The County Durham Local Access Forum was scheduled to meet on Monday 21 July 2025 at County Hall, Durham to discuss a range of access and rights of way issues across the county. Items on the agenda included the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, environmental land management schemes, updates from the Rights of Way Team, the Stockton and Darlington Railway walking and cycling routes, the Pennine Way, and the Northern Saints Trails. The forum was also expected to discuss public access to council-owned land, the Durham City Green Corridor, and the annual report.

APPG for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature

The forum was scheduled to consider providing a response to a call for evidence from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature¹. The APPG was seeking ideas for new legislation and policy proposals that would:

• Enable more people to make use of existing access opportunities (including open access and public rights of way).
• Improve access to landscapes (woodlands, riversides, water bodies, downland) and the safeguards needed for the environment and land management.
• Enable more people to undertake a broader range of responsible outdoor activities and the safeguards needed for the environment and land management.
• Ensure green and blue spaces are more evenly distributed and better connected.
• Ensure access to nature is better used to support health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Increase access to sites of public or historic interest
• Enable more people, particularly children, young people and underrepresented groups, to regularly experience and engage with green and blue spaces.

The deadline for responses was midnight on 20 July 2025.

Rights of Way

Helen Barber, Senior Rights of Way Officer, was scheduled to provide an update from the Rights of Way Team, including information on 'lost ways'.

The Access and Rights of Way Team Leader was also scheduled provide an update on the Stockton and Darlington Railway walking and cycling routes.

Mike Ogden, Access and Rights of Way Team Leader, was scheduled to provide an update on the Northern Saints Trails.

Pennine Way

The forum was scheduled to receive an update from A Johnson and Mike Ogden, Access and Rights of Way Team Leader, following their attendance at an event to celebrate 60 years of the Pennine Way². It was also noted that a travelling exhibition celebrating 60 years of the Pennine Way was taking place at the Bowlees Visitor Centre, North Pennines National Landscape from 3 July to 31 August.

Durham City Green Corridor

Mike Ogden, Access and Rights of Way Team Leader, was scheduled to provide an update on the Durham City Green Corridor project.

Other Business

The agenda also included:

• An update following a presentation by the Wolsingham Wayfarers and a site visit.
• Updates on national and regional issues, including the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project and environmental land management schemes³.
• A verbal update from Mike Ogden, Access and Rights of Way Team Leader, on the North Pennines National Landscape Partnership.
• An update following the Healthy Weight Alliance Group meeting held on 8 July 2025.
• Agreement of the LAF Annual Report 2023/24 – 2024/25.
• A discussion of proposed next steps for public access to council-owned land.
• A review of the work programme.