Business and Environmental Services People, Paths & Places The Rights of Way Improvement Plan for North Yorkshire 2007 – 2011 Improving local rights of way in North Yorkshire Supported by: A responsive County Council providing excellent and efficient local services This final Rights of Way For further information or to obtain a copy of this plan in another format please contact: Improvement Plan for The Policy Officer North Yorkshire is available – Rights of Way Improvement Plan in other formats such as Development & Countryside Service Business & Environmental Services Directorate Braille, large print and North Yorkshire County Council audio tape upon request. County Hall Northallerton North Yorkshire DL7 8AL Telephone: 01609 780780 Fax: 01609 779838 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.northyorks.gov.uk 2 People, Paths and Places 2007-2011 Foreword North Yorkshire has the longest rights of way Widespread consultation has been undertaken. An network in the country, some 10,097km (6,311 initial public consultation was carried out in 2004 miles) in length. Rights of way have served our followed by a public consultation on the draft plan transport needs for centuries, providing our in 2007. Advice was sought from the three Local predecessors with routes to travel between farms, Access Forums in North Yorkshire as well as the communities and places of work. Steering Group who were set up to oversee production of this plan. The network is an intrinsic part of our culture, heritage and relationship with our environment to If you are unfamiliar with rights of way it is our this day. It still provide us with a means of aspiration that you learn more about them and take accessing local schools, work, shops, public part in shaping their future as this plan is transport hubs, community centres and other implemented in the coming years. services and recreational facilities. This is especially It is only when people work together that real true in North Yorkshire with its National Parks, Areas change can be achieved. We are being challenged of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Heritage Coast and about the sustainability of our lifestyle, from our equally attractive undesignated landscapes of physical inactivity to our depletion of natural Wolds, Vales, Fells and Valleys. The rights of way resources and impact on climate change. These network is one of the most socially inclusive issues may be seen as an inconvenient truth but we transport networks available to us and it impacts all are in charge of our destiny and this plan aspects of our lives including improving our health, contributes to a more sustainable future. economy, culture, education, tourism, environment, and heritage and widens our transport choices. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan is a statutory document that all Highway Authorities are required to produce by November 2007. It heralds an era of change for the network, bringing it from the past where it has sometimes been undervalued and under developed to a pivotal place in history. The plan is about how we intend to improve the Gordon Gresty management, maintenance, location and promotion CORPORATE DIRECTOR of local rights of way over the coming years. It is – Business and Environmental Services therefore about sowing the seeds for change which will ensure that the network is valued by future generations. It is about listening to each other and working together in partnership to meet our future recreational and sustainable transport needs. The North Yorkshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan has been jointly prepared by the County Council as lead Highway Authority together with the North York Moors National Park Authority and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority who have delegated responsibility with regard to rights of way within their areas. Improving local rights of way in North Yorkshire 3 Contents Executive summary ..............................................6 4.4 Potential demand .....................................38 1 Origins, context and scope 4.5 Latent demand .........................................40 1.1 The need for an Improvement Plan.............8 4.6 Future growth in demand .........................40 1.2 Legal context..............................................8 4.7 Sustainable use of the network ................40 1.3 What is a Rights of Way 4.8 Demand for different rights of way............41 Improvement Plan?...................................8 4.9 Requirements for different classes of user...42 1.4 Responsibility for preparation of the Plan .....9 4.10 Promotion of the network .........................47 1.5 What is included in a Rights of Way 4.11 Physical accessibility ...............................49 Improvement Plan?...................................9 4.12 Network efficiency ....................................52 1.6 The future of Rights of Way 4.13 Development and rights of way ................54 Improvement Plans...................................9 4.14 Safety and perceived risk .........................54 1.7 What is a Local Transport Plan .................10 4.15 Rights of way as part of an 1.8 Types of access covered in the plan.........10 integrated highways network ..................55 1.9 Rights of way as part of an integrated 4.16 Maintenance ............................................56 highway network ....................................15 4.17 Management solutions .............................59 1.10 Sustainable enjoyment..............................16 4.18 Signage ....................................................61 1.11 The relationship of rights of way 4.19 Economic importance of rights of way......62 and other public access .........................17 4.20 Health benefits from the network..............64 1.12 Responsibility for the local rights 4.21 Sport, Culture, Education, Heritage ..........65 of way network.......................................19 4.22 The potential for working in partnership....66 2 North Yorkshire – The Plan Area 5 Improvement Priorities 2.1 Area..........................................................22 5.1 Introduction ..............................................68 2.2 Population ................................................22 5.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment 2.3 Health.......................................................23 and Assessment in accordance with 2.4 Economy ..................................................24 the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC ...........68 2.5 Tourism.....................................................24 5.3 Accessibility..............................................70 2.6 Minerals Activity........................................25 5.4 Usability....................................................73 2.7 Landscapes..............................................26 5.5 Maintenance.............................................77 2.8 Accessibility to rights of way 5.6 Economy ..................................................80 by other forms of transport.....................28 5.7 Improvement ............................................82 5.8 Sustainability ............................................85 3 Plan Preparation 5.9 Health.......................................................89 3.1 Introduction ..............................................32 5.10 Safety.......................................................91 3.2 User requirements ....................................32 5.11 Partnerships .............................................93 3.3 Initial public consultation...........................32 3.4 Analysis ....................................................33 3.5 Suggestions for local improvements .........33 6 Statement of Action 3.6 Integration of the Improvement Plan 6.1 Introduction ..............................................96 into the Local Transport Plan ..................33 3.7 Government four shared 7 Implementation transport priorities...................................33 7.1 Implementing the plan ............................102 3.8 Service Centre Transportation Strategies ...34 7.2 Current funding for rights of way ............102 3.9 Overall network assessment.....................34 7.3 Manpower to achieve the plan ...............103 3.10 Reviewing results......................................36 7.4 Possible sources of funding/ partnership...104 3.11 Steering Group and Joint Local Access 7.5 What your money buys...........................110 Forum Meetings......................................37 7.6 Bringing it all together.............................111 3.12 Shaping the plan ......................................37 Appendix 4 Results from the assessments A Top Local Issues.....................................112 4.1 Introduction ..............................................38 1.1 Introduction ............................................112 4.2 Different types of demand ........................38 1.2 Service Centres ......................................113 4.3 Current demand .......................................38 1.3 Landscape Character Areas ...................129 4 People, Paths and Places 2007-2011 Contents Figures Accompanying technical summaries 1.1 Map showing the location of footpaths 1. Consultation Results (2004), Technical in North Yorkshire ...................................10 Summary for the Rights of Way Improvement 1.2 Map showing the location of bridleways Plan “People, Paths and Places”, North in North Yorkshire ...................................11 Yorkshire County Council, March 2007. 1.3 Map showing the location of restricted 2. Assessment