Minutes:
Richard Walton, Public Rights of Way Manager, gave the following updates:
Staffing
· The Technical Officer post had been filled by Rachel Dixon. The response rate as good, with several impressive candidates.
· Peter Guy, warden in south Devon, had taken early retirement and his post would be advertised.
· Despite advertising three times the Senior Officer post, Legal and Development, had not been filled. Discussions were taking place with service heads to reassess the post. Recruitment issues were on the strategic risk register for the Council.
Budget
Devon County Council faced a £40m funding gap due to inflation and additional costs to support children and vulnerable adults. The Council was looking at areas where savings could be made. The PRoW budget was not currently directly impacted, and revenue and capital budgets were fully allocated. PRoW contractors were permitted to adjust their rates mid-term to partly deal with inflationary pressures.
Removal of barriers
Devon County Council had committed to remove barriers where assessed as feasible on multi-use trails and replace with signs, markings and/or bollards. This was a positive improvement for all users, including people with mobility scooters. The process was being coordinated through the road safety team but no specific programme was in place. Richard Walton requested examples of barriers that could be removed which he could pass on to be audited.
Stover Country Park
An application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for £2.5m had been successful. The overall project cost was around £4m and would include restoration of the lake and granite gatehouse, new paths, an improved visitor centre and engagement work with under-represented groups. A meeting is taking place with the NLHF to ensure legal requirements were in place to proceed. Historic England was very involved and the aspiration is to work with Stover School on additional listed buildings in a later phase. Two project team members were leaving and these posts would be filled, possibly including through secondment.
BHS/Ramblers
A joint training event was being held, led by Phil Wadey and Sarah Bucks, to look at historical sources used to provide evidence for Definitive Map Review claims. DCC carried out its Definitive Map Review on a parish by parish basis and many claims may already have been considered as part of that process.
Richard Walton said he was liaising with the BHS about use of trails. Network Rail did not permit horse use on the Exe Estuary Trail. On other trails some structures were not to required standards or landowners had not given permission for horses. The intention was to audit trails to identify sections which could be made available.
Definitive Map Review
The Definitive Map Review process had slowed during CoVID, with a subsequent move to online meetings. Progress had returned to normal and the team was on target to complete by 2026. The 2026 date is due to be abolished but this had not been implemented in regulations. The DMR map would be shared with members.
Action: Forum Officer
England Coast Path
· The dramatic path at Torcross had been restored on its original line.
· Funding had been approved for restoring a causeway path on the beach at Down End at Croyde and a new contractor had been lined up to complete the work. This should be done by the end of 2022, depending on weather.
· A bid is due to be put in shortly for signs on the Kingswear to Lyme Regis stretch. Natural England can then finalise arrangements with the Secretary of State to open the route. Once the England Coast Path is open, the County Council would have powers to facilitate coastal access rights, for example at Lighthouse Beach. Legal costs would fall to DCC. The South West Coast Path Association and National Trail Officer were providing support.
· As a result of a court case, the landowner of the unstable cliff at Beacon Road, Kingswear, had been required to carry out stabilisation work and contractors were on site. Once complete, a safety audit would be carried out by DCC to ensure it was stable to reopen for non-vehicular traffic. An alternative route for the South West Coast Path (and England Coast Path) could then be signed providing walkers with the option to use Beacon Road. .
· Bids for a high tide route at Mothecombe (South Hams) and improvements at Dyer’s Lookout (Torridge), which had been agreed with the landowner, were progressing slowly.