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CAIRNGORMS LOCAL OUTDOOR ACCESS FORUM 
Paper 3 CPP Update and Next Steps – 21 August 2007 

CAIRNGORMS LOCAL OUTDOOR ACCESS FORUM 


Title: Core Paths Plan – Update & Next Steps 

Prepared by: Sandra Middleton, Outdoor Access Officer 

Purpose: To present the Forum with the results and preliminary 
assessment of the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan consultation for 
advice. 


The Forum is asked to: 

a) Note the results of the consultation on the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan and agree that 
the main issues identified in the consultation be taken forward as per Forum and 
Steering Group advice. 

b) Advise on the proposed change to the aim of the Core Paths Plan. 

c) Advise on the proposed changes to the criteria used to select core paths. 


Background 

1. Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 the Cairngorms National Park Authority 
(CNPA) has a statutory duty to draw up a plan for a system of core paths sufficient 
for the purpose of giving the public reasonable access throughout their area. The 
CNPA are developing this Core Paths Plan as a three stage process. The first stage 
was to engage with a wide range of people to raise awareness of core paths 
planning, to find out which paths in the National Park are important to them and why, 
and to discuss any issues that may be of concern to different interest groups. The 
information obtained was used to develop an Interim Draft Core Paths Plan. The 
second stage in the process was to carry out an informal public consultation on the 
Interim Draft Core Paths Plan, this was done from 1st April to 30th June 2007. The 
Plan will now be revised accordingly and submitted as a Draft Core Paths Plan to 
Scottish Ministers in February 2008 for approval to carry out a formal public 
consultation (Stage 3). 

Consultation on the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan 

2. Development of the Core Paths Plan is currently at stage 2 in the process. The 
informal public consultation on the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan is now complete 
and results are being analysed. A Consultation Report (see Annex 1) has been 
compiled which details the process, who got involved, the feedback received, the 
main issues arising from the consultation and conclusions and next steps. 

Recommendation: 

3. That the Forum note the results of the consultation on the Interim Draft Core Paths 
Plan and agree that the main issues identified in the consultation be taken forward as 
per Forum and Steering Group advice. 


Aim of the Core Paths Plan 

4. As a result of the consultation on the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan it is proposed that 
the aim of the Plan be revised to better represent the needs of land managers. To 
this end, it is proposed that the final sentence of the aim be replaced with the 
following: 

“The Plan should give land managers the opportunity to positively manage access in 
a working environment and assist the National Park Authority, working with partners, 
in the effective overall management of the network.” 


Recommendation: 

5. That the Forum advise on the proposed change to the aim of the Core Paths Plan. 

Criteria for selecting core paths 

6. As a result of the consultation on the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan it is proposed that 
the criteria used for selecting core paths be revised. The wording of the criteria 
needs to be made clearer and the needs of land managers better represented. The 
criteria also need to better reflect the need to include existing popular paths in the 
network and also the priorities identified within the Outdoor Access Strategy. To this 
end, it is proposed that the selection criteria be amended as follows: 

7. 
The core paths network in each area should: 

a) Help to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Park and encourage 
people to enjoy it in a responsible way. 

b) Help those living and working on the land; 

c) Help to deliver the priorities for each area identified in the Outdoor Access 
Strategy; 

d) Provide for a range of activities; 

e) Provide for a range of abilities; 

f) Include a range of popular paths; 

g) Include paths within and between communities and to public transport 
connections. 


Recommendation: 

8. That the Forum advise on the proposed changes to the Core Paths Plan Selection 
Criteria. 


Next Steps 

9. The issues arising from the consultation and advice given by the Forum will be taken 
to the Core Paths Plan Steering Group for guidance on how best to proceed. The 
modified selection criteria and the consultation responses received will then be used 
to revise the core paths network and plan. A Draft Core Paths Plan will be brought 
before the Forum for comment in November 2007 before being presented to the 
CNPA Board for approval to submit to Scottish Ministers. 


sandramiddleton@cairngorms.co.uk 
8 August 2007