Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the Area Committee’s comments of the on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Forum is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and inviting the Forum to  comment of the on the draft plan.

The Forum was particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

The Chair proposed that broad initial comments on the draft Plan could be made at this meeting, but that detailed responses could be made individually as part of the public consultation.

The following comments were then made:-

·         The Chair offered to co-ordinate a response to the consultation on behalf of the Forum and requested that individual comments from members should be submitted to him directly by no later than 31 December 2017.

·         In response to a concern about difficulties in accessing the consultation document, it was stated that this was available on the Council’s website on the ‘Have Your Say’ pages.

·         The Council’s Cycling and Walking Strategy would be consulted upon separately in the New Year, however, it had been developed to work in tandem with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

·         Relevant responses received in respect of the consultation on the Rights of Way Improvement Plan would be considered as part of the consultation on the Cycling and Walking Strategy.

·         In response to a comment on the omission of horse riding within the Cycling and Walking Strategy, it was stated that the Rights of Way Improvement Plan was the appropriate strategy document to address those issues.

·         It was commented that there was an ongoing conflict between the demands of different users of bridleways for space on the bridleway network with the apparent focus being on adapting bridleways for use by cyclists. 

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the apparent urbanisation of the public rights of way network through the use of what was considered to be inappropriate surfacing materials. 

·         There was a lack of focus on environmental protection and conservation within the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and no reference to the importance of the green belt or landscape character policies.

·         It was commented that there was frequently a variance of opinion in relation to network improvement measures which could polarise opinion.

·         There needed to be consultation with relevant landowners and rights of way users, particularly when it was proposed to introduce new types of surfacing.

·         The Council had been in discussion with National Parks authorities in relation to the suitability of the type of surfacing it had recently been introducing on the rights of way network.

·         The need to resurface the full width of a right of way was discussed with regard to the visual impact this might have on the setting of the route within a natural context.

·         Where maintenance or amendment of a route was being considered, the draft plan indicates that there is a need to do further consultation on those routes in relation to their role they have providing access to schools and shops, recreation and providing links between communities to ensure that they continued to meet the needs of communities.  It was commented that this was not an activity that was currently taking place.

·         It was commented that the introduction of gates on the rights of way network constituted an impediment to many users.

RESOLVED – (1) That the comments of the Forum be taken into account as part of the wider consultation on the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

(2) That members of the Forum be requested to forward their detailed comments on the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan to the Chair of the Forum by no later than 31 December 2017 to allow him to prepare and submit a co-ordinated response on behalf of the Forum as part of the public consultation.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the Area Committee’s comments of the on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Area Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and invited the comments of the Area Committee on the draft plan.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         A discussion took place in relation to the lighting of footpaths.  It was stated that in some circumstances, in urban areas it may be appropriate to introduce lighting, however in open or rural areas, lighting could detract from the setting of the footpath.

·         Improvements need to be made to online mapping records for Public Rights of Way to incorporate footpath numbers to assist in identifying and reporting issues.

·         There needed to be improvements to the co-ordination between Solutions SK, Public Realm and the Public Rights of Way Team in relation to the maintenance of existing lighting on footpaths and the appropriate allocation and understanding of responsibilities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Area Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and inviting the comments of the Area Committee on the draft Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The plan referred to the official rights of way in the borough. More ’informal’ paths, tracks and passageways which were well used and had become established in the local area would be referred to in the Council’s walking and cycling strategies.

·         More information was required on the users of public rights of way.

·         The importance of working with relevant members of the community to improve the usability of information on public rights of way for users with specific needs, and identifying access issues and priorities for disabled users was highlighted.

·         The development of a hierarchy of public rights of way, cycle routes and other Council owned rights of way infrastructure to guide inspection was commended.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the draft rights of way improvement plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The consultation on the plan would conclude on 8 January 2018.

·         A member commented in respect to conclusion 6 – maintaining the network – suggesting that should be given the highest priority.

·         East to West and North to South connectivity for “everyday” cyclists.

·         Councillors suggested that on the whole the surfaces for public rights of way in Cheshire East appeared to be of better quality and surfaced with materials that of a higher standard especially for horse riders.

·         The previous compilation of a Bridleway Strategy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Area Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

Sue Stevenson, Head of Highways and Transportation at Stockport Council, attended the meeting to present the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the comments of the Area Committee on the draft plan.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The emphasis on accessibility improvements in the Strategy was to be welcomed. The Council was purposefully encouraging the development of bridleways allows the Council to encourage their use as cycle ways and makes them usable for mobility scooters.

·         There was discussion about the powers of the Council to enforce rights of way over privately owned land, and the protracted processes this often involved.

·         It was important to ensure there were clear connections of the multi-modal routes and that this were appropriately mapped to allow the public to make best use of them, including through technologies.

·         An update was requested in relation to the progress with improvements to access on Mirrlees Fields.

·         The impact of exercise on health was significant, so investment in rights of way should have a consequent saving on health spending and so should be encouraged.

·         There were often problems with the maintenance of the rights of way network, and although it was positive that work was being carried out, more needed to be done.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Area Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and inviting the comments of the Area Committee on the draft plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member expressed concern that bridleways were designated for some routes which were not used by horse riders.

·         The usage of rights of way should be measured and monitored.

·         Information was required on who owned different stretches of rights of way and was therefore responsible for their maintenance.

·         The representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration confirmed that funding had been acquired to improve the right of way from Roscoe’s roundabout to Abney Park, Cheadle, subject to consultation being carried out.

·         The Rights of Way Team of the Council had responsibility for the maintenance of the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way in the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Area Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Area Committee to comment on the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Combating the illegal use of motorbikes without hindering access for people with disabilities.

·         Unadopted roads that were public rights of way

·         Issues associated with Fred Perry Way and the Fallowfield Loop.

·         Reference to Burnage Park in Heaton Mersey should be deleted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and invited the comments of the Area Committee on the draft plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and inviting the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan and, in particular, the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• Support was given to the objective of paths being open to all and their use encouraged by all parts of the community.
• Clarification was sought when work would commence on the Middlewood Way.
• It was important that clarification was provided as to who could use which routes, for example, the use of quad bikes was prohibited on the Middlewood Way.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That people be encouraged to take part in the consultation on the draft document.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan. The Committee is particularly recommended to give their views on the seven conclusions reached in the plan, and the actions suggested.

For the purposes of the plan a Right of Way is all off road routes that the public are able to utilise legally. Examples include routes in parks, concessionary paths, public rights of way and access space.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to provide comments upon the draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 4744351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and invites the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the draft plan.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The Chair advised the Committee that the Rights of Way Improvement Plan was also due to be submitted to the forthcoming round of Area Committee which would provide an opportunity for members to comment on specific matters within the purview of their area committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.