The North Yorkshire Local Access Forum met to discuss the Countryside Access Team's annual report and updates on liaison with district councils and other forums. Councillor Will Scarlett, the acting Chair, had previously confirmed to members that he intended to defer the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair until the next meeting.

Countryside Access Team Annual Report

The Countryside Access Team's Annual Report ¹ was discussed, with particular attention paid to the progress on the creation of the Coast to Coast National Trail. The Trail is due to open in 2025 and the team are working with Natural England, Cycling UK and the British Horse Society to identify a complimentary route for cyclists and horse riders. A bridleway is proposed between Richmond and Brompton to provide a safe off-road cycling link. It was noted that the team has also been working with Leonard Cheshire to assess the accessibility of the current route.

The Forum requested that an update on the Coast to Coast National Trail be added as a standing item to their forward plan.

Liaison with District Councils

The Forum then received an update on liaison with district councils, which included an update from Rachel Connolly on the progress of improvements to the A1, the Bedale by-pass and the A66. Ms Connolly reported that a number of safety issues had been identified on the A1 and that the bridleway track on the eastern section of the Bedale by-pass had still not been ratified by North Yorkshire Council.

She also reported that the dualling scheme for the A66 had been approved by the Department for Transport, but that an objection had been received.

UUnsurfaced Unclassified Roads

Councillor David Jeffels raised concerns about off-roading on Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads (UURs), noting the damage that could be caused and the need to safeguard other users. Ian Kelly, Head of the Countryside Access Service, advised that the Council has a legal duty to maintain UURs, and that a review of UUR maintenance would be provided at the next meeting.

Planning Sub-Group

The Planning Sub-Group ² reported that they had been providing responses to planning consultations, with a particular focus on the provision of public open space, sustainable transport connections and the protection of rights of way. The sub-group also noted that there were differences in the way that planning applications were handled by the seven district councils, and that this could be time-consuming.

The sub-group suggested that a tick-box system could be introduced to simplify planning applications.

Terms of Reference

Finally, the Forum considered a draft of their revised Terms of Reference ³. The draft included a number of changes, including the addition of a section on the Forum's role in promoting sustainable travel.