Archived News

Right across the region

On 31 October 2005, the new right of access was applied to certain areas of land in Norfolk, and the East of England. Broadly, the right exists on land conclusively mapped by the Countryside Agency as open country and registered common. The maps can be seen on www.openaccess.gov.uk and will feature on the new OS Explorer maps due in spring. Exemptions and restrictions may apply.
For general enquiries ask the Open Access Contact Centre 0845 100 3298.
For specific site information in Norfolk contact the county countryside team on 01603 223284 or the Broads Authority in their area on (01603) 610734.

Where are the county’s footpaths going?

Find out by looking at Norfolk County Council’s Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2006-2016.

It is out for a three-month public consultation ending at 5 pm. on 3 February 2006. Public summaries are available in libraries and upon request at the address below. The full document can be viewed here, at County Hall, and upon request at the address below.

Written comments may be made online, or sent to:-

P&T, Norfolk County Council
County Hall
Martineaux Lane
Norwich
NR1 2SG

Submissions will be acknowledged and considered by cabinet prior to publication of the final version in spring 2006.

The officer dealing with this matter is Dominic Doble who may be contacted on  (01603) 222786.

Second Newsletter Hits the Streets

If you are looking for an up close and personal account of the private life of your Local Access Forum. Look no further!

Not for the fainthearted, this warts and all exposé reveals:-

• All the advice we gave
• All the people to whom we gave it
• All the meetings we held
• Attitudes to topical issues
• Changes in the team
• Possibilities down in the parish

...and much much more!

Way to Go! - Issue Two is available online, at your library, or from (01603) 222143.

2 June 2005

Consultation on Norfolk’s First Long Term Restriction

Norfolk Local Access Forum is being consulted on a Countryside Agency proposal to accept an application to impose a restriction on the exercise of the new Public Right of Access.

Holme Bird Observatory has been provisionally mapped as Registered Common under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This means that come November, the new Public Right of Access may apply to the whole area. 

In the interests of the site an application has been submitted to prevent this. The site can be viewed on the consultation page under Norfolk Local Access Forum on the Agency consultation website. 

Nelson Walks

As part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, Norfolk County Council has organised a series of guided walks. Some of the walks will be leisurely rambles through countryside loosely associated with Nelson. Others will be informative town walks, discovering through exploration and interpretation how the built environment of Nelson’s age can be experienced today.

[ View the poster on the Countryside Access website ]

13 May 2005

There’s The Rub: A ten-year celebration of Long’s Wood

Join a guided walk to launch an exciting new hands-on sculpture trail in Long’s Wood, Wreningham. You will have a chance to take brass-rubbings with the artist Rachael Long and learn from Norfolk County Council tree expert Gerry Barnes. The event runs from 5-7pm on Saturday 21 May and is supported by Norfolk County Council.

The trail winds around 20 oakwood pillars in the 85-acre community woodland. Each pillar holds a bronze sculpture to celebrate 10 years in the life of this remarkable area. Papers and wax will be available to take rubbings of the wonders you just might spy through the trees - a woodmouse, a unicorn, a barn owl, Orion, a dragonfly!

“We will be able to see all the variety of colour and shape in the leaves of select nursery-grown examples from wild local trees like hornbeam, crab-apple, and holly”, explains Gerry Barnes.

For further information contact Lynn Bassendine at Norfolk County Council on (01603) 222770.

28 April 2005

Wherryman’s on His Way

Saturday 28 May 2005 sees the launch of a major sustainable tourism project based around the creation of a 35-mile (54km) linear walk between Great Yarmouth and Norwich. It connects to 10 circular village walks and includes a separate cycle route from Norwich to Reedham linked to the Hull to Harwich National Cycle Route. 

Designers and artists will work with local people to install information on natural, social, and architectural history along the route: including the wherries that gave the route its name, and of “Billy Bluelight”, a local runner.

Norfolk County Council (NCC) is coordinating the project in close partnership with South Norfolk Council, the Broads Authority and the Chet Valley Development Partnership. Contact:- peter.barber@norfolk.gov.uk

31 January 2005

Too Successful?

In an attempt to deal with the amazing number of consultations it receives, Norfolk Local Access Forum has held two Sub-group meetings in as many months. Its four full meetings a year sometimes do not allow it to respond in time to what are often large and complex documents. 

Whilst the Sub-groups allow more focussed and informed discussion, other Forum representatives are concerned at not being party to it. So, the next full Forum meeting is going to consider its approach to consultations, meetings, and its relationship to the County Councils, liaison groups, and other Local Access Forums. 

This should make it more useful and efficient in the face of expected increases in correspondence. 

Got Something to say?

Are you a walker, rider, or other visitor with designs on the Norfolk countryside? Would you like to improve management of access on land you own or have responsibility for? Does your business, parish council, interest or support group want to explore new linkages and funding opportunities?

Maybe you would benefit from being a part of The Norfolk Local Access Forum?

Interested? Download an application form (information and constitution), or contact Dominic Doble on (01603) 222786.

11 November 2004

Way to go!

Way to go - The first Norfolk Local Access Forum newsletter.  

Download the newsletter as a 281KB PDF file.

31st August 2004

On The Right Tracks?
Conference to Be Held

The findings of On The Right Tracks? the Rights of Way Improvement for Norfolk will be discussed between 10:30 - 4:00 20 October 2004 Wensum Valley Hotel, Taverham, Norwich. A draft Action Plan will also be decided. 

Land holder and user groups will be there with agencies, councils, and Norfolk’s two Local Access Forums. As places may be limited, if you are interested in attending please contact Dominic Doble for an agenda. 

New Land Manager Guidance on Signing Access Land

The “Right to Roam” is due in Norfolk in November 2005. The Countryside Agency have just released guidance for land managers about appropriate design and location of signs and other information.

Have your say on the Norfolk countryside

29^th July 2004

Norfolk County Council is looking for people to join the Norfolk Local Access Forum, which gives independent advice on the future of countryside access and open-air recreation in Norfolk, not including the Broads area.

You may have heard about the Right to Roam, the Countryside Code, On The Right Tracks? or Environment Stewardship? The Norfolk Local Access Forum has been involved in the fortunes of all these issues over the last year.

Norfolk County Council would like to hear from walkers, cyclists, landowners or land managers. The forum also needs people with other relevant interests, for example, parish council work, country sports, tourism or nature conservation. The only skills required are broad interests and the ability to reach agreements.

Roy Banham, Cabinet member for Environment and Waste at Norfolk County Council, said: "We feel it's very important to let the people of Norfolk have a say on how they access this county's beautiful and diverse countryside both now and in the future."

For more information or an application pack please visit the Norfolk Local Access Forum website, or contact Dominic Doble on 01603-222786 or dominic.doble@norfolk.gov.uk . The closing date is Friday 17 September 2004.

Latest news - 19th July 2004

Local Council Link for Rights of Access Development Plan Information

Come November next year the new Right of Access may commence in Norfolk. The County Council is the Access Authority for the county outside the Broads.

It may be called upon to exercise its powers to help manage Access Land by:-

a) making byelaws; 
b) appointing wardens (District Councils also have this power); 
c) erecting and maintaining notices about boundaries, restrictions, exclusions, e.t.c.; 
d) improving means of access; and 
c) authorising entry to carry out “c” and “d” above.

What resources are likely to be demanded by these new duties? How should the Authority prepare?

Norfolk County Council partners Mott MacDonald are helping to answer these questions. With Local Council assistance they are researching these attributes of the Provisionally Mapped Access Land parcels in Norfolk:-

Grid Reference 
Name 
Parish 
Common number 
Owner, rightsholders, authorities 
Designations 
Current public use 
Public Rights of Way 
Means of Access 
Byelaws, wardening, notices 
Exceptions, Exclusions, and Restrictions

Click here for more information

or contact:- 
mark.frith@mottmac.com

7th June 2004

Access Land – Provisional Map Out

The three-month consultation on Norfolk’s Provisional Map of Open Country and Registered Commons has started. The County is part of mapping Area 8, the East of England. The map has been produced nationally under contract for the Countryside Agency. It should include the comments made during the Draft Map consultation in the area that ended earlier this year.

This time, appeals are limited to landowners, tenants, mortgagees, or people holding a licence, agreement, or sporting or common rights. The grounds for appeal are limited to land incorrectly mapped as Open Country or Registered Common. The Planning Inspectorate will hear these appeals.

Once all valid appeals have been decided, the Conclusive Map for the area will be produced. Only then, if the Secretary of State says so, will the complexities of the new Right of Access apply.

Landholders
The Agency have produced a Land Manager’s Guidance Pack (ref: CAX 150F) that is available from the Open Access Contact Centre in Belfast on 0845 100 3298.

A lone diver followed a public footpath which took him right out to sea to help launch Norfolk County Council’s 'On The Right Tracks?' campaign.

- 14th April 2004

The project aims to improve access to Norfolk's diverse countryside by clearing up confusion caused by the passage of years, which has led to some paths falling out of use. Pete Smith, from the East Anglian branch of the British Sub Aqua Club, followed a path from Winterton beach car park which now leads only into the sea.

The 'On The Right Tracks?' campaign will look at footpaths, bridleways and other forms of access. It will also seek to register new paths which will be more useful to the community, but this will only be done with the full cooperation of local farmers and landowners.

[ Read more... ]

[ Complete Consultation... ]

[ A note for Farmers... ]

6th April 2004

Divers demonstrate Norfolk's lost paths

Scuba divers are helping to launch the County Council's 'On The Right Tracks?' campaign, which aims to improve access to Norfolk's diverse countryside.

The project hopes to clear up confusion caused by the passage of years, which has led to some paths falling out of use. Divers from the East Anglian branch of the British Sub Aqua Club will demonstrate this on Wednesday 7 April by following a path from Winterton beach car park which now leads only into the sea.

The 'On The Right Tracks?' campaign will look at footpaths, bridleways and other forms of access. It will also seek to register new paths which will be more useful to the community, but this will only be done with the full cooperation of local farmers and landowners.

More information available on the press release.

4^th February 2004

Driving Off the Map!

At our 20 January 2004 Meeting,  Norfolk Local Access Forum considered the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs plans to restrict bike riding and 4x4 driving on certain types of “green lane”. The Forum chose not to comment on the consultation.

Footpaths and bridleways are clearly off limits for public use of the combustion engine. Yet, there has long been confusion over the public right to drive on Roads Used as Public Paths. They have bridleway rights but the uncertainty means that driving along them is not an offence. Byways Open to All Traffic do carry a right for motor vehicles. Of course, Unclassified County Roads do as well - whether surfaced or not.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 addressed bike riding and 4x4 driving. It included vehicles that are not road-legal in the new definition of “mechanically propelled vehicle”. Another section will turn all Roads used as Public Paths into Restricted Byways by 2026. This new byway category is not available to such vehicles. In addition, the Department are now consulting on whether to bring this date forward and to prevent people being able to claim public vehicular rights based on evidence of use by horse-and-cart. 

14th January 2004

Third Meeting of the Norfolk Local Access Forum Now Due

The Norfolk Local Access Forum will meet in the Colman Room, County Hall, Norwich Tuesday 20 January 2004 at 10:00 a.m. 

• The Chairman will report back on the first Rights of Way Improvement Plan Working Group Meeting held in December.

• A County Council Community Relations Officer will give an update on how the Council hopes to find out what the people of Norfolk want from the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

• A County Council Assistant Solicitor will help The Forum consider the Government’s consultation on Vehicles on Rights of Way [120Kb PDF file].

The meeting is open to the public, so why not come along and meet The Forum. [This is the agenda]. 

Consultation on Open Country and Registered Commons ended

The Public consultation on the Norfolk Draft Map of Open Country and Registered Commons ended on Tuesday 13 January 2004. Letters, forms, or on-line comments will not be accepted after this. The date advertised previously was postponed due to problems with the on-line system. 

In six to eight months time, a provisional map will be produced based in part on the valid comments received. There will then be a three-month period during which appeals may be lodged, but only by people with an interest in land wrongly mapped. The Planning Inspectorate will hear appeals judged to be valid. Click here to see progress of appeals in other areas.

2nd December 2003

Draft Map Deadline Postponed

The deadline for comments on the Draft Map of Open Country and Registered Commons has been set back to Tuesday 13 January 2004. 

“This is a result of breakdowns in the internet-based reply system” explained Marion Hamilton of Black and Veatch, the mapping consultants. “We are not sure that we have received all the comments sent using this method”. 

Any one who has responded electronically would be advised to send a further copy in to make sure that their point is registered.

The End is Nigh!

Midnight, Tuesday 2 December 2003, is the end of the public consultation on the Area 8 (East of England) Draft Map of Open Country and Registered Commons. 

The Draft Map can be seen at County, and District Council Offices, selected libraries, and on www.countryside.gov.uk (the Countryside Agency’s website). For advice on mapping:- call 0845 100 3298. For other information contact:- Dominic Doble, at Norfolk County Council, on (01603) 222786

In eight-to-twelve months, an amended Provisional map will be produced based on the comments received. Land owners, and others with a narrowly defined interest in the land will then have three-months to lodge appeals against the map. The Planning Inspectorate will hear valid submissions. 

Forum Speaks Out on Draft Maps

Norfolk Local Access Forum met on Thursday 23 October 2003, to agree their comments on the Draft Map of Open Country and Registered Commons. Matters considered included:- county specific issues; their expectations versus reality; and the adequacy of the process.

• The Norfolk Local Access Forum supported the adoption of different approaches to Access Rights in Scotland and England.

• The Forum highlighted the importance of education and communication between land owners, land users, and the authorities. A number of useful methods were suggested, but it was pointed out that they would not be fail-safe. 

• The Forum was disappointed that the Black and Veatch Roadshows in Norfolk did not include talks. 

• Members noted that at least one individual unable to stand, or lift and carry, had experienced difficulties attempting to view loose copies of the maps. 

• In general, it was considered that three months had been an adequate period for consultation.

• The Forum agreed that their training talk given by the Countryside Agency, arranged by Norfolk County Council, had been very interesting and worthwhile.

A letter summarising their views has been sent to the mapping consultants. It did not comment on the area covered by the Broads Local Access Forum.

Forum to discuss Right to Roam

When is a heath not a heath? This may seem like a riddle - but the answer could be important in "Right to Roam" terms.

This is just one of the concerns about the process of selecting "Right to Roam" sites that will be raised when Norfolk Local Access Forum meets for the second time (County Hall, October 23rd, 10.00am).

The Forum will:

• Consider whether the area mapped for Right to Roam in Norfolk is as expected;

• Comment on the process for identifying Right to Roam land;

• Discuss the adequacy of publicity for the process;

• Consider public comments.

"With local landowners and walkers on the Forum we are well placed to give a balanced countywide view" said Chairman Ken Leggett. He added: "If you have not already seen a Draft Map of your area, it would be a good idea. Comments should be sent to the Countryside Agency by 2 December 2003."

Local Access Forums, other bodies, and the public have just over a month left to raise any issues about the Draft Map of Open Country and Registered Commons. These comments will be incorporated into the Provisional Map for Norfolk due out 6 - 8 months later.

Norfolk County Council appointed people to the Forum with experience including riding, farming, disablement, and Parish Councils. The Council provides support to the Forum which must be consulted on open air recreation matters in Norfolk outside the Broads.

The meeting is open to the public. Draft Maps can be seen at County, and District Council Offices, selected libraries, and on www.countryside.gov.uk (the Countryside Agency’s website). For advice on mapping:- call 0845 100 3298. For other information contact:- Dominic Doble, at Norfolk County Council, on (01603) 222786.

Closer to Roam

How close to you is your nearest Registered Common? Has part of your farm been mapped as Open Country? 

The Public Consultation on where the new Right of Access may apply has begun in Norfolk. On 2 August 2003, the Countryside Agency put up on their website the Draft Map of Open Country and Registered Commons for Area 8 - East of England.

The map for the Whole East of England Area will be available at the Roadshows. The map for Norfolk will be available at County Hall. The District Councils, Town and Parish Councils, and Libraries will hold maps for their areas too. There is more information on this site. Any questions ring:- the Access Helpline 0845100 3298. 

"Right to Roam" Roadshows Hit Norfolk

Unless you know every thing there is to know about Draft Mapping of Open Country and Registered Commons, you need to know this:-

The mapping consultants are holding road shows in these places:-

Thetford, Library, Raymond Street,
Monday 15 September 2003 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Norwich Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum,
Monday 15 September 2003 3:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m.

King’s Lynn, Library, London Road,
Tuesday 16 September 2003 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Staff will talk you through how they are doing the draft maps. The maps will be there to show where people may be allowed to walk in a few years time.

11/8/2003 - First Meeting Was a Great Success! 

Norfolk Local Access Forum held their first meeting, 6 August 2003.

Ken Leggett was elected Chairman. He represents the "Other" Category.  "I am delighted to be chosen." he said. "What with mapping Access Land and Improving Rights of Way across Norfolk, we have exciting times ahead." 

Members introduced themselves; then a constitution, and the dates of the next meetings were agreed. Shortly, the Countryside Agency will provide training to prepare Members for their next meeting. Then, on 23 October 2003, Norfolk Local Access Forum will meet to agree their response to the Agency’s consultation on the Draft Mapping of Open Country and Registered Commons.