Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of Meeting of the Sutherland Local Access Forum held in Ben More Assynt, Drummuie, Golspie on Thursday 9 October 2014 at 2pm.

Present:
Mr W G Johnston, Scottish Rights of Way Society/Access User
Mr H B Field, Sutherland Walkers Group/Access User
Mr M MacDougall, Forestry Commission
Mr J McGillivray, Councillor, Highland Council
Mr P Olson, Access User
Mr J Ross, Scottish Canoe Association/Access User

In Attendance:
Mr M Dent, Access Officer, Highland Council
Ms A Macrae, Committee Administrator, Highland Council

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr G Farlow, Mr J Gall and Mr W Sutherland.

2. Minutes of Meeting of 8 May 2014

There had been submitted for confirmation as a correct record the minute of meeting of 8 May 2014, the terms of which were APPROVED.

Arising from item 2 of the Minute it was confirmed that the National Access Forum/Local Access Forum meeting would be held on Tuesday 4 November 2014 in Gleneagles.  Mr B Field advised that he was willing to attend the meeting and the Access Officer advised that he would liaise with Mr Field in regard to the arrangements.

Thereafter, the Access Officer reported that the National Access Forum’s agendas and reports could be accessed online and he would circulate Members with the relevant web address in this regard.

3. Core Path Plan Review

The Access Officer provided an update in regard to progress with the review of the Core Path Plan.  He reported that the proposal was to run the review alongside the consultation events which were being organised in respect of the Caithness and Sutherland (CaS) Local Plan. He advised that the CAS Plan’s main issues report would be launched in November 2014, following which there would a series of consultation roadshows/events held across Caithness and Sutherland.

In this regard he was currently preparing a review document for the Core Path Plan with a view to it being presented, in the first instance, to the Council’s ward business meetings. Thereafter a consultative draft would be presented to the above at the consultation events being arranged for the CaS Plan. He anticipated that the Forum members would be invited to attend their local consultation events and comment on their specific areas. The Forum would also receive a copy of any relevant consultative documentation and would have the opportunity to comment. 

In response to questions, the Access Officer explained that the main priority of the review was to improve connectivity within the Plan. The review also aimed to ensure routes were mapped as they were being used and were exercisable as intended; to identify new routes which had been created since the adoption of the Plan, and to consider the Reporter’s findings from the Public Local Inquiry held in respect of the current Core Path Plan. These findings related to the need to consider the wider network and identify more strategic routes, and specifically in Caithness and Sutherland to consider rail crossings at Aultnabreac and Dunrobin.

Following further discussion, it was NOTED that the Forum would receive copies of the core path plan documentation once this had been finalised and be advised of the dates of the local consultation meetings, once confirmed.

Thereafter, discussion focused on the Reporter’s comments in respect of the current Core Path Plan which had stated that there was not a sufficiency of routes in the wider area and therefore there was a need to identify and include a greater number of strategic routes. The Access Officer advised that he was considering the potential inclusion of some strategic routes in Sutherland as part of the review.

In discussion reference was made to the fact that some of the longer distance  routes may not have scored well under the criteria and scoring system used in the development of the original Plan and therefore had not been included.  Reference was also made to a number of specific routes across Sutherland which potentially could be included in the Plan. It was also suggested that there was the potential to extend the network in some areas to create a long distance route with reference to a specific examples e.g. Kylestrome to Tongue.    

During further discussion a number of other points were raised:-

• that there was a need to take a strategic overview of routes and invest in developing and marketing a fully
  integrated network of routes in Sutherland and the wider area; it was noted that in other countries this concept
  was delivering significant economic benefits for communities;
• it was suggested that there was a need for a more coordinated approach/promotion of walking and other activities
  between the relevant organisations in the Highlands;
• there was also a need for local tourist accommodation providers to be more aware of the potential in this regard
  and to better publicise the existence of these routes in their areas; it was suggested there was also the potential
  for Visit Scotland to develop and extend the range of its specialist brochures to include activities such as
  walking/cycling/horse riding given the significant demand for these activities;
• reference was made to ongoing work between the Council and Kinlochbervie Community Council and Scourie
  Development Group in regard to the promotion of routes;
• discussion in regard to a marketing scheme being undertaken in Dornoch and the proposed development of an app
  for tourists in conjunction with Visit Dornoch and the potential for this to include maps of core paths and routes in
  the area;
• it was noted the scoring of paths in the original Core Path Plan had been weighted towards community based use
  with the aim of encouraging local people to take short walks, and it was suggested that in the review there should
  be a greater focus on the tourist and economic benefits routes may bring to communities;
• in response the Access Officer clarified that the scoring system used in the preparation of the original Plan would
  not be used in the review; the criteria to be used in the review would be to improve connectivity; ensure routes
  were mapped as they are used; identify strategic routes with a recommendation they be included in the Plan and to
  identify new routes that had been created; he also suggested that it would be difficult to assess the economic
  benefits associated with the inclusion of a route in the Plan;
• that a route did not have to be a core path to be promoted by groups and organisations, and ultimately in terms of
   the legislation that access rights were not enhanced by the designation of a route as a core path;
• issues around new paths which had been developed by Estates and Forestry Commission Scotland in Sutherland for
   land management purposes and the statutory duty of the Council to identify and recommend core paths; and
• concern that the more Core Paths that were designated the more difficult it would become to maintain these paths
   due to a lack of available funding for maintenance.

Following further discussion on this matter and on hearing from the Chair, the Forum AGREED to recommend that:-

i. the development and inclusion of longer and medium walking routes be considered and encouraged where it was in line with the Access Officer’s current remit in terms of the Core Path Plan review;
ii. in the event that potential paths and routes were outwith that remit then these be considered from a tourism and economic development perspective; and
iii. there was a need to engage more widely with local Highland tourist organisations and groups to alert them to the tourism and economic benefits that may be generated by being more proactive in publicising routes for walking/cycling and other activities in the area.

4. Local Access Issues/Planning Report

The Access Officer reported on the following issues:-

Group Access, Assynt

An issue had arisen with Geology groups undertaking visits to a site located in close proximity to a residential property. The Access Officer advised that essentially this was a management issue.

Strathy Point

An online complaint had been received in regard to access at Strathy Point although a grid reference had not been provided and it had been difficult to verify the exact nature of the complaint. It was noted that this was a popular spot for coastal fishing and therefore concerns had been raised in the past if, for example, if new fencing was erected. The Access Officer advised that he would continue to monitor the situation.

Sputie Burn

The bridge over Sputie Burn was in a poor state of repair and was overgrown. This was an issue for the relevant landowner who had been made aware of the problem.

Dutch Cottage, Backies

It had been reported that an access taker had used the route of an old previous right of way which went through the garden of the above property, although there was a route which avoided the grounds of the house. It was suggested that this may have been a member of a group who were seeking to protect old rights of way. The Access Officer indicated that he would welcome any further information  on this matter

Upgrading of Paths

It was reported that a number of paths in Sutherland had been upgraded, and specific details were being provided on the works which had been carried out in respect of the following routes:

• St John’s Well, Helmsdale
• Dunrobin Wood entrance from the A9
• Jubilee Path, Brora
• Station Wood, Dornoch

Invershin Viaduct

The Forum was provided with an update in regard to the progress with the provision of a cycle ramp on the above during which it was confirmed that:

• the footbridge was owned by the Highland Council but located on a Network Rail structure; Network Rail had
  confirmed it had no objections in principle to the proposal subject to their being no grinding or welding to be done
  on site, and also to an approved schedule of works/work plan being agreed prior to works commencing;
• in addition the Highland Council required that any installation on bridges must meet specific design standards;
• that the Council’s engineer was not satisfied with the design of the steel cycle ramp which had been manufactured
  on the basis that it overlapped the steps on the bridge and that the relevant upstanding was not considered to be
  sufficient in height;
• that the Access Officer had advised the local councillor and the community council of the position;
• whether it would be possible for the existing ramp to be modified to meet the required standards or was a new
  design and manufacture was required;
• it was noted that existing ramp commissioned and funded by local community councils;
• it was suggested that it should be possible to modify the existing ramp to meet the required standards;
• it was important that there was good communication between all parties involved in the issue;
• whether the ramp was required following the closure of Carbisdale Castle as a Youth Hostel;
• that the route was important link in terms of the Land’s End to John O’Groats long distance path; and
• it was noted that the matter would continue to progressed by the local Highland Councillor in conjunction with the
  local community council.

Thereafter and following further discussion, the Forum AGREED that a further update on progress be provided to the next meeting.        

5. AOCB

It was AGREED that arrangements be made to ensure that Mr B Field was circulated with a paper copy of the Access Officer’s quarterly report.

6. Date of Next Meeting

It was AGREED that arrangements be made to hold the next meeting towards the end of March 2015, the date to be confirmed as soon as possible.

The meeting ended at 3.45pm.