The Lancashire Local Access Forum met on Tuesday 8 July 2025 to discuss coastal path updates, forum membership, and a new peat map for England, among other items. The forum was also scheduled to discuss drones, local government reorganisation, and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan. The next meeting dates were scheduled to be agreed.

Coastal Paths Update

David Kelly, Ramblers Association, was scheduled to introduce an item regarding coastal paths. The Public Reports Pack included information from Julie Neville, Senior Project Officer, regarding the King Charles III England Coast Path.

The report noted that establishment works between Tarleton and the boundary with Blackpool on the Cleveleys to Pier Head (CPH) section were due to commence in the summer of 2025, but the date for commencement of access rights was yet to be confirmed.

Regarding the Silverdale to Cleveleys (SDC) section, Natural England had reportedly submitted a variation to apply rollback¹ at Bolton le Sands following coastal changes. Planning for the establishment of the SDC was reportedly ongoing and would proceed before the commencement of rights along the full length of CPH.

Forum Membership

The Lancashire Local Access Forum was scheduled to note the Forum's membership and provide information on the current Forum members' areas of interest, experience, and knowledge. This information was scheduled to be used to support the recruitment of new Forum members to ensure a balanced membership.

Cosima Towneley had reportedly applied to the Forum in May 2025, and following a recommendation of her appointment by the Chair and David Goode, Public Rights of Way Manager, the Forum was scheduled to agree to her appointment.

The current membership listed in the Public Reports Pack was:

• Mr J R Toon (Chair)
• Chris Peat, Access Rosendale
• Councillor County Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council
• Councillor County Maria Jones, Lancashire County Council
• Khaleel Desai
• Mr Peter Edge, Lancashire Association of Local Councils
• Mr David Kelly, Ramblers Association
• Steve Kirby
• Chris Kynch, Lancashire Association of Local Councils
• Paul McKeown, Pennine Mountain Bike Action
• Michael Prescott, Cycling UK

A New Peat Map for England

The Chair was scheduled to introduce a discussion on a new peat map for England. A Natural England blog post on the subject was referenced in the agenda.

Other Business

The agenda for the meeting also included the following items:

• Apologies for Absence
• Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 January 2025
• Matters Arising
• Drones
• Local Government Reorganisation
• Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• Any Other Business
• Date of Next Meeting

The Forum was scheduled to agree on its next meeting dates as follows: Tuesday 07 July 2026 at 2pm and Tuesday 26 January 2027 at 2pm.