Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of Meeting of the Sutherland Local Access Forum held in the Chamber, Drummuie, Golspie on 31 October 2016 at 2pm.

Present:
Mr G Johnson, Scottish Rights of Way Society/Access User
Mr J Gall, Landowner/Crofter
Mr M MacDougall, Forestry Commission
Mr J McGillivray, Councillor, Highland Council
Mr J Ross, Scottish Canoe Association/Access User
Mr P Olson, Access User

In Attendance:
Mr M Dent, Access Officer, Highland Council
Ms A Macrae, Committee Administrator, Highland Council
    
1. Apology for Absence

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr G Farlow and Mr W Sutherland.
    
2. Minutes of Meeting of 18 November 2015

There had been submitted for confirmation as a correct record, the minute of meeting of 18 November 2015, the terms of which were APPROVED.
    
3. Matters Arising

•    Ardgay Hill – the Access Officer advised he had reported to the previous meeting that neither the local community council or land manager had responded to the Core Path Plan review. He indicated that the Forum had agreed the existing path be retained in the Plan on the basis there would be an opportunity for objections to be submitted as part of the final consultation on the Plan and also given the challenges with any alternative route. It was noted that currently the start of the route was heavily poached, however in discussion it was suggested this could also be a problem with any alternative route; and

•    Bonar Bridge (SU05) – the Access Officer advised that the Forum had agreed the proposal to investigate the core path from Achinduich towards Sleastary should not be progressed on the basis sections of the path were in poor condition. However, he indicated it was his intention to promote the path as a public right of way.

P Olson advised that the potential merger of Bonar Bridge and Ardgay Historical Societies could stimulate a project to explore the potential to rejuvenate the Carnegie Road route. He also welcomed the suggestion to extend the Carnegie Road back to Skibo. The Access Officer advised that while it would not be a core path there may be the opportunity to work with the above organisations and Scotways to promote the route and keep it in the public domain.     
    
4. Membership

The Chair advised the meeting that Mr Bruce Field had resigned from the Forum. He expressed his thanks to Mr Field for his significant contribution to the Forum since its inception.     

The Chair further advised that he would also be resigning from the Forum following the meeting. In explaining his reasons, he felt it was an appropriate time for a new Chair to take the Forum forward. In addition he expressed concern at the lack of support the Forum had received from the Council, particularly over the recent period, noting that it had been approximately one year since the last meeting, despite his request that an earlier meeting be held. He also referred to the fact that the other Local Access Fora in the Highlands were not meeting on a regular basis. 

Mr J McGillivray expressed regret the Chair’s comments in regard to the support the Forum received and provided an assurance that he would raise with the Council’s Administration the issues around the need to better support and rejuvenate the Local Access Forum/s.

5. Core Path Plan Review

The Access Officer provided an update on the Core Path Plan review and reported that since the last meeting work had concentrated on walking and assessing the routes. He had also undertaken strategic environmental assessments to determine where the promotion of routes may impact on national and international nature and conservation interests with a view to managing any impacts prior to the production of the final Plan.

In response to a question, the Access Officer advised that the proposal was to present a draft Core Path Plan in Spring 2017. He also explained that the Local Access Forum was a statutory consultee in respect of the draft Plan.  It was anticipated the final version of the Plan would be available in late 2017, following the main consultation period in Spring 2017. 

He cautioned that mainly as a result of the Council’s recent voluntary redundancy scheme there were now only 4 Access Officers for the Highlands and no direct support from Council HQ given that Mr George Duff, Countryside Ranger and Long Distance Routes Manager, had recently left the Council. Therefore, there were resource issues in dealing with the strategic environmental assessments, walking the routes and dealing with any objections.

The Chair suggested there had been no major issues of significance arising from  the Core Path Plan review, with the exception of some very local issues which could be resolved. 

Discussion then followed on the ability of the public to access maps with core paths. The Access Officer advised that the Ordinance Survey (OS) had confirmed it would not include core paths on maps for commercial reasons. 

Discussion then focused on the need for the promotion and wider dissemination of the Core Path Plan, it being acknowledged this was not directly a matter for Local Access Forums. A number of points were raised in this regard as follows:-  

•    the opportunity to interest some of the local development trusts and similar local community bodies in sourcing funding to create this type of resource; the Access Officer advised that an issue with this proposal was that these bodies generally covered small local areas;

•    the potential to ask the above organisations to consider nominating representatives to meet and draw together the information in respect of each area and funding to create a resource covering a wider area;

•    issues in relation to the barriers which existed in relation to the Council producing apps and online information for smartphones etc, for example licensing issues;

•    issues over who would be responsible for coordinating the logistics and groundwork associated with the above work;

•    reference to a number of apps which other organisations had developed in relation to walks and routes etc; and

•    the opportunity to place all the core paths on google earth maps; in response the Access Officer noted that the data set and digitised maps which would have to be used in this regard were subject to copyright by SNH and the OS.

Following further discussion, the Chair suggested that the best way forward on this matter would be if some the local development trusts and community bodies saw it in their interests to develop a resource for their locality and were willing to work together to produce a broader resource for the area using the available technology.  

Thereafter, the Committee NOTED the update.     
    
6. Local Access Issues/Planning Report

The Access Officer reported on the following matters:-

i.    Loch Loyal Lodge – it was reported that there was no access issues arising from the planning application which had been submitted to in respect of the Lodge;

ii.    Coul Links Golf Course - it was noted that the core paths/right of way in this area were overgrown and encroached by whins and gorse and it was understood that if the development went ahead then these paths would be maintained to wheelchair standards and that additional paths would be created. The Embo Trust would also be given access to equipment to maintain other paths to the south side of the development.  In discussion it was suggested that the developer appeared to be aware of and sensitive to the impacts of the development. The Access Officer advised that it was anticipated the development would likely increase access take up in the area. He also advised that he and Scotways were flexible in regard to the route of the historic right of way which existed in the area;

iii.    John O’Groats Trail – it was explained that the trail had been launched in May 2016 and that it was very much a private enterprise supported by the Council in principle;

iv.    Carbisdale Castle – it was confirmed there was no Forestry Commission land included in the sale and the Access Officer advised that the core paths in proximity were significantly less well used than in the past in contrast to the routes at Balblair on the other side.

Thereafter, the Access Officer provided a summary of the main issues which had arisen over the past few months in respect of horses; locked gates at Shinness and no dog signage at Strathcarron in areas where sheep were kept. He also referred to complaints received and court action being progressed by the RSPB in regard to locked gates on a core path at Forsinain.  

In addition, the Access Officer referred to ongoing issues with a gate on Sandside Estate which was on the boundary mark of Caithness and Sutherland, noting that it was a popular spot for viewing puffins in the Spring.   He advised that the Estate had changed hands on a number of occasions and currently efforts were being made to establish ownership, 

Thereafter, the Forum NOTED the update. 
    
7. Date of Next Meeting

It was AGREED that the next meeting be held in May 2017, the date to be confirmed.  

8. AOCB

In conclusion of the meeting, Members of the Forum thanked the Chair for his significant contribution over the period and wished him well for the future.

The Chair, in turn, thanked the Forum for their support and friendship during his time as Chair.  

The meeting ended at 3.05pm.