Stile Journal of the Ramblers Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area Issue 55 June 2019 Watford diversion settled after 65 years This is the opening of a diversion agreed for two footpaths in the Watford district, after the case was first brought before the law around 65 years ago. Footpath Secretary Colin Knight (fourth from left) was active on the case in recent years. He tells the story on page 11. Among those attending were Chris Beney (second from left); Richard Cuthbert of Herts CC (fifth left); Andrea Trendler, until recently of Herts CC (fourth from right); and Peter Taylor, Mayor of Watford (third from right), who formally opened the path. You’re receiving this communication because we believe that it would be of interest to you as a member/supporter. If you’d rather not receive similar information in future, please let us know. You can email [email protected], change your preferences online at ramblers.org.uk/myaccount or call (020) 3961 3300. Editor: Justin Lumley 46 Hilltop House, 117 Hornsey Lane, London N6 5NW 020 7561 1976 (home) 07773 103 839 (mobile) [email protected] www.ramblers.org.uk/hertfordshire-north-middlesex Stile June 2019 GROUP RATE WALKING HOLIDAYS FROM £59 D, B & B AT THEIR BEST Now in our 19th year— Guided and self-guided walking holidays for groups. Walking in Bath, the Cotswolds, Exmoor, Somerset and Wiltshire. Also Cyprus and Austria in Summer and Winter. Bath & West Country Walks W: www.bathwestwalks.com T: 01761 233 807 E: [email protected] 2 Stile June 2019 In this issue Editorial 4 Area news 5 Railway crossing closure inquiry: the lessons 5 Rail crossings: the view from Essex 7 Panshanger Park access: update 8 London Mayor’s Transport Strategy in Barnet 10 Herts CC Countryside & RoW Service: Definitive Map update 12 Like-minded organisations: The Chiltern Society 13 Footpath work: Meet the Footpath Secretaries: Mark Westley 14 Thoughts from the Chair: Our Area, now and in the future 18 Opinion 20 Ensuring that developments provide an improved footpath network 20 Rights of way: a farmer’s viewpoint 23 Achievements: Who let the dogs out? 29 Walks to enjoy: Heartwood Forest walk 31 Information: Area, Groups, footpath problems 34 About Stile Stile is the journal of the Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area of the Ramblers. Articles printed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of the Area or the Ramblers. The journal is published twice a year, in June and December. Moving home? Please do not write to the Editor. Just inform Central Office via www.ramblers.org.uk using the link in the Members Area, or write to: Ramblers, 2nd Floor Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Say which Group you wish to belong to—you’ll receive the right Group/Area news. The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW. 3 Stile June 2019 Editorial Faithful Kate General Council: five Ashbrook, Chair years on of the Board of It had been a while since General Trustees, steered Council in Liverpool, back in 2014. How the meeting calmly much change was I expecting? Should I and firmly. The be looking further back to notice any new, tighter real change, perhaps to my first GC in timing must put 2002 in the spartan confines of her under some strain. There were none Newcastle University? of the arguments about procedure that The first innovation I encountered was slowed us down in 2014. Indeed affairs the online booking system, so high-tech proceeded apace, particularly the that even Frank Warnock, my fellow motions which used to take hours, or so visitor, thought something had gone it seemed. Subjects like how to attract wrong because his ‘ticket’ didn’t look new members (hardly a new topic, now like one (and he’s an IT whiz). The in the forefront) called for focus and payment system is new too: you pay a new ideas rather than fierce debate. £200 fee upfront as well as your train A welcome development was the fare, then wring it out of Area funds. highlighting of railway crossing Some things don’t alter. On arrival we closures and the consequences for rights were made immediately welcome by of way, something hitherto of concern the hosting Area, Greater Manchester & only to Areas in Eastern England. (See High Peaks (GM&HP). There were none page 5 for the latest.) of the stalls I remembered from earlier Hustings for the election of new years; GM&HP had only one table on Trustees were chaired by Paddy which to lay out local information. They Tipping, with each candidate’s made up for this with a series of led statement followed by a clarifying walks taking in the canals, monuments question from him. (Is this a good idea, to famous Mancunians and parts of the or might his choice of question lay him city centre. The local walk is one GC open to charges of bias? To be even- tradition that deserves to survive all handed in such matters requires no recessions and cutbacks. little skill.) Among the successful Already in 2014, years of austerity had candidates was Jonathan Bergwerk, forced Central Office to streamline the who hails from this Area and brings programme. What used to take a whole interesting personal and managerial weekend now filled a bare 24 hours, skills and hiking experience stretching lunchtime to lunchtime, yet no as far as Everest Base Camp and New obligation remained unfulfilled and the Zealand. essential structure was still there. If you I left feeling I’d like to get back in the choose to receive the papers by post, ‘General Council habit’. But I mustn’t. instead of a battered paper folder full of There should be at least one new visitor loose sheets, everything comes in a from each Area every year. single spiral-bound booklet. Justin Lumley 4 Stile June 2019 AREA NEWS Railway crossing closure inquiry’ for Network Rail closing inquiry: the lessons submission.) David Glass Now the inquiry has finished, this Originally scheduled for six weeks article asks how Ramblers can support starting 18 October 2017, the inquiry volunteers when (not if) this happens closed on 13 February 2019 after 13 again. I and five other footpath weeks of actual inquiry, breaking from secretaries from the Essex Area 6 December 2018 to 29 January 2019. attended a meeting at Central Office The Inspector’s report and (CO) for a post-inquiry ‘lessons learnt’ recommendation is expected late meeting to: autumn, but will not be made public • learn from our experiences of the then. It will be provided to the Secretary Network Rail public inquiry of State for Transport for consideration (locally and nationally); and decision, with publication possibly • identify how we can effectively early 2020. support future cases relating to On page 7 is a summary of an address level crossings; to the Essex Area AGM by the • consider potential next steps in Ramblers’ barrister, Merrow Golden. I this case. attended the inquiry on the day Merrow CO accepted they were slow to presented her closing statement and I respond to Network Rail’s (NR) would recommend anyone to read it. proposals, and in the initial phases of (http://essex-level-crossings.persona- consultation the footpath secretaries pi.com/inquiry-documents and then were very much on their own. Not until look under ‘I: Other Party documents the consultation phases were completed submitted during inquiry’ for Ramblers and the inquiry loomed did CO become and other objectors and ‘H: Network actively involved, bringing a much Rail documents submitted during (Continued on page 6) Reprieve for the mounted a formidable campaign, Cottonmill railway forensically analysing NR’s safety crossing arguments, organising a petition which Phil Escritt achieved more than 1,500 signatures, In the last issue of Stile I reported that and enlisting cross-party support in the Network Rail (NR) wanted to close the County Council. Faced with this level crossing over the St Albans Abbey opposition NR withdrew their proposal to Watford Junction branch line in the to close the crossing. They will instead Cottonmill area of St Albans. This line make several improvements to the carries fewer than two trains an hour existing crossing and monitor public but the crossing is used by around behaviour. It is encouraging to note 1,000 people every day. Local residents that NR can be pushed back given sufficient public support. 5 Stile June 2019 needed structured approach. Their help Ramblers, pre-inquiry, any of the and guidance from then on has been closures, and at the one meeting held greatly appreciated. they were considered pretty arrogant It was felt that more publicity was and dismissive. A lot of time could have required, with more local been saved if NR and Ramblers had representation, not just Ramblers. There had pre-inquiry discussions and were times when either no members of alternative acceptable diversions the public at all or just Ramblers were agreed. I am sure NR will have a supporting the footpath secretary ‘lessons learnt’ session and perhaps giving evidence. come to the same conclusion! How could we obtain evidence from Are level crossing proposals an other walking organisations regarding opportunity, not just a threat? Is there the impact of a closure on their walks? an opportunity to negotiate additional More support is required for links to benefit the PROW network? volunteers: guidance, templates and A word on the time spent by the protocols when responding to proposed Ramblers volunteers.