Thurrock Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2007 1 CONTENTS Foreword Performance 28 Introduction 4 Vision Delivery – Action Plans 29 Aims Delivery Accessibility Maintenance Context 9 Information Existing network and area What next? 34 Links to other policy 11 Types of use and user 14 Routes Users & their needs Appendix (SEPARATE DOCUMENT TO BE MADE Consultation 20 AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST) Questionnaire – Funding 26 RIGHTS OF WAY Map Useful contacts 2 Foreword It is my pleasure to introduce Thurrock Council’s first Rights of Way Improvement Plan. I am confident that this document will enable the council to tackle rights of way issues that are of local and national importance and help to make our countryside and open spaces more accessible and attractive to everyone. Thurrock’s rights of way are a protected network of footpaths, bridleways and byways which have emerged to provide functions that stretch not only from leisure and tourism opportunities but also to transport and travel improvements. The rights of way network in Thurrock provides valuable access to the countryside and serves the needs of different users wishing to take advantage of the benefits that a good rights of way network can provide. Thurrock Council’s second Local Transport Plan highlights the important role the rights of way network plays in providing alternative modes of transport to - among others - the cyclists, horse riders & walkers of the borough. These alternatives will provide the opportunity to use routes that deliver users to key services and destinations while avoiding the borough’s traditional transport routes. Rights of way are becoming increasingly important in Thurrock as the volume and speed of traffic steadily rises, turning quiet roads into unpleasant and sometimes dangerous places for cyclists, horse riders and walkers. The perception of Thurrock’s open spaces and countryside needs to be changed if local people and visitors are to take advantage of our rights of way and visit the many beautiful, peaceful and relaxing spaces that the borough has to offer. This Rights of Way Improvement Plan sets out how the council will work with partners to make Thurrock’s network more accessible and attractive to local people and to take forward the improvements that local people have identified. These improvements, delivered over time, will ensure a steady enhancement to our existing rights of way network and guarantee improvements for future years. We want the countryside to be accessed and enjoyed by everyone. Our green spaces and open countryside are abundant but we need more people to understand this and to get out into the countryside and enjoy themselves. 3 I endorse this Rights of Way Improvement Plan as an integral part of the improvements required to make Thurrock a better place to live, work and visit. I am confident that the council’s vision for improving rights of way will enhance local people’s lives and increase opportunities to access rights of way and services and to appreciate what Thurrock has to offer. Cllr Tunde Ojetola Portfolio Holder for Transport & Highways 4 1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………… The Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 identifies the need for every local authority to prepare and publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) by November 2007. Thurrock Council’s ROWIP will assess the rights of way network in order to understand the current and likely future needs of users. This plan will be living document which will be reviewed at 10 year intervals. The ROWIP sits alongside the Council’s second Local Transport Plan (2006-2011) and has been developed in line with local strategies such as the Green Grid Strategy and Local Development Framework. This ensures that improvements to the network are planned and delivered as part of the council’s consistent strategic direction that will improve access to the countryside and open spaces in Thurrock. The framework and strategy of the council’s Local Transport Plan is set against a period of widespread development and regeneration within the borough. 18,500 new homes and 26,000 new jobs have been identified for Thurrock between 2005 and 2021 and it is this level of development and regeneration that will make access to the countryside increasingly valuable to local people. Thurrock Council therefore has a duty to improve, maintain and assure access to rights of way and the services and facilities that have been identified as the key enablers for people who use the network. Our ROWIP focuses upon access to and on the network of public footpaths, bridleways and byways in Thurrock. It sets out how a programme of improvements, identified by users and local people, can be managed to deliver improvements throughout the network. It will also influence strategic decision-making and practical day-to-day management tasks. The ROWIP will be used to : inform and guide forward planning to assist the determination of individual planning proposals (including seeking developer contributions and protecting land that may be needed for future network development); ensure improvements that are necessary to achieve good access to the countryside are fully supported through wider transport planning and decision making; and 5 encourage greater joined-up working, wider community involvement and enhanced partnership working. It is a requirement of the legislation that a ROWIP must contain: The extent to which the local rights of way meet the present and future likely needs of the public The opportunities provided by the local rights of way for exercise, open air recreation and enjoyment of the area The accessibility of local rights of way to those who are blind or partially sighted, or who have other mobility problems These requirements identify the need for local authorities to take a more proactive role in managing and maintaining Rights of Way and ensuring that problems and issues are identified and progressed within a more structured and forward thinking process. The ROWIP provides the structure from which the council can focus efforts upon improving the network and identifying opportunities for creating new rights of way. Improving the network will affect the quality of life of local people by recognizing the role that improved open spaces and access to the countryside play in providing an improved sense of quality and well-being. Rights of way can be explored and enjoyed by everyone and offer quiet, peaceful surroundings in which to relax and enjoy Thurrock. It is anticipated that the Rights of Way Improvement Plan will be adopted as part of the council’s statutory planning guidance to ensure rights of way issues are highlighted and dealt with within all future development. 6 A Vision for Thurrock Thurrock Council’s ROWIP will be the prime means by which the Council’s vision and aims for improved rights of way can be realized. Thurrock Council’s vision for improving the borough aligns itself with the vision for delivering and improving our public rights of way network. Thurrock will be the location of choice - a place where people thrive and prosper; where you can access services that will make a difference; and where development is sustainable and supports our new and existing communities as they regenerate and grow Our rights of way vision is to plan and deliver a sustainable rights of way network that will: Develop and manage sustainable rights of way that meet the current and future needs of the local community Enable cycling horse riding and walking opportunities, with particular focus on vulnerable groups and people with disabilities Contribute towards improving health Contribute towards improving accessibility Promote Thurrock as an attractive place to cycle, ride a horse or walk Monitor and report on achievements 7 AIMS The main aims of Thurrock Council’s ROWIP are identified below. These four areas have been identified through extensive consultation with local people and stakeholders and are covered in more detail in Section XX. These aims have informed ROWIP Action Tables (see page XXX) and the development of the LTP works programme for rights of way improvements. The four key aims of the ROWIP are identified below: 1. The Delivery of safe and accessible network of bridleways, byways and footpaths, 2. Improved Accessibility. 3. Maintaining existing and future public rights of way, 4. Improved Information , 1. the delivery of a safe and accessible network of bridleways, byways and footpaths – will encourage greater use of the existing network and encourage the development of new rights of way. The council will work to deliver necessary improvements and secure the funding to implement these improvements. 2. improved accessibility – wherever possible the ROWIP will look to encourage routes and facilities that are accessible and usable for all. This will not always be the case, as some of the geography and access to existing routes is limited, but wherever practical accessible routes will be delivered. 3. maintaining existing and future rights of way – the council will continue to maintain the rights of way network with LTP funding. The emphasis put upon increasing use and accessibility will have an effect upon the amount of funding required. 8 4. improved information – the council will work with partners to ensure that information relating to our rights of way improves, is accessible to all and encourages more people to use rights of way. Innovative solutions will be explored to provide improved access to quality information. Thurrock Council’s ROWIP identifies the current use of the network, what is needed to encourage and facilitate increased use and what is required of the Council, in terms of planning, funding and delivery, to ensure that the future needs of local people can be accommodated. The ROWIP sets out the aims and vision of the council and identifies a plan that will deliver them.