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CAIRNGORMS LOCAL OUTDOOR ACCESS FORUM 
Paper 6 – Core Paths Plan - The Forum as a statutory consultee March 27 2007 


CAIRNGORMS LOCAL OUTDOOR ACCESS FORUM 


Title: 		Core Paths Plan – the Forum as a statutory consultee 

Prepared by: 	Bob Grant, Senior Outdoor Access Officer 


Purpose 

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role that the Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access 
Forum has as a consultee in the development of a Core Paths Plan and to seek views on the 
best means of determining the collective view of the Forum. 


Recommendations 

Cairngorms Local outdoor Access Forum members are asked to: 

a) Note progress with the Core Paths Planning process; 

b) Consider and recommend the most effective means of providing a collective view on 
the interim draft Core Paths Plan. 


Background 

1. 
Core Paths Planning is a statutory duty of the Cairngorms National Park Authority 
and the Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum (LOAF) is a statutory consultee 
during the formal consultation on the Core Paths Plan. (The formal consultation is 
likely to take place in the spring of 2008.) Guidance from the Scottish Executive also 
encourages engagement with the LOAF during the informal stages of developing the 
Core Paths Plan. This advice has been followed through the first public engagement 
in the latter quarter of 2006 and in the development of criteria in a joint workshop with 
the Park Authority Board in January 2007. The second round of informal consultation 
will take place between April and June 2007. 


Update on progress 

2. 
The National Park Board approved a more ‘inclusive’ version of the Interim Draft 
Core Paths Plan on Friday 23 February. Two options were proposed for a network of 
core paths in the Cairngorms. Option one offered a more basic network. Option two 
consisted of a more extensive network with the inclusion of the River Spey as a 
proposed core path. The proposal included existing promoted and way-marked 
paths close to settlements identified through the public engagement process. An 
Interim Draft Plan, which will detail all the paths, will now be drawn up and is due to 
go out for an informal public consultation within the Park between April and June. 

3. 
Land managers, recreational users, communities, visitors and relevant agencies will 
all be consulted to help the Park Authority determine whether the Interim Draft Core 
Paths Plan fulfils the statutory obligation of core paths. All those who wish to 
respond will be asked the following questions: 

• Is the proposed core paths network sufficient to give people reasonable access 
throughout the National Park? 

• Have we got the selection criteria right? Why? 

• Have we selected the right paths using the selection criteria, or are there gaps, 
omissions or inconsistencies in our approach? 


Issues 

4. 
There have already been considerable benefits accruing from the LOAF’s 
engagement in the core paths planning process. These include: reflecting the views 
of land managers, communities, recreational users and public bodies; helping to 
shape the criteria; and inputting, and occasionally chairing, at engagement meetings. 

5. 
There is now a need to consider the most effective method of the LOAF commenting 
on the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan. The advice received from the LOAF prior to 
the first round of public engagement was very much about the process of 
engagement. The second round is different, as views are being sought on the three 
questions posed in paragraph 3. 

6. 
The next meeting of the LOAF is scheduled for 21 August after the consultation 
period has ended. The options available are therefore: 

• Option 1: LOAF members individually to supply views on the 3 questions posed 
during the consultation period which will be collated and circulated to fellow 
members. It would then be for the LOAF to determine the best means of 
providing an agreed response from the Forum to the Park Authority; or 

• Option 2: The Park Authority would present a paper reflecting on the outcomes 
of the public consultation which would provide an early indication of potential 
changes to the core paths network. This would be presented to the LOAF 
meeting on 21 August seeking an agreed response on the extent of the network 
and any proposed changes. 

7. 
Neither option precludes LOAF members from responding as individuals to the 
consultation exercise. Members are encouraged to attend meetings and to provide 
their individual views on the adequacy of the network. The disadvantage of Option 1 
is that it is unlikely to achieve a collective view and, potentially, could be time 
consuming for the Forum. Option 2 offers the opportunity for a full debate and has 
the advantage of that debate taking place after the public’s views have been heard 
and analysed. Option 2 is therefore recommended. 

8. 
The period after the public consultation will be used to consider, analyse, review and 
negotiate on the extent of the network. The Forum’s views will be sought again on 
27 November, prior to a paper being presented to the CNPA Board in December, on 
the draft core paths plan. 


Bob Grant 
Senior Outdoor Access Officer 

bobgrant@cairngorms.co.uk