A New Look at Old Paths Countryside Access in the Lower Windrush Prepared by the Lower Windrush Valley Project August 2007 Executive Summary 1. The Lower Windrush Valley is situated to the south east of Witney, in West Oxfordshire, an area that has been extensively modified by mineral extraction for more than 60 years. With extraction set to continue for many years to come, the Lower Windrush Valley Project (LWVP) was established by Oxfordshire County Council to create and implement an environmental strategy for the future of this area. Working closely with mineral operators, landowners and the local community, the LWVP co-ordinates a range of initiatives that aim to strengthen the landscape, protect and enhance biodiversity and improve public access. 2. Improving access to the countryside has always been one of the LWVP’s three principal objectives. Since the launch of the project in 2001 the focus has been on opening up new access along the Windrush Path and at Standlake Common Nature Reserve, whilst also investigating the potential for a new bridge across the River Thames at Bablock Hythe. 3. In 2005, when the LWVP steering group was discussing its future objectives it was clear that although the LWVP was committed to working on access initiatives, little research had been done to objectively assess the need for access improvements or to determine whether there were realistic opportunities to achieve significant benefits. The original Lower Windrush Valley Report produced in 1999 had made many recommendations for specific improvements but this was a mainly desk based study and so the feasibility of proposals was not tested. 4. It was decided that a detailed scoping study should be undertaken and in 2006, the LWVP commissioned Land Access Ltd to undertake a study that would provide a balanced assessment of the needs of users, the issues affecting landowners/managers and the opportunities for both enhancing the existing network and creating new access. The study involved an audit of the existing supply, demand and opportunities for improving access in the Lower Windrush Valley. It went on to identify potential improvements, which were then researched in enough detail to show they offered realistic opportunities to achieve results and to give a clear indication of the resources required to deliver them. 5. Further research was undertaken by the LWVP during 2007 to complete the access audit and all of the available information has been put together in this document to create an evidence base that will inform the development of a Lower Windrush Valley Access Strategy 6. The supply audit was undertaken to find out more about current access provision by looking at existing rights of way, the wider highway network, access routes secured through planning or land management schemes, the provision of accessible green space, visitor attractions, the availability of information, signage, visitor facilities and public transport. The findings confirmed that improvements were needed that would benefit both residents and visitors. 7. The demand audit was undertaken to find out more about how the existing public access identified in the supply audit was being used and to assess how it might be used in the future. Although no specific figures were available that directly showed current usage, census figures and information from local businesses was collated to help build up a clearer understanding of both current demand and potential demand. Evidence and opinions were also gathered from residents and user groups. The findings of the demand audit demonstrated that a significant number of people would benefit from access improvements and the economic welfare of the valley was also shown to be dependent on access provision. 8. The policy audit was undertaken to show how the development of an access strategy would meet the objectives of partner organisations. This identified policies of relevance to improving the path network such as the Rights of Way Improvement Plan, Local Transport Plan and Thames Path National Trail Management Strategy. Planning Policies such as the Minerals & Waste Local Plan and West Oxfordshire Local Plan and policies from other partners such as Natural England and the Environment Agency were also key to the delivery of improvements. Countryside Access in the Lower Windrush Executive Summary 9. A strong policy framework for improving countryside access was found within many partner organisations, which suggested a high level of support for the development of an access strategy for the Lower Windrush Valley. 10. The resource audit was undertaken to find out more about the current and potential resources available to implement any proposed improvements. Three essential types of resource were identified, revenue funding to employ staff, capital funding to undertake specific works and the support of landowners/land managers who in effect hold the key to the most important resource, the countryside that people would like to access. The findings showed that whilst many partner organisations were involved in access work in the Lower Windrush Valley, most were overstretched and had little spare capacity. It was clear that additional resources would be required to implement improvements but it was also noted that the LWVP was well placed to benefit from opportunities in planning agreements and grant funding eg. Landfill Tax. 11. The key issues arising from the access audit were presented in a SWOT analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Overall, the access audit clearly showed there were many issues that could be addressed in order to improve countryside access in the valley and that there was a desire amongst local people, businesses and partner organisations to see improvements implemented. 12. During the audit many ideas for access improvements were generated and the next stage of the study involved working up a number of realistic proposals that would establish whether significant benefits could be delivered if more resources were made available. 25 potential improvements were selected to be worked up in detail and together formed a portfolio of projects that were thought to be achievable and if implemented would address the needs and demands identified in the access audit in a meaningful way. The specific works put forward aimed to address the four action points that arose out of the audit. 13. Theme One: Access to waterside. The access audit provided supporting evidence for an opinion already widely held by policy makers, that local people have a particularly strong desire to access the rivers and lakes within the valley. Potential improvements put forward to address this theme included, promoting the existing resource more widely including recording the Windrush Path on Ordnance Survey maps, stronger planning policies to ensure all applications for development offer opportunities for securing access to water and proposals to improve “access for all” at Witney Lake and Standlake Common Nature Reserve. 14. Theme Two: Improvements to the bridleway network. The access audit suggested that the Lower Windrush Valley has the potential to be at the hub of an excellent network of bridleways and quiet roads that could be enjoyed by all users. This potential would be unlocked if a small number of significant improvements were made that overcome the major barriers by providing safe road or river crossings and that fill in the missing links by upgrading existing footpaths to bridleway status or securing new sections of bridleway. 15. The potential improvements put forward to address this theme included upgrading six existing footpaths (c.9km) to bridleway status and the creation of six entirely new sections of bridleway (c.6km) that would effectively complete the network. The other major potential improvements within this theme related to the provision of new access across the River Thames, including a new crossing at Bablock Hythe for all users and one at Northmoor Lock for walkers and ‘mountain’ or ‘hybrid’ bike users. Reinstating a ferry service at Bablock Hythe was also suggested as alternative option to a bridge. 16. Theme Three: Improved road conditions for non-motorised users (NMUs). The audit highlighted how the wider road network has a vital role to play in linking footpaths and bridleways. Three specific sections of the A415 and B4449 were put forward as potential improvements, where a wider margin to accommodate walkers, cyclist and horse riders away from the main carriageway would have a significant impact on the network. The designation of Cogges/Tar Lane as a Quiet Lane was also put forward as a potential improvement. Countryside Access in the Lower Windrush Executive Summary 17. Theme Four: Improved information, signage and promoted routes. The information gathered from local people and businesses suggested there was some uncertainty amongst residents and visitors about where they can enjoy access, what changes have taken place through mineral working and routes of individual paths. In particular, accommodation providers and other visitor service businesses highlighted the importance of good paths for their business, and therefore to the local economy. The increased provision of information, signage and promoted routes, particularly linked to the local communities, was put forward as an achievable improvement that would maximize the value of the existing access resource. 18. A framework was developed to assess and validate the potential importance of the proposed improvements, which was guided