Agenda item

-  Joint LAF Chairs Meeting 2^nd September - outcomes

-  M4 Smart Motorway project

-  Big Pathwatch

­Joint LAF Chairs Meeting

Various cross boundary issues were discussed at the meeting including;

-  the SIFE site in Colnbrook.  Though the Inspector has made her report to the Secretary of State, there is unlikely to be a final decision made on whether or not this goes ahead until after the decision on Heathrow expansion has been taken.

-  Langley walking/cycling routes to Langley Park/NCN 61.  All agreed that the paths to Black Park and Langley Park from Slough are not maintained very well with lack of signage leading to confusion for users.  JW had met with the Row Officer of Bucks CC which is now outsourced as a service.  There is no money available to maintain the NCN route, but agreed it was definitely required.  It was agreed that Bucks Row Officer would make a bid for funding, but the outcome was a freeze on all “unnecessary expenditure” for the foreseeable future.  Slough has agreed to source appropriate signage at Trenches Bridge and other locations along the route to Langley Park to improve the user experience.  This could possibly be funded from next year’s budget.

-  Rights of Way in Bucks.  TH feels that the paths in Bucks are not well maintained and there is great potential for walking routes to Langley and Black Park eg; bridleway from Middlegreen to George Green.  JW agreed to investigate and forward any problems to Bucks Row team.  These routes could be included as part of next year’s LAF Summer Site visits.

SMART Motorways Scheme

JW referred members to the report in the papers explaining the current situation.  Members discussed the possibility of asking for more mitigation for the inconvenience of closing the Old Slade Lane, Oldway Lane and Upton Court Park Bridges as BucksCC are doing.  All agreed the disruption is going to be considerable.  JW will revisit each bridge and list all possible mitigation to be asked of Highways England.

SWY queried vehicular use of Oldway Lane Bridge by Thames Water.  Site visits confirm this is no longer used for site access by TW as they have an access road via the Jubilee River south of the M4.

The scheme is lengthy but JW stated the intention to get further mitigation requests submitted before the examination period ends at the beginning of March 2106.

Big Pathwatch

JW reported that the latest Rambler’s reports have not indicated any defects on Slough paths.  John Keegan, Footpath Officer for Windsor District Ramblers, reported that Head Office have said there is a difference of opinion on the effectiveness of the Big Pathwatch project.  Most of the surveying has been done by volunteers, not long standing members of the Ramblers.  Though John thinks the project has been successful there’s an obvious variation in the expectations of surveying volunteers concerning the condition of the paths; surface and signage etc, despite initial training disseminated by the Ramblers.

The main driver for the Big Pathwatch is the looming cut-off date of 2026, though JW questioned this as the paths being surveyed are already recorded.  JK thought it was more of a recruitment exercise for the Rambler’s because the usefulness of feedback is questionable due to the levels of variation in what is seen as a defect.  JK confirmed the majority of paths around the periphery of Slough have been walked and urged members to view the Ramblers website for more information.

Slough Local Plan Consultation – Call for Sites 8^th January to 19^th February 2016

JW highlighted this consultation which is asking for suggestions for new sites suitable for development or redevelopment in the following categories; housing, employment, open space or community uses.  Members discussed the sites already allocated in the Local Plan where the potential use could involve improvements to access for open air recreation, such as; informal nature reserves.  One such site is the land to the west of Hollow Hill Lane, Langley. 

TH was certain that the land to the east of Parlaunt Road possibly known as “Gypsy Field” was placed into the Colne Valley Park but he has been told by CVP CIC that the records have been lost.  Members discussed the history of this land in particular and the fact that it forms a buffer between Slough and London.  It was also noted that there’s a high probability that there is informal access (eg; dog walking) taking place now on some land in private ownership such as these fields in Langley. He also suggested a workshop style meeting may be beneficial in the future where members could thoroughly look at the borough and identify a wish list of all access opportunities.  Members agreed.

DM clarified that the consultation is asking for new suggestions for land other than those already in the DPD Site Allocations document.

Resolved – JW would circulate the consultation and current DPD site allocations.  Members would identify any land in the borough which they feel could be developed as open space for recreational/leisure use or where a useful link path or short cut could be created.