Strathmore & The Glens Rural Partnership
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Strathmore
& the Glens Rural partnership Press
Release For Immediate Release 11
May 2006 Perth
& Kinross Outdoor Access Forum Open Meeting and Elections
The Perth & Kinross Outdoor Access Forum held
its second annual open meeting at the Dewars Centre on Tuesday 9 May 2006.
During the evening elections to fill four vacated seats on the Forum were
successfully held with those attending voting for their preferred candidates. The format of the evening was based around question
and answer sessions following brief presentations and of course the elections.
Speakers from the Forum reported on recent work of the Local and National
Access Forums and a number of topical access Issues. The new ‘Walkies’
advice to dog owners and the signage guidance for land managers both based on
the Scottish Outdoor Access Code were on display.
Lively question and discussion sessions focused mainly on the need for
greater communication of both the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the work of
the Perth & Kinross Outdoor Access Forum. The Council Access Officer also gave a presentation
on the progress of core paths planning in Perth & Kinross. Several local
paths groups have formed and have been working alongside the Council helping to
consult with their communities and draw up draft core path plans for their area.
In other areas no work has yet been done and wide concern was expressed
regarding the timescale given to complete the planning, and the sufficiency of
resources available for the tasks, particularly with the role of the Access
Officers also encompassing general access issues. Local Access
Forums are established and supported by the Local Council or Access Authority as
a requirement of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Their role is defined by
the Act and is concerned with offering advice to the Council and other bodies
when consulted on access issues. The 16-strong membership of the Perth & Kinross
Outdoor Access Forum comprises 4 categories of interest group; landmanagers,
recreational users, community and agency, each with four representatives. At the
meeting two seats on the landmanagers group and one seat on the recreation and
community groups were filled with several candidates agreeing to act as reserves
in the event of members vacating their seats prior to the next election due in
2007. The four newly elected members hope to be confirmed in their appointments
by the Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee of Perth & Kinross Council on
7 June and will then take their places on the Forum. Further information about the statutory right of
responsible access can be obtained from the Scottish access website at www.outdooraccess-scotland.com.
Information about the Perth & Kinross Outdoor Access Forum can be obtained
from Perth & Kinross Council Access Officer Jane Pritchard, at Pullar House,
35 Kinnoull Street, Perth PH1 5GD Tel 01739 475332, e-mail jpritchard@pkc.gov.uk
or from the Forum’s webpage within www.perthshire.com Issued by:
Jane Pritchard Tel: 01738
475332 Fax: 01738
475310 Email: jpritchard@pkc.org.uk |
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