Minutes:
Ros Mills, Public Rights of Way Manager, reported on the following items:
1) Work for the financial year is being completed. Wardens are delivering maintenance work on the public rights of way network and cycle/multi-use trails.
2) Linear cracks on the Exe Estuary Trail are being investigated by the DCC Materials Laboratory. There was a rolling programme of surface improvements on the off-road cycle/multi-use network.
3) There will be a cut in the revenue budget for 2019/20 but an increase in capital, mainly due to additional Government money for drainage and surfacing to highways, of which public rights of way are part. Devon’s tourism economy is significant and the wardens work with landowners to manage the network and ensure it is accessible for visitors and locals alike.
4) The Enforcement Protocol, on which the DCAF had an input, will be going to the Public Rights of Way Committee in July.
A discussion took place on a new walking/cycling bridge built near Barnstaple through the development planning process that currently had no exits to footways or public rights of way. DCC is looking into securing a permissive route to a nearby footpath. There was a fatality on the A road nearby when someone crossed from a minor road to a public right of way. Once development takes place the bridge will connect.
It was noted that many public rights of way end at A roads which were not so busy in the past. It is difficult to do improvements retrospectively. DCC has, however,a widening scheme for the North Devon Link Road and the Public Rights of Way team had persuaded the Council to include a bridge to link existing public rights of way and this would be going for planning permission.
This raised the importance of discussions at an early stage in the process and ensuring different levels of local government and DCC liaise to investigate opportunities. It was noted this would tie in with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
It was agreed to look at the DCAF planning position statement in the first instance to see whether it could be adapted to include road proposals.
Action: Chair and Forum Officer to review planning statement.
Helen Clayton, Senior Officer, Public Rights of Way reported on the following:
a) The next PRoW Committee would be on 4March and five parish reviews were on the agenda.
b) A Public Inquiry held at Ugborough in October confirmed a Definitive Map Modification Order to add a bridleway based on user evidence. This is through a recreation ground (Filham Park) owned by Ivybridge Town Council. A diversion had to be resolved as the defined route is through a cricket ground and a pond, constructed after the route had been established.
c) P3 surveys were being undertaken.
d) Public Rights of Way digital information is now on the digitised List of Streets with a disclaimer that the information is not the Definitive Map. This can be viewed in County Hall or by contacting Land Charges. Internally the information is useful to confirm that PRoW are highways maintainable at public expense.
e) The Pegasus Trail is progressing and new sections are planned.