Local Access Forum

Background

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 required Local and National Park Authorities to set up a Local Access Forum (LAF) for their areas.

Worcestershire's LAF was formed in May 2003 and consists of 22 people, each representing a particular interest in the countryside, such as walking, farming or cycling. Two members are District Councillors and one is a County Councillor.

The purpose of the LAF is to offer countryside access advice to a number of organisations including the County Council, English Heritage and the Environment Agency.  It also has responsibility for some aspects of management of Access Land together with a key role in monitoring Worcestershire's Rights of Way Improvement Plan, as well as responding to relevant consultation papers published by Defra and Natural England, amongst others.

Meetings

The Forum normally meets four times a year and its meetings are open to the public, who are always welcome to observe proceedings.

You can access Agendas, Minutes and the Annual Report by clicking below or by contacting:

The Countryside Service, Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP, Tel: 01905 768214

Local Access Forum Annual Reports

Local Access Forum Agendas & Minutes

Vacancies on the Forum

The Local Access Forum is a statutory advisory group consisting of up to 22 members representing a broad range of interests connected with public access to the countryside. Interests covered include both leisure, such as walking and riding, and business and commercial, for example farming and land management.

The Forum provides advice on access issues to both the County Council and to several other bodies, and also plays a key role in the management and administration of access land.

Worcestershire's Forum has now been in existence since May 2003 and a number of seats regularly come up for re-appointment.

The County Council is seeking applications for membership from anyone who feels able to represent any of the following fields of interest. Any individual can apply for membership.

•          Business interest
•          Carriage Driving interest
•          Community interest
•          Farming interest
•          Forestry interest
•          Landowner interest
•          Open Spaces interest
•          Parish interest
•          Social Inclusion interest
•          Tourism interest
•          Walking interest
•          Waterways interest
•          Wildlife / Biodiversity interest
•          Youth interest

To obtain a membership application pack, which also contains more detailed information, you can contact the LAF Secretary, Richard Jones, telephone 01905 768248, or download an application pack at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/countryside/public-rights-of-way/local-access-forum.aspx  

The closing date for applications is 31^st May 2012.