Dorset Local Access Forum members

Local access forums are made up of representatives of users, landowners and other local interests, such as conservation, tourism and business.

Members

In line with regulations issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Dorset Local Access Forum comprises 21 members - one from each of the three highway authorities in Dorset (Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council and the Borough of Poole) and 18 independent members who have user or land management interests.

The independent members are appointed for up to three years and there is an annual selection process for one third of the members. Members are able to re-apply.

The current members of the forum are listed below. Dorset Local Access Forum members can be contacted via the Contact Officer.

Dorset Local Access Forum members

Bournemouth Borough Council - Cllr Jane Kelly (Borough Councillor)
Dorset County Council - Alex Brenton (County Councillor) and Rebecca Knox (County Councillor)
Borough of Poole - Cllr Phil Goodall (Borough Councillor)

Independent Members

Landowners

Oliver Chamberlain (2011)

Oliver was born and brought up at Tonerspuddle and now lives in the shadow of Ibberton Hill. He is a qualified chartered surveyor and has been practising as a land agent in Dorset for 30 years. He has also spent 33 years in the Territorial Army. He has a keen interest in the countryside and the future of the rural economy.

Tim Frost (2012)

Tim has been born and brought up in West Dorset, he is Chairman of the Dorset AONB, and Managing Director of Childhay Farming Ltd which farms 800 acres of West Dorset's most beautiful countryside. The livestock enterprises include 1600 milking goats, 220 organic dairy cows and 350 free range sows producing pork which is delivered to butchers from Dorset to London. His career included National Service, building up a successful creamery and ice cream business, and his hobbies include playing golf and enjoying country pursuits.

Tim is very keen that people are able to enjoy this lovely countryside, but that Dorset does not get spoilt for future generations. He believes that access to the County's rights of way is excellent but there is more scope to improve the paths themselves, without increasing their width or putting the costs onto the farmers.

Hilary Tutte (2012)

Hilary initially farmed in Warwickshire but moved to Dorset in 1967 and currently runs a mixed farm near Dorchester. She has ridden horses and been involved in various country sports all her life, and wishes to help resolve the problems that require a balanced approach between access to, and enjoyment of, the countryside and the fact that it is also a workplace for the rural economy and a haven for wildlife.

Patrick Woodford (Vice-Chairman)(2011)

Patrick is a Chartered Surveyor practicing as a Rural Land Agent in Dorset, where he is a partner with a firm in Dorchester acting for farmers, landowners and rural business owners on property and land management matters. Patrick's background until 2003 was as a Managing Agent for the National Trust in Dorset. His interests are in balancing access with nature conservation and farming/land management interests with which he has considerable practical experience. He is a keen shooter and dog walker and lives in rural west Dorset.

Access Users

Mike Beams (Chairman) (2011)

Mike retired to Dorset five years ago after a career in engineering project management. He has been actively involved in the Ramblers' Association for over 30 years and is currently County Access Officer for that organisation. He takes a keen interest in wildlife, being a member of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, and in archaeology, having taken part in excavations in the county. He is churchwarden at Christchurch Priory.

David Green (2011)

David was born and raised in Weymouth and has lived and worked in Dorset for most of his life. After a career in defence research and then running his own business he has now retired and is able to pursue more fully his passionate interests in wildlife, nature and the history of the local countryside. He is a very keen walker, a member of the Ramblers Association and regularly leads walks for the Long Distance Walkers Association. From these he has become very active in the preservation of Dorset's rights of ways and is a footpaths officer for his local group. In addition, he enjoys access to the countryside for both cycling and exercising his four dogs.

Carol Shoopman (2012)

Carol moved to Dorset from Hampshire in 2002. She has volunteered as an access officer for the British Horse Society for over 15 years and has experience in public rights of way, working with local councils, landowners and other groups. Carol has worked in bookkeeping and spent 14 years in Italy working for a major travel company. Prior to moving here, she enjoyed holidays in Dorset with her horse including a 100-mile round trip stopping for B&B every night for one week.

Jocelyn Jenkins (2012)

Jocelyn moved to Dorset 13 years ago after over 20 years in Hampshire and a member of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust. In 1987 she joined the British Horse Society, then co-founded a bridleways group, became a County Bridleways Officer for part of Hampshire, later moving to road safety, teaching groups and then becoming an examiner. On moving to Dorset, she again joined the British Horse Society County Committee as Senior Road Safety Examiner. She runs a small bed and breakfast in the Lower Winterborne Valley so is able to promote the countryside and encourage visitors wherever possible to explore Dorset. She is also an active member of the Women's Institute.

William Williamson (2013)

William, known as John, was born in Leicester and moved to Dorset in 1967 and to the Wareham area in 1971. He has had an adult life interest in motorcycling and all things mechanical and owned a haulage and garage business for 32 years. He took early retirement in 2005. Dogs have played a large part in his daily life with many hours spent walking in the countryside where an interest in birds and wildlife has developed over the years. Nowadays, he is only able to walk short distances and has to rely on mechanically propelled vehicles to gain access to the countryside. He is currently area representative for the TRF.

He was Vice Chair for an action group which fought against the opening of a landfill site in the local area for which permission was eventually granted and he now sits on the liaison committee which monitors the development and operation of the site.

Other Relevant Interests

Susan Bennetton (2013)

Having lived in Dorset most of her life, Sue has had a sheltered upbringing with being born spina bifida. Being very much aware of the difficulties involved especially those who have a certain amount of mobility but having restrictions than the more able bodied to enjoy her love of the countryside and wildlife around the Dorset area. Sue takes on a positive approach and is keen on keeping herself mobile and enjoys walking, but from experience has some knowledge of access limitations that less able people come across when they want to take in the beauty of their surroundings.

Sue is divorced and having concentrated on bringing up her three sons, now has more free time to enjoy her interest of art and appreciation of the natural beauty we are surrounded by and strong in her belief it should be made accessible for everyone as nature intended. Whilst out she needs to feel safe and secure. One of her pet hates is fly tipping and illegal travelling sites.

Geraldine Hobson (2013)

Geraldine has lived in rural Dorset for most of her life and in Hazelbury Bryan since 1973, where she was Rights of Way Liaison Officer for 24 years. She is a keen walker, naturalist, and country sports enthusiast. She fishes on the River Ebble. Her particular interest is to bring all the county's rights of ways up to a good standard, especially providing easy access via pedestrian gates for people with mobility problems or young children - particularly around towns and villages. She is currently a member of the Forum's Poundbury and Coastal Access Working Groups and the Forum's representative for the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB Access Working Group.

Roy MacDonald (2013)

Roy was born and brought up in Bournemouth, now having recently retired, intends to make good use of the fitness that he still enjoys. As a lover of the outdoor life, i.e. walking, coastal fishing, and amateur photography he realises the importance of keeping our countryside and coastal areas clean, accessible, and safe. Roy was until recently Chair of Bournemouth's Anti Social Behaviour Focus Group and a member of Dorset County Tenants' Federation, taking an interest to the point of attending many training seminars and holding certificates in committee skills, resident involvement, chairing meetings and community crime fighters. He is a member of the Dorset Ramblers Association. although prefers to walk in smaller, more informal groups.

After travelling to many parts of the world in his capacity as electrical technician he now wants to enjoy the county and surrounding areas. He feels that access to all areas is important and public transport is the only easy way for many, especially the less physically able. Also realising that as car congestion increases access for many more is reduced. There are many issues concerning our surroundings and Roy feels that the only way to assist is first hand.

Gillian Reese (2012)

Gill is a dedicated countrywoman and has been a horserider for over 50 years and has promoted recreational riding using bridleway networks for more than 20 years. She is a member of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, interested in botany and promoting a biodiverse countryside. She has also been very active in improving advice and support to sufferers of Lyme Disease - which is a hazard to anyone visiting the countryside.

Since moving to Dorset from East Yorkshire in May 2007 she's enjoyed exploring her new riding and dog walking network and has joined the Forum to contribute to the improvement of public access for health, recreation and tourism.

Paul Tomlinson (2012)

Paul is a Chartered Engineer, now retired, but is still involved as Chairman of the Institution of Engineering & Technology in Dorset & South Wilts. Moving to Dorset in 1999 allowed him to develop his long standing interest in country walking, and he also runs a small boat on Poole Harbour. Paul sits regularly as a member of the Valuation Tribunal for Dorset. For many years he has had serious hearing problems, and is active in running several deafness charities. In terms of the LAF Paul is particularly interested in ways of allowing people with various forms of disability to enjoy the countryside.

Linley Venters (2011)

Linley is a retired Electrical Engineer who was born in Scotland and emigrated with his parents to Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1948. Linley lived in Rhodesia until 1982 when he moved to South Africa, returning to the UK in 1999, living in Dorset since that time. As Linley's wife was wheelchair bound for many years and had a great love of open spaces he became very interested in how such people were able to access the countryside.

By being the Chair of (Norddis) North Dorset Disability Information Service and DCP (Dorset Carers Partnership) who provide a voice for the disadvantaged as well as their approx 42000 carers in the County, Linley sees his involvement as a mission to ensure that all that can be done to allow them to enjoy the lovely Dorset countryside to the fullest is possible.

Rod Webb (2012)

Rod retired in 2007 from Dorset County Council where he was the Senior Countryside Access Officer responsible for the access team management. Prior to the County Council, Rod was an Electronics and Communications Officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary for 15 years coming ashore in 1979, and then working in marine electronics engineering until joining Dorset County Council in 1992. He is a Parish Councillor and is on various committees including his local youth club. His hobbies are - the countryside, game fishing, clay pigeon shooting and caravanning.