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The JLAF is a statutory body established by the three councils shown above, to
provide advice as to the improvement of public access to land in the area
of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire for
the purposes of open-air recreation and enjoyment of the area. Its views
do not necessarily represent those of the three councils.
The JLAF website has been designed to be accessible to all
users and complies with the following standards:
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Welcome to the JLAF Website
This is the website of the Joint Local
Access Forum for Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City and South
Gloucestershire (the "JLAF").
The Joint Local Access Forum (the "JLAF")
is an independent statutory group that advises on access to the outdoors in Bath & North East
Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire. There are 21 voluntary members
of the JLAF representing users, landowners and other interests (e.g. those of
disabled people) who advise the Councils and other organisations in the area.
This website contains information of
particular interest to the members of the JLAF, but it can hopefully provide a
useful resource to others. Please explore this website. Find
out more about the JLAF, read the latest
news relevant to the JLAF, or see what's been happening at JLAF
meetings and when the next meeting is. If you are interested in what
you find, consider whether you'd like to get involved - come to a meeting, join
the list of observers, or apply
to become a member of the JLAF. Use the menu to the left for
more. If you have any comments or suggestions, please
contact us.
Also on this page:
Current Actions
for JLAF Members
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JLAF Calendar: coming up
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The
JLAF has been involved in the development of OutdoorsWest.
Visit the OutdoorsWest
website for information on where to go and what to do on paths
in the West of England. |
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Latest News (most recent additions first)
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14DEC11:
The Independent Panel on Forestry was set up to advise the government on
the future of forests and woods in England and have just released their Interim
Progress Report, along with a newsletter.
The headlines of the interim report are:
· The Panel believe there is a role for a national public forest estate
· The Panel want to see more woodlands created and more woodlands
managed
· Future forestry policy should reflect economic and ecological
timescale of woodlands
· Further work exploring how more woodlands in England can deliver more
for society, the environment and the economy.
The main
document of the report summarises the responses to the 'call for
views', to which the JLAF
submitted its views. See page 42 of the report for a summary
of the main submissions on Access to Forestry.
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30NOV11:
As part of the announcements related to the Chancellor's Autumn
Statement yesterday, a Rural
Economy Growth Review was published by Defra. In it, there are
new plans for a £2m fund for Public Rights of Way improvements:
"Defra will provide up to £2m to enable local communities to
enhance their tourism offer by improving public rights of way"
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30NOV11:
The Chairman and the Secretary of the JLAF attended a regional meeting
of Local Access Forums on the 9th November, with
this agenda. The notes
of this meeting have now been drafted.
Three presentations given at the meeting are here too, on National
Coordination of LAFs, on Multiuse
paths (generally paths for a combination of walkers, cyclists and
equestrians), and on Local
Nature Partnerships (LNPs) and Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs).
The West of England has applied for funding to form a Local Nature
Partnership, and the JLAF is included as a stakeholder to such a group
in that application.
Hilary Winter also distributed a new Sustrans
technical briefing note on horses on the National Cycle Network to
inform the agenda item on multi-use.
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30NOV11:
Hilary Winter, Regional Coordinator SW Region LAFs, has highlighted a
House of Commons Question, which relates identifying historic public
rights of way and adding them to the legal record, the Definitive Map
and Statement. For more background to this answer, see the Stakeholder
Working Group on Unrecorded Rights of Way.
"House of Commons - Hansard
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 28 November 2011
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she is making on recording historic rights of way. [82379]
Richard Benyon: It is local authorities that are responsible for recording rights of way on the definitive map and statement (the local authority's legal record of public rights of way). There are no centrally held records on the progress that individual local authorities are making on recording rights of way.
In the Government White Paper ‘The Natural Choice: securing the value of Nature’, DEFRA announced that it will consult on simplifying and streamlining the processes
28 Nov 2011 : Column 658W
for recording and making changes to public rights of way, based on proposals made by Natural England's working group on unrecorded rights of way. I am currently considering the options for this consultation and expect to make an announcement shortly."
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30NOV11:
The Natural England Board is considering a paper on the dedication of
its National Nature Reserves (NNRs) under section 16 of the CRoW Act
2000 over a four year programme. Only 2/3 of NNR are covered under
open access. Natural England intends to look at sites on an individual
basis, assessing where appropriate any risks. This
is one of the papers for the Natural England Board today.
There are no NNRs in the JLAF area, though Leigh Woods is a NNR, located
just over the Clifton Suspension Bridge from Bristol. Note though,
that some NNRs are not owned by Natural England, therefore won't be
covered by this announcement.
(supplied by Hilary Winter, Regional Coordinator SW Region LAFs)
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30NOV11:
Papers
for the Natural England Board meeting are now published on their
website. The meeting is today, the 30th November.
(supplied by Hilary Winter, Regional Coordinator SW Region LAFs)
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30NOV11:
Dr
Helen Phillips is leaving her post as Chief Executive at Natural England.
Her successor has not yet been appointed.
(supplied by Hilary Winter, Regional Coordinator SW Region LAFs)
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28NOV11:
The draft minutes of the most
recent meeting of the JLAF, held on Friday the 4th November 2011,
have been published.
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Check for older news...
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Outstanding Actions for JLAF Members
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| Archived
Actions for JLAF Members
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The news items on this site are retrieved
from a number of local and national sources. Some material has kindly been
supplied by Hilary Winter, Regional Coordinator SW Region LAFs. If you
wish to submit any suggestions, please
contact us.
Last Updated: 14/12/11
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