Ramblers to host fringe meeting at national conference [7 June 2001]

THE IMPORTANT role local authorities play in improving rights of way and providing access to the countryside will be the subject of a Ramblers' Association fringe meeting at the Local Government Association's annual conference in July.

The meeting, entitled Access to the Countryside - the most important service you provide?, will focus on:

• the importance of walking to the economy in rural areas
  
• how local authorities can protect and enhance the footpath network
  
• the new roles for local authorities under the CRoW Act 2000
  
• what local authorities can learn from the foot-and-mouth outbreak

The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act introduces new responsibilities for local authorities to produce rights of way improvement plans. The Act also requires local authorities and national park authorities to set up Local Access Forums which will advise on the improvement of public recreation.

The LGA conference is being held from 7pm to 8.15pm on Thursday, 5 July in Harrogate. Anyone at the conference who is interested in the improvement of access to the countryside and safeguarding the rights of way network is welcome to attend the fringe meeting. Any members of the public wishing to attend should contact Kate Conto at the Ramblers main office.

Ramblers Executive Committee member Kate Ashbrook will be chairing the meeting and Ramblers Chairman Cath MacKay will be speaking on behalf of the association. Other speakers include David Bateman, former Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and Pamela Warhurst Deputy Chairman of the Countryside Agency.

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