The Lancashire Local Access Forum is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, to discuss updates on public rights of way and the King Charles III England Coast Path. The meeting will also consider proposals for signing unsurfaced routes.

Public Rights of Improvement Programme Update

An update on the Public Rights of Way Improvement Programme (ROWIP) is scheduled to be presented by Abigail Lamberth. The previous minutes from the meeting on 8th July 2025 indicate that the ROWIP was due for review and that members suggested aligning it more closely with the Local Transport Plan (LTP). The report pack notes that the process for initiating the review had not yet commenced, but that work would need to begin shortly if the review was to be completed for 2025. Members agreed that the Forum should be fully involved in the review process.

Signs for Unsurfaced Routes

Graham Lampkin is scheduled to introduce a discussion regarding the signing of unsurfaced routes. The report pack highlights that many unsurfaced routes are not clearly signed on the ground, leading to potential issues for users. It is suggested that a simple and inexpensive solution would be to place signs at the entrance of each unsurfaced route (UCR) detailing what they are and the user groups that may be encountered. The report suggests that representative bodies of various user groups could fund and fit these signs, with the blessing of the highways authority, to demonstrate a responsible attitude. The report includes examples of suggested wording for these signs.

King Charles III England Coast Path Update

An update on the King Charles III England Coast Path is scheduled to be presented. The report pack indicates that the establishment of the path between Tarleton Lock and the boundary with Blackpool is underway and will continue until the end of March, coinciding with the end of the 2025/26 DEFRA funding round. Further establishment will be necessary after this date, particularly for sections where ground conditions need to improve to enable access. While the priority is to commence access rights along the full stretch from Cleveleys to Pier Head, targeted paths and sections of the Silverdale to Cleveleys stretch are also in progress and will continue until the end of March. The exact date for the commencement of rights between Cleveleys to Pier Head will not be predictable until April.

The previous minutes from the meeting on 8th July 2025 noted that progress with the King Charles III England Coast Path had continued across southern England, with the national route being over two-thirds complete. However, full national completion had not been achieved within the originally anticipated timescales. Within Lancashire, specific difficulties were discussed, including river crossings, routing through urban areas, and an unresolved disputed definitive line at the northern end of the route near Hesketh Bank / Boatyard. Discussions were ongoing with relevant parties, including third-party landowners, but specific details could not be shared publicly due to data protection and confidentiality.