ITEM 3 LOCAL ACCESS FORUM MINUTES of a meeting of the Exmoor Local Access Forum held on Thursday 9 October 2014 at 6.30pm at Village Hall. PRESENT Colin Blackburn Philip Park Alison Kent Richard Partington Joan Long Nick Simpson Robin Milton Ueli Zellweger

EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Dan Barnett (Access & Recreation Manager) Carol Carder (Joint Secretary to the Forum)

1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN: Mr Philip Park was appointed Chairman of the Forum for the ensuing year.

2. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Mrs Alison Kent was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Forum for the ensuing year.

3. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies for absence were received from Chris Binnie, Julian Gurney and Sue Applegate. The meeting was advised that Peter Thorn had resigned his membership of the Forum. The Authority would be aiming to raise awareness of opportunities to join the Forum in the New Year.

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: All Forum Members declared personal interests in relation to representation of their particular interest group(s). In relation to Item 10 – Exmoor National Park Partnership Plan 2012-17, Mr R Milton declared an interest as the Chairman of the Exmoor Partnership Panel. Although not related to a specific agenda item, Mr P Park declared that in his position as Estate Director at Lee Abbey, he supported the Lee Abbey Board of Trustees in their view that the South West Coast Path which already ran through the grounds of Lee Abbey should not be re-routed to the north of the estate grounds as part of the creation of the Coast Path.

5. (1) MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2014 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

(2) MATTERS ARISING: Engagement with Health and Wellbeing Boards: It was reported that Exmoor National Park Authority was about to launch the ‘Moor to Enjoy’ project, a partnership between the Authority and the Health and Wellbeing Boards of and , to demonstrate how access to green space could improve health and wellbeing and reduce the need for drug-based interventions or development of long term conditions. It was agreed to invite, Keeley Rolfe, the recently-appointed Project Officer to join the next Forum meeting.

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CareMoor: The CareMoor for Exmoor scheme was currently under review and it was suggested that the Forum receive a presentation on this scheme for voluntary donations towards a range of conservation and access projects across the National Park, in order to feed into the review process. Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads on Ordnance Survey maps: It was reported that Ordnance Survey had confirmed there were currently no plans to stop showing ‘other routes with public access’ (including unsurfaced unclassified roads) on its Landranger and Explorer map series. Printed Ordnance Survey maps: It was also reported that Ordnance Survey would continue to publish printed maps for the foreseeable future however as the number of sales decline, the time between revisions may increase. As more people print the map they required from the OS website, it was anticipated there would come a time when production of printed maps was no longer viable, although it was hard to predict when that might be. It was noted that the Deputy Prime Minister had announced that the Ordnance Survey would compile and release data to allow for a new map to be developed of every publicly accessible green space in England and Wales, which would allow anyone with access to the internet to find the location of their nearest park. While this was welcomed by the Forum, it would be of greater relevance to more urban areas, rather than rural areas such as National Parks.

6. MEET THE COMMUNITY / PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: There were no members of the public present.

7. EXMOOR TRUST: The Forum welcomed Miss Susan May, Chairman of the Exmoor Trust, who gave a presentation on the Trust’s aims and achievements. The Exmoor Trust was founded in 1999 and was a completely independent charity supporting a broad range of matters relating to Greater Exmoor, its inhabitants, ecology and environment. The Exmoor Trust sought to achieve a balance of interests which would continue to provide vibrant community life, interest for the public, the preservation of the wilderness of the environment and, above all, hope for the future of Exmoor’s environment. The Exmoor Trust’s aims were three-fold:  To conserve and enhance for the public benefit the area known as Greater Exmoor;  To encourage the public to appreciate and respect all aspects of its historical, physical and cultural environment;  To further such charitable purposes for the benefit of Exmoor as the Trustees shall determine from time to time. In achieving its aims, the Trust maintained strong connections with statutory organisations involved with education, community and conservation. From 2001, the Trust was very active in supporting families suffering from the impact of the Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak and was involved in promoting tourism to aid economic renewal. The Trust had also been concerned with supporting initiatives to bring future economic benefit to Exmoor, such as the Two Moors Music Festival, the Lynton Walking Festival and the new Skills for Life Programme for Young Farmers. The Trust had organised three successful symposia on broadband and renewable energy and was able to award grants to worthy causes. Recent examples included grants to support the Memorial Garden; the Winsford War Memorial refurbishment;

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computer equipment for Winsford Community Centre and school; prescription delivery service; and the Dulverton Heritage Centre refurbishment, to name a few. The Trust was invited to sit on a many discussion groups including the Exmoor Moorland Initiative Board, the Porlock Marsh Vision project and was a partner in the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership. The Carbon Neutral Exmoor Fund was launched as a legacy to the Low Carbon Communities Challenge, initiated by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and administered on Exmoor through Exmoor National Park Authority. The Carbon Neutral Exmoor Fund had been developed to fund further community renewable energy schemes in the National Park and was now managed by the Exmoor Trust. Grants had been awarded for installations in the villages of , Parracombe, Porlock, Roadwater, Wheddon Cross and . The Trust had also supported the introduction of the Exmoor Accessibility Phototrails which gave information on the surface condition of a path and allowed the visitor to decide if the route was one they could comfortably manage. This information was especially useful for people who may find steeper routes or barriers such as stiles a challenge. The Phototrails also showed the potential visitor the beauty of Exmoor National Park. Featured routes included Valley of Rocks, Dunkery Beacon, the Tall Trees Trail in Dunster, Haddon Hill and West Anstey Common. The Exmoor Trust was funded through membership fees, legacies and fund raising events.

8. PORLOCK MARSH SITE VISIT: Forum Members who attended the site visit agreed it had been a useful opportunity to see the improved access arrangements, including the new boardwalk. The potential to explore opportunities for improved access for people with disabilities and for the development of phototrails for the area were noted.

9. SIGNAGE PROTOCOL: Following discussion at the April meeting and issues raised by a member of the public, Forum Members had been provided with a copy of the Authority’s signage protocol. The Forum endorsed the current protocol; however it was suggested it might include a section on open access, for which it would be useful to have the views of members of the public and groups such as the Ramblers Association on the level of understanding of the nature of access land. While signing of access land was clearly necessary, it was important that open access land did not become cluttered by overuse of signs. ACTION: ENPA to revise protocol to include approach to access land signage (Access and Recreation Manager). It was noted that a recent survey indicated that the public greatly valued rights of way signage which incorporated destination and distance information. The Authority would therefore continue with the current policy of including this information on signage where possible. The Chairman concluded that both the Forum and the public could have confidence in the Authority’s signage strategy, the style of which added to Exmoor’s sense of place.

10. EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK PARTNERSHIP PLAN 2012-17: Strategic Overview of Priority B2 Maintain High Quality Rights of Way, Services and Facilities to enable people to explore and experience the special qualities of the National Park The key action within priority B2 of the Exmoor National Park Partnership Plan was identified to be B2.1: Continue maintenance and protection of rights of way and key permitted routes. Undertake targeted improvements with RoW furniture and surface 3

improvements and possible establishment of new routes by agreement with landowners. Maintain distinctive hand routed wooden RoW signage and wooden furniture. Continue special support for key promoted routes/long distance routes. The Forum received reports on the three agreed priority activities: - Continuation of investigation of potential for use of Authority owned open access land by horse riders and cyclists. Alison Kent and Sue Applegate (Public Rights of Way & Access Officer) had met in July to discuss all Authority owned access land where there may be potential to increase open access rights to include horse riders and cyclists. A further update would be provided to the next meeting. ACTION: Alison Kent and Sue Applegate to prepare update for next meeting. - Audit of current provision of disabled access information (Lead Members: Alison Kent and Philip Park) It was agreed to defer further discussion to the next meeting. The audit could be ‘light touch’ with the aim of providing a starting point from which to involve a representative from an organisation with more specialist involvement with disabled access. ACTION: In advance of the next meeting, Philip Park would circulate a paper to Forum Members for comment. - Review of BVPI trail standard and potential to develop a bespoke trail standard for Exmoor National Park (Lead Member: Kevin Snewing) The BVPI review working group had held two meetings and a draft document on the minimum standards for public rights of way and adopted permitted paths had been circulated with the agenda papers. It was noted that on page 1, numbered paragraph 1, line 3 should include the wording ‘easy to use by the user of the right of way’, and on page 5, reference to gates ‘GA2 Not lawfully present or authorised’, the ‘meets standard’ section should read ‘fails all’ rather than ‘none’. Forum members were invited to consider the document and to pass any comments to the Forum secretary. Any suggested amendments could then be collated for consideration at the next meeting when the document could be formally adopted. The Forum thanked the working group for their hard work on this topic. ACTION: Forum Members to submit comments to the Forum Secretary in advance of the document being further considered and adopted at the next Forum meeting. The Exmoor National Park Authority’s Partnership Panel which monitored progress in delivery of the Partnership Plan would meet in February 2015 and would receive a report on the three priority actions. ACTION: Forum Secretary and Forum Chairman to prepare report to the Partnership Panel.

11. DELIVERY OF RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN: The meeting received a presentation from the Access & Recreation Manager as follows:  A summary of the Field Services Team’s performance data was provided, including kilometres of paring, number of drains maintained, number of windblown trees cleared, number of signs, posts and gates produced and sited. The Field Services Team had also been joined by two paid interns working at the depot for a 12-month period.  As part of their work, the Authority’s Ranger Service played an important role in maintaining and improving the rights of way network through path inspections, liaison with landowners and organisation of major works projects.

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 Another important aspect of the Authority’s access related work was dealing with the legal and technical issues of public path diversions and the resolution of off-line routes (ie where the path on the ground differed from route on the County Council record).  Recognising the importance of the rights of way network to achieve National Park purposes and support the local economy, the Authority had created a new full-time, permanent post of Rights of Way Support Officer and Ceri Rapsey would be joining the Access & Recreation team in November. Forum Members agreed that the quality of the rights of way network and public access to information about walking, cycling and horse riding routes were fundamental to people’s enjoyment of Exmoor and to the economic value of tourism.  A new free leaflet ‘Public Paths and Access: Information for farmers and land- managers’ was now available. The leaflet aimed to help and advise people who were farming or managing land on Exmoor and over which there was public access.  The Authority had received a special funding contribution from Defra towards repair of public rights of way following damage caused by flooding during winter 2013/14. The funding had contributed to the repair of a number of routes including the Tarr Steps circular walk, Popery Lane and Stone Lane.  2014 had seen the successful launch of the new extension to the popular route. A refresh of the Two Moors Way long distance walking route was planned in readiness for its 40th anniversary in 2016.  Major works projects to improve rights of way included: o Surface works at Curr Cleave, Winsford. o New boardwalk at Porlock Marsh. o Surface widening and drainage improvements, Burridge Woods, Dulverton. o Surface improvements to permitted path in Dunster. o Rockford - following damage by landslip, new path created and route re-opened. o Drainage and surface works at Conduit Lane, Dunster. o Path widening at Forehill Wood. The Forum noted that investigations were underway to establish whether the route from the South West Coast Path to Sillery Sands in Lynmouth could be reinstated following closure of the path due to tidal damage. As a result of its exposed location, the route had been damaged previously and the Authority was investigating the viability (both practically and economically) of any robust solutions that would allow long-term access to be restored. Forum Members asked that a letter of thanks be sent to the Authority’s Field Services and Ranger Teams and that the extent of the work achieved be reported both to National Park Authority Members and to the Partnership Panel. ACTION (Access & Recreation Manager).

12. DEREGULATION BILL: The Deregulation Bill was currently at the House of Lords Committee stage of the legislative process. In relation to public rights of way, the provisions of the Bill were intended to enshrine the consensus proposals put forward by the Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) in March 2010. It was reported that two amendments had been tabled seeking the reclassification of green lanes (or unclassified country roads (UCRs)) as restricted byways (thereby making these routes available only to users on foot or on horseback, or to vehicles such as horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, and making use by motorised vehicles illegal). These proposals were championed by the Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM). A recent newsletter issued by GLEAM indicated that the proposed amendments had been withdrawn, as the Government proposed to set up a second Stakeholder Working Group ‘with the

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objective of reaching a consensus as to the motor vehicle problem’. Concern was raised by one Forum Member that if the draft legislation were amended to reclassify UCRs as restricted byways, then anyone wishing to continue to use off-road motorised vehicles on these would routes would be doing so illegally and their lawful access to the countryside would therefore be severely reduced.

13. SOUTH WEST COAST PATH PROJECT IDEAS: The Forum noted the opportunity for Local Access Forums to submit ideas for improvement projects related to the South West Coast Path. Further information would be available following the Local Stakeholder Group meetings taking place later in the autumn. The meeting also noted and welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement that the government was intending to speed up the implementation of the England Coastal Path, bringing completion of the project forward by 10 years from 2030 to 2020. ACTION: Forum Secretary to provide further information, when available, on submission of ideas for South West Coast Path route improvements.

14. NATURAL ENGLAND CONSULTATION ON DOG WALKING ADVICE: The Forum ratified the response submitted to the Natural England consultation on dog walking advice. As there may be opportunity to send additional comments, it was agreed to submit the following points:  The consultation did not refer to the potential for dogs to cause damage/contamination to arable/silage crops.  Members of the public may not easily be able to interpret the body language of livestock.  People might better understand the term ‘farmer’ rather than ‘landowner’.  There was no reference to lambing time and the particular need for dogs to be under control.  There was no mention of the risk to dogs on beaches if caught by a wave.  The advice should emphasise the value of dog training and include advice on how dog owners could access training facilities. ACTION: Additional comments to be submitted to Natural England (Forum Secretary/Rights of Way and Access Officer).

15. LOCAL ACCESS FORUM ANNUAL REPORT: The Forum ratified the Annual Report for the period April 2013 to March 2014 as submitted to Natural England.

16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING AND AGENDA ITEMS: The next meeting would be held in April/May 2015 in Exford to include site visit and opportunity to visit the Field Services Depot and nearby flood damage repairs. Potential dates would be circulated to Forum members. ACTION (Forum Secretary).

17. ANY OTHER BUSINESS OF URGENCY: Forum Members were concerned that the 300 bus service from Lynmouth to Porlock had ceased operating. The service had recently been run as a commercial operation by Quantock Motor Services. The meeting recognised the importance of this route to visitors and to the local economy, and it was hoped that all opportunities to enable operation of the route to resume next year would be explored.

The meeting closed at 9.00pm Chairman

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