CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING 12 MAY 2011 (a networking sandwich lunch will be available from 1.00pm) MEETING : 2.00pm – 4.00pm AT MACTAGGART & MICKEL OFFICE (TRAINING ROOM) 1 ATLANTIC QUAY 1 ROBERTSON STREET GLASGOW G2 8JB 1. Welcome and Apologies: Apologies from E Phillips and R Maxwell. 2. Minutes of Meeting of 17 March 2011 (attached) 3. Matters Arising (Paper 1) 4. Chairperson’s Report (verbal) 5. Presentation by Max Hislop (Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership) 6. Presentation on the John Muir Way by Ron McCraw (Scottish Natural Heritage) (Paper 2) 7. Developing Links with Business (Paper 3) 8. Engaging with Politicians post 5 May 2011 (Paper 4) 9. Update on the 2011 Development Fund (verbal) 10. Update on the 2011 Forum (verbal) 11. Activities by FCS (Paper 5) 12. Activities by SNH (Paper 6) 13. Activities by CSGNSU (Paper 7) 14. Any Other Competent Business 15. Date of Next Meeting -14 July 2011: Tour of Darnley Park (time tba). Followed by the board meeting at 2.00pm, East Renfrewshire Council, Civic Room 2, 211 Main Street, Barrhead G78 1SY CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK Report to: CSGN Partnership Board Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011 Subject: Paper 1 Item Matter Action No 3 Scottish Green Awards A table will be booked once the invitations have been sent out. 3 July meeting – tour of Darnley Country Park Directors to advise EP if they wish to attend the tour before the July meeting. 4 John Muir Way See board pack (Presentation & Paper 2) 4 Training and Employment – progress with Secretary of Holding letter received. KG/SR to begin planning State meeting for the meeting. 4 Local Authority meetings Being progressed. 5 Ian White’s presentation to be circulated to the Presentation emailed on 18 March 2011. Partnership Board. 6 Vision Document update Document will not be crystal marked. 6 Vision Document to be sent out privately (before 14 Work in Progress – CSGNSU. June) to consultees and MSPs. 6 Vision Document – a tailored letter to be sent to the Verbal update from CSGN Board. business community and local health boards. 7 Business Sector update See board pack (Paper 3) 8 Development Fund update Verbal update by FCS and SNH and confirmation by SNH on funding. 9 Forum Speakers See board pack (Paper 7) 9 Delegate numbers update See board pack (Paper 7) 12 Branding Report & Brand Guidelines to go on line. Documents are now on the website. 12 Branding thank you letters to be sent out. Completed. 13 Acronyms – authors to refrain from using acronyms in Actioned. their papers. 13 Next Steps See board pack (Paper 4). Paper on Single Outcome Agreements to be presented at the July board meeting. 14 MSP event To be progressed later in the year. CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK Report to: CSGN Partnership Board Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011 Subject: John Muir Trail update Ref: Paper 2 Purpose of Report The attached Appendix 2.1 is a draft proposal for the John Muir Trail (JMT) development. It is intended to consult key partners on this document following comments by the CSGN Partnership Board. The JMT proposal is presented within the context of the wider CSGN longer distance route network. Recommendation The Partnership Board is asked to: · Suggest any changes to the proposal prior to consultation · Note and comment on funding needs to 2014 and next steps for route development Introduction In February 2011, SNH organised a workshop of local authority staff to discuss the development of a longer distance route network and a John Muir Trail within the CSGN. Delegates were supportive of the concept and SNH have since met with individual authorities and other key partners to discuss this in more detail. The resulting proposal (Appendix 2.1) describes a preferred route option alongside benefits, implementation issues and opportunities, and outline costs. It demonstrates how the JMT would be an important spine route through linking into a wider network of longer distance routes (LDRs) within the CSGN, and how these routes would link to and strengthen Scotland’s LDR network. The proposal is very much a working draft and consultees will be asked to comment on the route alignment detail and provide more detailed costs for implementation. Note: a more detailed JMT route map will be prepared for the consultation. Key points about the propose route: It is intended to qualify as one of Scotland’s Great Trails (a brand name for Scotland’s finest longer distance routes) and will benefit from collective promotion and marketing; It has been guided by established LDR success criteria (SNH, 2008); It is based on linking together existing promoted routes as much as possible; It will be easy-moderate to undertake, pass through many settlements, places of interest and Central Scotland’s finest landscape; and be accessible by public transport; It will suit both “end to enders” for multi-day journeys, offer attractive short sections and loops for day trippers, and provide economic benefits for communities and businesses; It will appeal to both walkers and cyclists; It is deliverable by 2014, but with ongoing improvements expected after this date. 1 Sensitivities Route name East Lothian Council has requested that the route not be called the John Muir Way, the existing name for the established Dunbar to Musselburgh route, as this could confuse users. For this reason, the John Muir Trail is proposed. End points The proposed western end points are Broomielaw, Glasgow (John Muir’s departure point for the USA) and Balloch (symbolising his passion for National Parks). A third potential end-point at Greenock has been discounted on the grounds of insufficiently attractive route opportunities and potentially providing too many choices to users. Role of the wider network The proposed route would not pass through 11 local authority areas. Most LAs accept that the route must be fairly direct to be successful and that the current line fits well with the John Muir concept. However, it is the wider LDR network which will provide important structure to the CSGN overall, pulling together valuable route contributions from all 19 LA areas. Next Steps The planned next steps are to: John Muir Trail Consult local authorities and other key partners on the proposal (May-June) Undertake a detailed technical survey (June-July) Finalise proposal and prepare a costed action plan (July-August) Report back to CSGN Board (September) Establish project delivery group (October on) Wider LDR network Prepare network proposal (by July) Consult partners (August – September) Finalise proposal and prepare a costed action plan (September-October) Report to CSGN Board in November 2011 Author: Ron McCraw, SNH Date: 21 April 2011 2 APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK Proposal for: The John Muir Trail, from Dunbar to Glasgow and Loch Lomond Introduction 1. This paper presents a project proposal for implementing and promoting an east to west long distance route from Dunbar in the east to Glasgow and Balloch in the west. The route would form an extension of the existing John Muir Way in East Lothian and be an important spine route supporting a wider network of longer distance routes within the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN). The route is proposed alongside benefits, implementation issues and opportunities and outline costs. This proposal has been developed through liaison with 8 local authorities, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, British Waterways, Sustrans, and Historic Scotland. Comments are invited from partners. Context 2. A key goal for the CSGN is to deliver a network of strategic walking and cycling routes for active travel and recreation (CSGN Vision, 2011). These routes are intended to contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing and quality of life, amongst wider social, environmental and economic benefits. The strategic routes network is proposed to be in place by 2030, with significant progress by 2020. This network will comprise of longer distance routes (LDRs) and managed places (country parks, nature reserves etc.) for recreation and specific facilities to encourage active travel by walking and cycling. Parallel work to strengthen local paths and managed places networks will be integral to creating this network. Targeted promotion of the network will be essential to encourage use by residents and visitors for both recreation and active travel. A key principle to underpin this work is to link together and promote existing paths and routes in order to maximise use of the developing infrastructure. 3. Such a proposal fits in well with wider SNH work on developing and strengthening an LDR network for Scotland. Information and insight into the existing paths and routes resource in the CSGN area has been developed from 2 recent pieces of SNH research: · Developing the Network of Longer Distance Routes (SNH commissioned report No. 380, 2010) provided an audit of LDRs in Scotland, identified opportunities for strengthening the network and made recommendations for future development, management and marketing of the network. The report included coverage of the CSGN area. · Planning for Outdoor Recreation and Active Travel in the CSGN (SNH 2010) identified opportunities for integrating strategic and local paths planning and delivery, and provision for managed places for outdoor recreation, into multi-functional green networks within the CSGN. 4. Nationally, SNH and partners have identified and branded a network of quality LDRs – Scotland’s Great Trails (SGTs) and a formal network launch is planned for June 2011, alongside a promotional campaign by SNH and Visitscotland. The CSGN area already has several longer distance routes (7 of these are SGT’s), parts of the National Cycle Network and other important link routes. Longer distance route network for recreation 5.