Breadcrumbs
NCAF 8/6 National Countryside Access Forum - work programme 2000/01
Background
3. In the Government's 'Framework for action on access to the countryside', published on 8 march 1999 the Countryside Agency was asked to establish a National Countryside Access Forum (NCAF) in England.
4. NCAF has been in existence now for a little over a year. The terms of reference describe the primary purpose of NCAF as: 'to assist the Countryside Agency to make the countryside more accessible and enjoyable for open-air recreation, in ways which take account of social, economic and environmental interests'.
5. NCAF has met seven times (mainly in London, but also in Dorking and Harrogate), been on two field visits (one on downland in Surrey, and one on moorland in Yorkshire). The eighth meeting in Exeter will be followed by a site visit to the Dartmoor National Park. NCAF has given advice and response to 26 papers and the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill. Annex 1 lists all the issues that it will have considered in the eight meetings.
6. The Agency has benefited from being able to go to the Forum at an early stage with proposals for the practical implementation of the forthcoming legislation, to test ideas, seek advice, and to get a feel for what will and will not be acceptable or work in practice. The advice of the Forum is reported back to the Agency Board and all meeting papers are made public on our website.
Next steps
7. Annex 2 suggests a work programme for the year ahead. This is not a complete agenda and Forum members are welcome to suggest additional items for discussion.
8. The Agency would like the Forum to continue in its present format for at least the next year, as it will be able to make an important contribution to the implementation of the legislation following Royal Assent. Continuity of membership would be helpful.
9. As the Forum's terms of reference state that members will 'be invited by the Countryside Agency to contribute for two years initially' next summer the Agency will ask existing members if they wish to continue on the Forum and review the need for additional independent members. We did not appoint as many independent members as we originally intended, and there could be advantage in adding another one or two independents should particularly suitable candidates be available. There are one or two areas of experience which might usefully be covered by additional independent members - like forestry or water borne access.
Annex 1
NATIONAL COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS FORUM - WORK PROGRAMME JULY 1999 - SEPTEMBER 2000
Meeting date | Issue discussed |
21 July 1999 | 1. Terms of Reference 2. Progress on access work 3. First Year programme of work 4. Access to ‘other’ land types 5. Mapping access land |
10 September 1999 | 6. Access to ‘other’ land 7. Local Countryside Access Forums 8. Communicating the work of the Forum 9. DETR Rights of way proposals 10. Mapping access land |
1 November 1999 | (Field trip to downland in Surrey) 11. Local Countryside Access Forums 12. Managing access to open country |
1 February 2000 | 13. Occupiers liability 14. Draft outline code of practice for users 15. Draft outline user code for occupiers 16. Identification of mountain, moor, heath and down |
13 March 2000 | 17. The Countryside and Rights of Way Bill |
16 May 2000 | (Field visit to a grouse moor) 18. Summary of progress with the Bill 19. Impact of public access on grouse moors 20. Restrictions of use by the public 21. Access to land at night 22. Draft guidance to local authorities on Local Countryside Access Forums 23. Draft Code of Practice for occupiers and users. |
19 July 2000 | 24. Update on Countryside and Rights of Way Bill 25. Restrictions guidance 26. Information plan ROW improvement plans |
26 September 2000 | 27. Mapping access land in England - an update 28. Monitoring and evaluation 29. Developing incentives for accessibility and improvement of access land. 30. A new country code - proposed consultation 31. Access information points 32. NCAF work programme 2000 - 2001 |
Annex 2
NATIONAL COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS FORUM - WORK PROGRAMME DECEMBER 2000 - DECEMBER 2001
Meeting date and location | Issues for discussion |
13 December 2000 London | 1. Restrictions 2. Mapping - update on contract 3. Access and nature conservation |
March 2001 Welsh borders | Dinner with some members of the Wales Access Forum night before meeting 1. Developing incentives for the accessibility and improvement of access land 2. Local Countryside Access Forums 3. Cross-border working 4. Training |
June 2001 London | 1. Access and nature conservation 2. Mapping update 3. Implementation of ROW legislation |
September 2001 North West | Site visit in North West England day before the meeting 1. Integrated access demonstration projects 2. Information |
December 2001 London | 1. Mapping update 2. Rights of Way Condition Survey 3. Monitoring and evaluation |
