Dorset Local Access Forum

Are you interested in helping shape your local countryside? If you are, why not become a member of the Dorset Local Access Forum. We are currently seeking new volunteer members. The closing date for applications is Friday 6 August 2010.

The Dorset Local Access Forum

Local Access Forums (LAF) are advisory bodies established under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to provide independent advice on: 'the improvement of public access to land in their area for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area'.

2009 was another busy year for the Dorset Local Access Forum with the usual round of meetings, visits and consultations – our Annual Report will be published soon. There is a wide breadth and variety of subjects LAF's can be involved in and as the forum is made up of volunteers members' time is limited and the work of the forum and its sub groups has to be prioritised.

Matters discussed in 2009 included Rights of Way Improvement Plans, Coastal Access, Re–Structuring of the Dorset County Council Countryside Service. Public Access in Poole, Poundbury Development and a proposed cycleway from Maiden Newton to Bridport as well as responding to statutory consultations on a variety of issues.

The common interests of the coast, tourism, rural access has brought an informal sub regional group covering Cornwall, Plymouth, Devon, Torbay, Dartmoor, Exmoor and Dorset together. This group which is known as the Westcountry Access Group or WAG for short, has given additional weight to the work of these LAFs both at the regional and national levels.

Last year Natural England endorsed the setting up of the non statutory English Access Forum (EAF). Initial uncertainty over the relationship between opinions of the EAF and the statutory advice of LAFs has been clarified by DEFRA allowing a good working relationship to develop. The South West sends two representatives to the EAF.

Please contact the Dorset Local Access Forum if you think we can help.

Recruitment of volunteer members 2010

The Dorset Local Access Forum has now been running successfully for nearly eight years, but to satisfy membership rules, it is now seeking a number of new applications from interested volunteers. Further information to the application forms can be viewed below. The closing date for applications is Friday 6 August 2010.

Advert for recruitment 2010 [51kb] (opens in a new window)

coverletter application pack 2010 [16kb] (opens in a new window)

Application Form 2010 [134kb] (opens in a new window)

Person Specification 2010 [111kb] (opens in a new window)

Information About the Dorset Local Access Forum 2010 [665kb] (opens in a new window)

Dorset's Coast and Countryside

Dorset is renowned for its wonderful coast and countryside. Its geology and farming history have together created a landscape of great variety and beauty, loved by its residents and many visitors. There are plentiful opportunities to explore the county either through its extensive rights of way network or over areas of land where access is made available, for example Open access land.

Joint Local Access Forum

In Dorset, the Borough of Poole and Bournemouth Borough Council and Dorset County Council have established a joint Local Access Forum to offer independent guidance on access, and contribute towards the improvement of opportunities to enjoy countryside and coast within Dorset.

General role

Local Access Forums have a wide role in advising access authorities (local highway authorities and National Park authorities) and other bodies (such as Central Government, Countryside Agency, Forestry Commission, English Nature, English Heritage and district councils) on managing the public's right of access to open country and registered common land, management and improvement of public rights of way, as well as open air recreation issues more generally within the local area.

Tasks

The Dorset Local Access Forum's specific tasks include:

Contributing to the development of Rights of Way Improvement Plans for the area
Contributing to the development of a range of access and recreation strategies which may be developed across Dorset over the next few years
Commenting on the Draft and Provisional Maps of Open Access Land produced for Dorset
Producing an access strategy for Dorset

Local access forums may also be requested to provide advice on:

Strategies or plans incorporating recreation and access which set rights of way and open access in a broad context, integrating provision for access, all forms of open air recreation to land and water, and transport, tourism, health and public information
The extent to which fair provision is made for all current and potential users, and reflects the needs of local people and businesses
The co-ordinated use of resources to provide and manage integrated recreation and access, and the dissemination of information to interested groups and the wider public

Responsibilities

Local Access Forums are required, in giving advice, to have regard to:

The needs of land management
The desirability of conserving the natural beauty of the area for which it is established, including the flora, fauna and geological and physiographical features of the area
Guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State

Annual reports

It is a requirement under the Local Access Forums (England) 2002 Regulations that the forum should produce an Annual Report on its work. The Dorset Local Access Forum's Annual Reports can be downloaded here. The 2010 report will soon be published.

Further information

For more information about the Dorset Local Access Forum please contact one of the officers below.

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.
Meetings
The Dorset Local Access Forum meets three or four times a year.
Forum publications
Publications produced by the Dorset Local Access Forum are available to download.
Useful links
Links to websites of organisations involved in access: