2nd
JULY 2004
ANNUAL
REPORT ON RIGHTS OF WAY AND ACCESS
REPORT
BY THE SUSSEX DOWNS OFFICER
1. Purpose
of the Report
1.1 This report details work
undertaken on the network between 1st April 2003 and 31st
March 2004 to achieve the Board’s target of achieving 100% maintenance of
the RoW network within the AONB (95% of paths unobstructed and 95% of furniture
in conditions 1 and 2). It also
gives an analysis of the state of the network as at 31st March 2004
and provides information on work carried out throughout the year to facilitate
and promote sustainable access to the AONB.
2. Background
2.1 The Board maintains a
computerised RoW Condition Survey Database for the whole of the AONB. The
database is updated on an ongoing basis as problems are identified and
maintenance carried out.
2.2 Annual reports to the
Board provide details of work carried out on the RoW network each year and an
annual account of the state of the network. The reports have also addressed the
wider issue of access to the countryside, rather than just focusing on the
function of the maintenance of RoW.
3. Condition
of the RoW network in the AONB at 31st March 2004
3.1
Appendix One of
this report gives an analysis of the state of the network as at 31st
March 2004, showing that the Board has exceeded its
target with:
Ø
98.26%
of structures in condition 1 or 2 (First Class or Satisfactory)
Ø
97.80%
of the network unobstructed
4. Maintenance
work carried out in the AONB 1st April 2003 to 31st March
2004
4.1 Appendix Two of this
report shows details of maintenance work carried out on the public RoW network
during the year 1st April 2003 to 31st March 2004,
including a total of 695 items of work, 2.74 kilometres of resurfacing and
463.29 kilometres of clearance.
5. Update on
the Board’s Milestone Statement
5.1 A comparison between the
figures as at 31st March 2004 and the Milestones update figures
given in the RoW Report 11th July 2003 shows the following.
|
Year |
%
network obstructed |
%
network unobstructed |
%
structures in condition 3 or 4 |
%
structures in condition 1 or 2 |
|
1998-1999 |
0.4 |
99.6 |
1.4 |
98.6 |
|
1999-2000 |
0.9 |
99.1 |
2.2 |
97.8 |
|
2000-2001 |
1.4 |
98.6 |
0.7 |
99.3 |
|
2001-2002 |
1.7 |
98.3 |
1.0 |
99.0 |
|
2002-2003 |
1.23 |
98.77 |
1.83 |
98.17 |
|
2003-2004 |
2.2 |
97.8 |
1.74 |
98.26 |
|
Comparison
between 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 |
+.97 |
-0.97 |
-0.09 |
+0.09 |
5.2 The
Board exceeded its Recreation 2000 target (95% of paths unobstructed and 95% of
furniture in conditions 1 and 2) ahead of schedule during 1998-1999. As can be seen from the table above,
this target has been maintained to date. The above figures showing the
comparison in results between 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 give mixed results, with
a slight decrease (0.97%) this year in the length of the RoW network
unobstructed and a slight increase (0.09%) in the percentage of structures in
conditions 1 or 2 (first class or satisfactory), with a small number (1.74%) in
conditions 3 and 4 (deteriorating or poor).`
5.3 During
the twelve month period 1st April 2003 to 31st March
2004, 100% of the Parishes or District areas within the AONB were surveyed and
maintained. All complaints were dealt with on an individual basis by the staff
of the four SDCB Areas.
5.4 In
April 2003, all parishes were sent details of work carried out on the Rights of
Way network within their area during the period 1st April 2002 to 31st
March 2003. Reports covering work
carried out during 2003-2004 were sent out in April 2004.
6.
Other
Rights of Way issues
6.1. Throughout the year, the Board has
continued working with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) on a new, integrated
RoW Condition Survey and maintenance database, incorporating a Geographical
Information System (GIS), which will link the two organisations’ RoW
systems. The Board is also liaising with WSCC to provide an AONB-wide RoW GIS
system incorporating East Sussex and Brighton & Hove GIS mapping, with
Brighton & Hove Council possibly interested in joining the project and
becoming a user of the new system.
Following invitations to tender in 2003, a contract was let to Infotech
to build the new database. Full
user specifications were signed off in January 2004 and testing of the pilot
system was carried out by both WSCC and the Board in March. Infotech are now working on the final
system, taking into account problems encountered in the pilot. The delivery, user training and final
testing of the database are expected to take place in June/July 2004, after
several postponements. In the
meantime, work is ongoing to improve internet connections from all the
Board’s Area offices to enable them to run the new system.
6.2. Following software and technical
problems with the new Geographical Positioning System (GPS), work on developing
and implementing this surveying tool has been put on hold until the completion
and delivery of the new RoW GIS system.
At this time the Board, together with WSCC, will be in a better position
to look into the most favourable hand-held system option to link with the
database.
6.3 The South Downs Volunteer
Parish Path Rangers (VPPRs) made an invaluable contribution to Rights of Way
maintenance this year. A total of
395 days surveying was achieved by 98 VPPRs, an increase in surveying days of
20% over the previous year. The
detailed survey information provided by the VPPRs is used to update the RoW
database on a regular basis.
6.4 Promotion of the SDVRS at
events such as the East Sussex Wood Fair and the South of England Show, as well
as through media such as the South Downs Virtual Information Centre (VIC) www.vic.org.uk and South Downs Focus (the
South Downs newsletter) during the year has helped recruitment for the SDVRS as
a whole, including Volunteer Parish Path Rangers (VPPRs). Substantial progress has been made this
year with enrolling new VPPRs, particularly in the Board’s Northern Area,
resulting in total coverage of the network within the AONB. Specialist training sessions were
arranged throughout the year for all new VPPRs.
6.5
This year’s
programme to enhance the RoW network for the range of user groups has included
the following work:
6.6
The Board has
sought, and will continue to seek, funding from local authorities under the
terms of the founding agreement for major/capital works. The Board has carried out a number of
improvements itself (see the list of enhancements (6.5) and Rights of Way
Maintenance (appendix 2)).
However, we still need the additional funding from the statutory local
highway authorities if we are going to seriously address some of the more major
problems in the network.
6.7
This year’s
programme of path improvements to the South Downs Way (SDW) National Trail has
included: resurfacing at Plumpton, Jevington and Amberley and improvements to a
bridleway link at Ditchling (a joint Board/SDW/East Sussex County Council
(ESCC) project), with additional funding from Mid Sussex Bridleways Group (see
also 6.5). Progress continues on
implementing safety measures at road crossings. A partnership project with SDCB, ESCC, Eastbourne Borough
Council and a local farmer has led to improvements to the A259 Eastbourne Golf
Club road crossing, providing better sight lines and significantly improving
the safety of path users.
6.8 General maintenance of the
National Trail has been implemented throughout the year by the Board’s
Area teams. The SDW budget
contributed over £25,000 towards path improvements carried out by the
Board along the National Trail and key feeder routes, plus another £6,000
towards works carried out in Hampshire, despite an in-year grant cut of
£6,000 by the Countryside Agency.
The Public Inquiry into the section of the SDW across the Meon Valley in
Hampshire has been held, and the Secretary of State’s decision is awaited. This will complete the most critical
part of the SDW extension to Winchester, agreed in 1991.
6.9 During
2003/2004 the Board has worked with the SDW Officer to improve interpretation
for the SDW National Trail with new start/finish interpretation boards now in
place, and a new National Trail leaflet produced and distributed. Following the
production of the ‘South Downs Way - Circular Walks from Duncton
Mill’ leaflet, a further leaflet in the same series was printed. This provides details of walks and
places of interest in the Ditchling area, and links with the SDW. The series aims to encourage the
public to explore the different areas along the SDW
‘corridor’. Work has
also commenced on a revised edition of the SDW accommodation guide and of the
South Downs Virtual Information Centre www.vic.org.uk
accommodation pages, with all accommodation-providers being contacted in order
to update the database. This work
is ongoing and will be completed in 2004.
The South Downs Way National Trail Guide by Paul Millmore is also being
revised and this work has highlighted the lack of progress on resolving the
small number of significant route anomalies, but it is hoped that the local
highways authorities in East and West Sussex will be able to start work on
resolving these problem areas within the next few years.
6.10 Following
production of comprehensive information on path surfaces, slopes etc by the SDW
National Trails Officer (NTO), two members of the Disabled Ramblers Association
have completed the entire SDW on Tramper cross-country electric wheelchairs,
unsupported and in one eight-day trip.
The NTO is now developing ways of increasing the use of the route by
disabled people and others with limited mobility, including working with the
Disabled Ramblers Association to promote the SDW as a challenge for fit,
disabled people with suitable vehicles.
7. Countryside
and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 – Open Access
7.1 During 2003/2004 the South
Downs Access Forum was established and the South Downs Access Officer
appointed. Working on a programme
co-ordinated with the local authority Local Access Forums, the South Downs
Access Forum met in February to discuss terms of reference, Rights of Way
Improvement Plans, the Strategic Access Plan and Open Access mapping. In March,
Forum members split into four working groups to discuss and mark up how Open
Access land could be implemented and managed at each mapped site. The maps will form the basis for
writing Access Management Plans and bidding for funds from the Access Incentive
Scheme. The Forum is now working on CRoW Act issues. Presentations were made by the South Downs Way National
Trails Officer to both the South Downs and Brighton & Hove Local Access
Forums on the landscape, history and ecology of the South Downs, and on the
opportunities and potential problems that might be caused by developing
recreational use of the area.
7.2 Geodata at Southampton
University were contracted to collect the relevant data needed for the
development of a Strategic Access Plan for the South Downs. The Strategic Access Officer has
continued to liaise with the Board over the year on the collection of South
Downs access and tourism data, including the commissioning of a fresh set of
bus stop data. Following the
setting up of a Strategic Access Advisory Group, with the aim of identifying
priorities for the Strategic Access Plan, a new Vision has been produced by the
Access Team and an outline structure for the Plan is in place. The relationship of the Strategic
Access Plan and the CRoW Act’s Rights of Way Improvement Plans have been
worked through with the four South Downs local authorities. The intention is to produce a joint
Rights of Way Improvement Plan for the South Downs that fits in with the over-arching
objectives identified under the Strategic Action Plan. Work is continuing on the writing of
the Strategic Access Plan.
7.3 Although
it is the statutory responsibility of the local highway authorities (LHAs) to
implement the CRoW Act, the Board has been holding discussions with the LHAs to
agree a way forward for implementation of the Act with regard to Open Access
Land. At the end of the 2003/4
financial year, no funding had been made available by the local authorities to
ensure that Access Land on the Downs will be readily available, promoted and
managed. A potential funding
source has, however, been identified and Area teams have begun to cost up the
actions required to implement the Act.
This work has run in concurrence with the South Downs Access
Forum’s Working Groups (see 7.1).
In the meantime, Area teams have organised Farmers’ Meetings to
provide an opportunity for Board/landowner communication, and staff are
continuing to deal with queries from the public and landowners relating to new
Open Access land.
8. Sustainable
Access and Tourism
8.1 Sustainable
access and sustainable tourism within the South Downs remain two of the
foremost issues for the Board.
Work has continued, through traffic and highway management schemes, the
promotion and development of public transport to the South Downs and through
the Tourism without Traffic Project, to enhance landscape and environmental
quality within the Downs by encouraging people to use sustainable alternative
means of transport, instead of the car, to access the area for recreation.
8.2 Traffic/highway management
projects achieved during the year include:
·
The commencement
of talks with the Local Highway Authorities (LHAs), proposing the incorporation
of a South Downs chapter in each new Local Transport Plan (LTP), with the aim
of helping to conserve the South Downs landscape and its local character. Proposed projects and works have also
been submitted for inclusion in each of the Plans.
·
The Board, in
agreement with the LHAs, is also developing rural routes guidelines for use in
the LTPs and by LHA staff when they are considering engineering solutions to
traffic safety issues. A South Downs approach, to include East Hampshire AONB,
will be sought for the guidelines.
Seminars on sympathetic engineering for rural roads were held with West
Sussex County Council. A Board
paper was prepared to highlight the potential impact of minor road schemes and
highway works in the Sussex Downs AONB.
·
The preparation of
traffic management/open grazing proposals for the Ditchling Beacon Road in East
Sussex, which it is hoped to include in the new LTP. Similar ideas for the Summerdown and Saddlescombe Roads at
Devil’s Dyke in West Sussex are being promoted.
8.3 Public transport projects
within the South Downs have continued to receive accolades, with the Breeze up
to the Downs Bus Project, which covers buses 77, 78 and 79 to Devil’s
Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and Stanmer Park, coming runner up in the UK Bus
Industry Awards, Buses for Pleasure category (effectively second in the whole
of the UK). This project has been
a great success for the partnership (Countryside Agency, Brighton & Hove
City Council, the Board and National Trust) and is now a national Countryside
Agency demonstration project. It
has been featured on BBC Country File programme and the society magazine
Brighton and Hove Life. Other
public transport projects this year have included:
·
The co-ordination
by SDCB of work and funding for a summer Hassocks to Ditchling Village and Jack
and Jill Windmills bus service. This was the result of partnership working with
West Sussex County Council, Hassocks Parish Council and with funding through
the Parish Transport Scheme (Countryside Agency), Social, Economic and
Environmental Development Programme (Royal Society for Nature Conservation) and
local amenity associations.
Although a very useful pilot, this bus service experienced relatively
low numbers of passengers and, with limited funding now available, will not run
in the forseeable future.
·
Working with South
Central Trains and the Surrey Hills AONB, walking routes from railway stations
have been promoted through door drop flyers. Advertising at railway stations for the Breeze Buses was
provided by South Central Trains.
·
The Board
part-funded Midhurst Area Cycling to commission SUSTRANS to prepare a report on
safe cycling opportunities in the Midhurst Area. The report looks at the possibilities of linking villages,
schools, leisure facilities and shops with safe cycle routes, using existing
rights of way and by creating new routes and cycle lanes.
8.4 The Tourism Without
Traffic (TWT) project received a major publicity boost when the Princess Royal
visited the Project in June as part of the nation-wide Royal Tourism Day. During her visit she praised the work
of Bike Express, the Cuckmere Community Bus and the Seven Sisters Country Park
in educating visitors. Her visit
received a significant level of press coverage and raised the profile of the
work the Board and TWT is doing to promote sustainable travel and tourism in
the South Downs. Main achievements of the project for the year include:
·
The commencement
of work on the shared Berwick Way cycling and walking path, following public
consultation and approval.
·
Restoration of the
Old Coach Road between Firle and Berwick villages.
·
Re-siting and
resulting improved visibility at the A259/SDW crossing (see 6.7).
·
Plans in hand to
create a safe path around the Youth Hostel at Frog Firle, and to reduce the
speed limit on the southern approach to Alfriston village from 60 to 40 miles
per hour.
·
A new Hiker Biker
bus service started in 2003, aimed at family cyclists and walkers. Feedback from users revealed that 24%
of passengers would have used their cars if the bus had not been available and
a further 25% would not have travelled at all. This reinforces the importance of improving access to rural
areas by providing an affordable alternative to the car.
·
A community rail
partnership was established for East Sussex during 2003. This has been a great achievement, with
the partnership group prioritising railway lines for improvement, two of which
run through the TWT area.
·
The TWT project is
working closely with organisations such as the South Downs Tourism Network and
the Healthy Lifestyle Cluster in Eastbourne to develop a sustainable tourism
product in the Eastern Sussex Downs.
Various measures include: encouraging visitors to cycle or use public
transport to access tourist destinations; developing a Visitor Information Pack
for accommodation providers, which has space for suggested days out without a
car; holding training sessions for local businesses to promote sustainable
tourism.
·
The Project was
part of a regional seminar held in July 2003, which explored the impacts of
conventional engineering on rural landscapes.
·
Re-print of the
popular Heritage Coast Travel and Leisure Guide. 45,000 leaflets will be distributed in the project area over
the summer. The Guide shows
visitors how to get to attractions using public transport and suggests local
walks and cycle rides in the area.
·
Two cycle racks
(in the shape of a penny farthing bicycle) have been erected.
8.5 The Board continues to
promote sustainable access to the countryside for quiet, informal
recreation. The popularity of the
South Downs Virtual Information Centre (VIC) www.vic.org.uk
is increasing with an average of 9,000 hits per week during the year, with over
422,000 hits during 2003/2004 compared to 360,000 hits in 2002/2003. The site provides up-to date
information on public transport networks in and around the Downs and links to
useful websites; RoW trail leaflets are downloadable from VIC and a
comprehensive database is available for visitor facilities. Various improvements were made to VIC
during the year to help promote ‘green’ tourism:
·
The layout of the
hub pages was improved to make it easier for people to plan car-free journeys.
·
A new hub was
added for Hassocks to promote the Jack and Jills windmills bus service and link
up to other Breeze U to the Downs bus services from the Brighton and Hove area.
·
Information on the
Tourism Without Traffic project was uploaded onto the site.
·
A new frameset was
created for the South Downs Access Forum at www.vic.org.uk/access.htm.
·
A new frameset has
been created to promote the work of the South East AONB Sustainable Tourism
Project in partnership with the Board at www.vic.org.uk/tourism.htm.
·
In addition, the
Green Travel web address (www.vic.org.uk/greentravel.htm)
was promoted on printed publications and press releases.
Other forms of promotion include press releases,
launches and the South Downs Focus newsletter.
RECOMMENDATION
That Board Members note the
report
MARTIN BEATON
Sussex Downs Officer
Contact:
Phil Belden tel 01243 558700
email pbelden@southdowns-aonb.gov.uk
Jenny Grant tel 01243 558700
email jgrant@southdowns-aonb.gov.uk