A letter to all General Election candidates in South Derbyshire Part 2

Still  waiting for replies from PPCs Michael Edwards and Heather Wheeler.

I have sent them another copy of the letter (see below).

Robin Wood - Land Agents Smiths Gore Lichfield

I have written to the Land Agents who manage Robin Wood for the Church Commissioners asking them to explain why access has been restricted. The day to day management of the wood is handled by the Forestry Commission (West Midlands). I wrote to them over a week ago but no reply yet.

Pool Farm Melbourne Path - still not back in

This path has been un-walkable since September 2009 when I led a walk around here for the Melbourne Festival. I have reported it three times to the County Council and am told that it will be put back in soon.

The farmer here regularly fails to do his legal duty.

Leicestershire Footpaths Association

The LFA has a very nice new website with plenty to read about the state of the nearby Leicestershire path network.

It can be found here:

http://leicestershirefootpaths.wordpress.com/

South Derbyshire Election - First reply

Thanks to the Liberal-Democrat candidate for South Derbyshire for being the first PPC to add his name to the Ramblers Manifesto.

Here's an extract from the Manifesto roll-call:

Alexis Diouf, Liberal Democrat:
"Organisations like The Ramblers have contributed greatly to the freedom most of us enjoy of exploring and enjoying our countryside. There is much Government could do to make rambling more accessible to more people and to ensure more of our countryside is accessible to us."

A letter to all General Election candidates in South Derbyshire

Help break down the barriers to walking in South Derbyshire

I’m writing to you to ask you to sign the Ramblers General Election Manifesto for Walking. I’m very keen that my local parliamentary candidates join me and the Ramblers in breaking down the barriers to walking, which include:

•Physical barriers - we want to see the next Government protect and improve Britain's unique path network and deliver the coastal route

•Financial Barriers: we want to see the next Government link agricultural subsidies to recreation and access provision and invest in walking schemes to benefit health, wellbeing, environment, the rural economy and climate change

•Cultural barriers: we want to see the next Government position the walker at the top of the transport hierarchy and take tough action against those who put walkers’ lives at risk through reckless driving

•Legal barriers: we want to see the next Government amend legislation to require an independent review when there is an objection to orders to gate alleyways which are used by people on foot; protect and promote public access and space, and make green space accessible, safe, and well-maintained, through use of the planning process in both town and country.

South Derbyshire has a varied footpath network but too often it is poorly signed and maintained. I walk regularly in the area and rarely do I complete a walk without missing markers and /or damaged stile or gates. I always report these but action is very slow despite the valiant efforts of the local footpath officer who obviously needs more resources.

To sign up to the Ramblers General Election Manifesto please email walking.environment@ramblers.org.uk from your constituency or official email address.

Many thanks for your time.

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I'll publish any replies I receive on this blog.

The Ramblers' Manifesto is here.

Manifesto pledges 2010

Luckily these are now easily accessible on the web and also easy to search. So I have searched through the main three manifestos (we only have three candidates here) for reference to ROWs and public access. Here's what I found:

Conservative
"We will take forward the Marine and Coastal Access Act and ensure that its conservation measures are implemented effectively." (Page 95)

I wonder what the words "take forward" mean?

Labour
"We have created two National Parks in the New Forest and South Downs, and given the public a Right to Roam our mountains, moors and heaths. We will now extend this to the whole English coastline." (Page 8:5)

A bit more promising - no dates when this might be completed, though.

Liberal-Democrat
"Increase the general right of access to the countryside, along the
lines of the model introduced by the Liberal Democrats in Scotland." (Page 81)

I like the sound of this one - does it mean a fuller Right to Roam?