partnerships, a Lime Triathlon and a Limestone Festival. Hartlepool Sports Development are part of the Steering Group.

The Learning part of the project includes Trials & Tribulations at Mowbray Park, free training & skills sessions for staff and volunteers, day schools for the public and heritage skills days. A Village Atlas is being considered by volunteers in Elwick and Wheatley Hill.

Ian’s full presentation has been circulated. RD thanked Ian for the interesting update.

2. Access Working Group JU outlined the activities of the Access WG, which included correspondence with the Highways Agency, Network Rail and the Local Authorities. Cross boundary points and agreements were also discussed with Middlesbrough taking the lead.

3. Rights of Way Officer Reports

a. Darlington MT outlined the new bridleway at Baydale Beck and the new footpath at the Riverside, as well as the large volume of legal work required on this and other sites, as well as the sad news of Yvonne’s departure. RD wondered if ROW Colleagues could assist with legal work. Report circulated.

b. Hartlepool Walk improvements have been made to Hartlepool 8 & 9, it is hoped they can become permissive cycle routes connecting to school, home and Summerhill. Elwick 8 has new furniture; 5 and 2 have had gates removed illegally. The police are involved in this issue as well as Hart 18, where bridleway difficulties are also on the agenda. Hannah Woodhouse (Countryside Assistant) has developed a series of Guided Walks and a Bag it and Bin it sign which will be used by all neighbourhood departments across the Borough. The route has been walked for Coastal Access, mapped and the draft report almost complete for consultation. The Pilot path at Weymouth has been completed, CS envisages the new stage in the North East will be between via the Cleveland Way to Filey. The difficult bit would be the link between Seaton Carew and the Transporter Bridge. Report circulated.

c. Middlesbrough No report.

d. Stockton on Tees RM submitted Stockton’s update, which included a programme of path maintenance and upgrades, the on‐going Definitive Map work which has all legal orders completed. The bridleway extensions hoped for may materialise with the desire lines work undertaken by Graham Clingan. Legal Order work is being hampered due to budget considerations. Report circulated.

4. Development Officer Report The Defra Annual Report had been completed and submitted, and planning work had been underway for months into the National Conferences and huddle. Shop a friend requested. Report circulated.

5. Date of next meeting The next meeting is scheduled for October 1st 2012 in Stockton on Tees.

Meeting closed at 5:45pm