Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Absence were received from Cllr Chris Gordon and Stuart Johnson

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2012

The minutes (copies of which have been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 July 2012

There were no matters arising.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which have been circulated) updating the Forum on the progress of the alley gating schemes in the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) reported that concerns had been raised by residents regarding the accessibility of promoted routes to those with disabilities, particularly those in wheelchairs and motorised scooters. It was requested that the Forum consider the issue and suggest any solutions they felt would be appropriate.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• Gates could be secured with combination locks which disabled users were given the codes to on request.
• Defra had not given a preferred system and had stated that they wanted a balance between safety and accessibility.
• Other Local Authorities have used ‘K’ Frames which seemed to be working well.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted

(2) That a representative of the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to submit the issue formally to Defra for their opinion on a preferred solution.

(3) That a representative of the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to approach vulnerable users groups for suggestions on the topic.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) reported that residents were asked to take part in a consultation on the proposed route of the A6 to Manchester Airport relief road scheme.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

• The consultation would be open until the end of January and views from interested groups were welcomed.
• The consultation documents were sent to 85,000 households who would be most affected by the proposed plans. They were also sent to statutory consultees and interest groups.
• Use of traffic lights would be preferable as they allowed greater control of traffic flow as well as protection for vulnerable users.
• The maps included in the consultation leaflets do not separate bridleways from cycle routes however they are clearly marked on the online maps.
• It is hoped that a preferred options paper could be prepared in Spring 2013 for further consultation.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the next meeting of the Forum be held once the preferred options paper has been published.

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the consultation on the proposed restructuring of Natural England and the Environment Agency.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• Concerns were raised that it was difficult to give an informed view on the consultation due to its wide coverage and that the issues which concern Local Access Forums seemed to be at too low a level for the consultation.
• Each of the interest groups represented on the Local Access Forum only interacts with a certain part of Natural England and/or the Environment Agency and it would be difficult for them to express an opinion on the consultation as a whole.
• It was felt that the consequence of the consultation would be to reduce the influence and powers of Natural England.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That it be requested that the Service Director (Place Development) collate comments of interest groups to inform a response on behalf of the Forum.