Committee
Meeting – 4th June 2019
Present Heidi Jepson
Val Johnston
Irene Pope
Lesley Tierney
Pat
Tough
Apologies: Barbara Brown
Gwen Mann
Gill Morrell
Copies: Hayley Oliver
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes ok to be published on website.
Secretary’s Report
No report
Treasurer’s Report
No report
Website
No report
6. Rochdale Rights of Way
Rochdale ROW
meeting
Notes from GM
·
Raised about the fact Knacks Lane had not been
included in the minutes of the last meeting. Julie explained that as it had
already been raised as a formal complaint it had been logged on the Council ROW
Issue list, the complainant had had a response and there was no point in
recording it in two places. I checked if it had been recorded on the ROW issue
list that they were going to keep an eye on the tarmac situation for a greater
period than the initial proposed 3 months and Julie confirmed this was the case.
·
Woodtop has been confirmed. Signs will form part
of the surveys going on this year see below.
·
Northdene is still in with legal to get OK to
proceed with order.
·
I raised about the status of the path from Mutal
Street to Heywood Cricket Club. Julie explained that when she is talking with
developers she points out routes which horse (or walkers) have used for many
years and suggests they treat them as ROW. This is the approach she would be
taking at Crimble Mill.
Other points raised at the meeting
·
Julie explained that she is being a lot harsher
with repairs to paths which are also access to farms. She requires a
contribution to any work from residents with Council only paying a similar
amount to what would need spending for the status of the route. If Residents
won’t contribute then Council are not doing anything re the surface (provided
that safety is not compromised) as any work would be eroded by vehicles using
access. If necessary she would use enforcement if safety is an issue.
·
Julie is getting harder on developers. She has
tried speaking nicely to Taylor Wimpey doing development at Broad Lane with no
results she has now placed enforcement on them either they keep the path clear
or apply for temporary closure. Since then she has had constructive conversations
regarding their plans post development ie potentially redirecting the ROW. If
it goes to redirection the ROW meeting will be consulted before agreeing to any
diversion.
·
Julie has started a local Rights of Way
Improvement plan which she hopes to get to the meeting in draft sometime this
FY. Members will then be able to comment and contribute before the plan is
issued. The plan is that hopefully they will be able to survey the routes
annually provided they have enough budget. Trafford does this BUT they only
have 200 paths, Rochdale has 1800
·
Last year the Council concentrated on cutting
back vegetation on all rights of way which was completed in March. This next
year they are concentrating on signposting and way marks. All paths in Rochdale
will be surveyed to find out the scope of what is needed. Harriet has done this
already for Littleborough and is moving onto Milnrow. Julie will be doing
Middleton.
·
Harriet’s apprenticeship ends April 2020 but it
is hoped Council will employ her somewhere. Julie is hoping she will get
another Apprentice to replace Harriet.
·
An off the record comment from someone in legal
has indicated that the definitive map might be done by June. Julie is going to
wait and see if this does occur and if it does she will start conversations
with IT to see when it can be made available on line. Watch this space.
·
Next
Meeting Thursday 8th August at 6.30
Valley of Stone Greenway at Healey Dell
Chris Peat
asked at a meeting in Rossendale about horse access along the Greenway through
Healey Dell and she was told it was a matter for Rochdale Council to decide.
Nigel Morrell has offered to approach local ward councillors and it was agreed to take up his offer.
Designation of track/ road from Heywood Cricket club to
Mutual street.
This track is not on the DM, List of Streets, is not
adopted and has no name. It has a footpath and bridleway joining it near to
Heywood Cricket Club so needs to have legal access for walkers, cyclists and
horse riders. It was agreed to make a DMMO application on User Evidence. PT to
take charge.
Furbarn Lane
This application is at the stage of finding out which
landowners need notifying. It was not agreed who would take on this job.
Plumpton Wood
evidence forms – no further action on this claim until Furbarn Lane has been
submitted. PT to take charge.
Woodtop
Woodtop has
been confirmed. Signs will form part of the surveys going on this year.
Rooley Moor Gate
It was
reported that the bridleway gate recently installed at the bottom of Rooley
Moor Road is causing horse riders problems. The gate is rubbing on the ground
and the handle is catching in reins etc.
(Action: IP e-mailed Alan Rawsterne of Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum
who in turn informed Julie Simpson. Julie is going to go and look at the
problem.)
7. Bury Rights of Way
Bury LAF meeting –
Holcombe Moor. A letter is to be sent from MP James Frith replying to Tobias Ellwood MP, Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State and Minister of Defence People and Veterans.
Elton Reservoir
application There are now 10 objections
to this application
Just before
Easter RBBA received a letter from Bury Rights of Way Officer outlining the
objections submitted by an objector to this application. We were invited to
comment on these objections, which we did in a 19 page response. The points we
raised are going to be used to try and get the objector to withdraw their
objections before the application is sent to the Secretary of State for
determination.
DC has said
“If the matter is sent to the Secretary of State, I believe any
irrelevant objections will be returned and will not need to be considered by a
Planning Inspector”
Ainsworth applications – there has been
no movement by Bury Council to process these applications which were submitted
over 2 years ago. We are therefore entitled to apply to the Secretary of State
to ask for Bury Council to be directed to determine this application by a
certain date, usually within 12 months. This is called a Direction Request
under Schedule 14, paragraph 3(2) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. We
submitted a Direction Request to the
Planning Inspectorate in April. In early June PINS sent an e-mail informing IP that a letter had
been sent to Bury Council asking them to put their side of the matter. They
have until 15th July 2019 to reply.
Hawkshaw Lane
IP has
prepared an application to upgrade the footpath from the top of Hawkshaw Lane
onto Holcombe Moor through Three Acres. As only 1 landowner was involved a
letter was written to that landowner asking if they would be prepared to
dedicate the route as a bridleway. A phone call in reply from the landowner was
not very positive but suggested a meeting between themselves, RBBA, DC and the
MOD to discuss the matter. We are awaiting the date of this meeting. If talks
are not successful the DMMO will be submitted to Bury Council.
(On 5th
June IP received an e-mail from the landowner saying they had not forgotten the
meeting but had been very busy.
No word yet about a meeting by 25th June)
Old Kays
Bury Council
own most of the land over which this route travels. The Council have been asked
if they would dedicate the route as a bridleway (at present there are “No Horse
Riding” signs off Turton Road). However we have been told that that the Parks
Department is too busy. An application is prepared and will be submitted at the
next LAF meeting in July.
24BUR Sandy Lane. This application is waiting to go before
Committee for decision. (IP has since heard that the applicant is making
further changes and this will not go before committee before September. )
21BUR application
Evidence forms are being collected for this application.
Walshaw housing
development
An application to develop 108 houses on a factory site in
Walshaw includes part of bridleway 143BUR within the site boundary. In the
Design and Access statement this bridleway is referred to as “a pedestrian lane (PROW)”. IP sent in a
neutral letter pointing out that this PROW is actually a bridleway and nothing
should be done to prevent equestrian access and also asking what measures are
to be taken to prevent access by motorbikes etc onto the bridleway from the new
housing.
Councillor Quinn
& planning document
Nothing has been heard from Councillor Quinn about this
matter!!
Pennine Rendezvous
IP and VJ
went to the Rendezvous (without horse!) and did some marshalling.
Pass wide and slow
The 2020
date for this event is 10th May. We have decided to run a ride in
the Ainsworth. LT to inform the Ainsworth Village Community Committee and seek
their approval.
Next
Committee Meeting 20th August 8pm.
