WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the pdf version of this document. CAIRNGORMS LOCAL OUTDOOR ACCESS FORUM Paper Three – Core Paths Plan update 31 October 2006 CAIRNGORMS LOCAL OUTDOOR ACCESS FORUM Title: Core Paths Plan Update Prepared by: Sandra Middleton, Outdoor Access Officer Purpose The purpose of this paper is to update the Forum on progress of the core paths planning process. Recommendations 3 That the forum: a) Notes progress that has been made to date; b) Notes the dates of the upcoming core paths planning events c) Gives consideration to the sufficiency of the proposed consultations with the Forum. Background 1. Development of a Core Paths Plan for the Cairngorms National Park is a statutory duty for the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum is a statutory consultee on the Cairngorms Core Paths Plan. Development of the Core Paths Plan is currently at the first stage of public engagement. Information obtained at this stage will be used to develop selection criteria for core paths and will inform the application of these criteria. Progress to date 2. Much of the work to date has been planning and preparation for the different stages in the process as well as the preparation for the first round of engagement with the public. 3. This first stage of public engagement began in September and will run for three months until the end of November. The first two events to be held were workshops aimed at land managers and owners to enable them to find out more about core paths planning, how they can become engaged in the process and for the Park Authority staff to hear at first hand any concerns. These workshops have since been followed by community drop-in events in Ballater, Aviemore, Dinnet, Carr-Bridge, Kingussie, Nethy Bridge, Boat of Garten and Newtonmore to which all land managers have been invited along with the wider community. Attendees at the drop-in events have been asked to complete questionnaires and maps to give us an idea of the paths and types of activities that are important to them as well as telling us about their likes and dislikes in relation to their local path networks. 4. Attendance at each event has been variable, however, feedback has been positive for all events to date. Feedback reports for each event are being compiled and will be sent to local land owners, the community councils, those people who provided their contact details at the events and will also be available on the website. Next Steps 5. The public engagement period will run until the end of November. Results of the engagement are already being compiled in order to develop draft criteria for the selection of core paths. The draft selection criteria will be the subject of a workshop on the 16th of January when LOAF members and CNPA Board members will be given the opportunity to help finalise the selection criteria before an Interim Draft Core Paths Plan is drawn up. Details of this workshop will be sent out to Forum members in due course. A timetable of Core Paths Planning events is included in Annex 1. 6. Once the selection criteria are finalised the Interim Draft Core Paths Plan will be drawn up and will be the subject of an informal public consultation period during April, May and June 2007. The consultation will request that people comment on the core paths selection criteria and the way in which they have been applied. The Plan will then be revised accordingly and the Draft Core Paths Plan will be submitted to Scottish Ministers by February 2008 at which time it will be subject to a formal public consultation period. 7. As a statutory consultee on the Core Paths Plan, the LOAF need to give consideration to their input into both the informal and formal consultations. It is planned to hold a Forum meeting in November 2007 to allow a full discussion on the draft Core Paths Plan before it is submitted to the Park Authority Board. There will also be a requirement to have a further consultation with the Forum during the formal consultation period which will run for a 12 week period after February 2008. 8. The Forum is asked to consider the sufficiency of these proposed consultations. Sandra Middleton October 2006 sandramiddleton@cairngorms.co.uk ANNEX 1 Core Paths Planning Timetable of Events 2006 This list of events is updated regularly. For more information about any of these events please contact us on 013397 53607 or email us at outdooraccess@cairngorms.co.uk. LAST UPDATED: 17 October 2006 Date / Location / Event / Venue / Time Monday 4th September 2006 Coylumbridge Workshop for Land Managers Hilton, Coylumbridge 6:30pm to 8:30pm Thursday 7th September 2006 Ballater Workshop for Land Managers Albert Memorial Hall, Station Square, Ballater 6:30pm to 8:30pm Tuesday 12th September 2006 Ballater Ballater community drop-in session (part of a wider community event) Victoria Hall, Station Square, Ballater 12pm to 4pm Tuesday 26th September 2006 Aviemore Aviemore, Rothiemurchus & Glenmore community drop-in session (part of a wider community event about a new primary school and community centre) Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore 2:30pm to 7:30pm Thursday 28th September Dinnet Mid-Deeside and Cromar community drop-in session Dinnet Village Hall 2pm-4pm and 6pm8pm Sunday 8th October Carrbridge Cairngorms National Park Authority Core Paths Planning stall at World Porridge Making Championship Carrbridge 10am to 3pm Saturday 14th October Kingussie Kingussie community drop-in session Youth Room, Badenoch Centre, Kingussie 2:30pm to 4pm Saturday 21st October Nethy Bridge Nethy Bridge Community Drop-in Session Community Centre 2:30pm to 4pm Monday 23rd October Boat of Garten Boat of Garten community drop-in session ‘Clubbie’ room, Village Hall, Boat of Garten 2:30pm to 6:30pm Tuesday 24th October Nethy bridge Nethy Bridge Community Drop-in Session Explore Abernethy Room, Community Centre 5pm to 7pm Wednesday 25th October Newtonmore Newtonmore community drop-in session Village Hall 2:30pm to 6:30pm Tuesday 31st October Kincraig Kincraig and Insh community drop-in session Village Hall 2:30pm to 6:30pm Thursday 2nd November Laggan Laggan & Dalwhinnie community drop-in session Laggan Village Hall 7pm to 9pm Tuesday 14th November Grantown-on-Spey Grantown-on-Spey community drop-in session Inverallan Church Hall 5pm to 7pm Saturday 18th November Grantown-on-Spey Grantown-on-Spey community drop-in session Inverallan Church Hall 2:30pm to 4pm Week beginning 6th November (to be confirmed) Braemar Braemar & Crathie community drop-in session to be confirmed to be confirmed Mid November (to be confirmed) Dulnain Bridge Dulnain Bridge and Skye of Curr community drop-in session to be confirmed to be confirmed Monday 27th November Ballater Workshop for recreational groups, bodies and individuals. Victoria Hall, Ballater 6:30pm to 9pm Tuesday 28th November Aviemore Workshop for recreational groups, bodies and individuals. Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore 6:30pm to 9pm To be confirmed Angus Glens to be confirmed to be confirmed to be confirmed To be confirmed Dalwhinnie Dalwhinnie community drop-in session to be confirmed to be confirmed To be confirmed Glenlivet Glenlivet community drop-in session to be confirmed to be confirmed To be confirmed Laggan Laggan community drop-in session to be confirmed to be confirmed To be confirmed Strathdon Donside community drop-in session to be confirmed to be confirmed To be confirmed Tomintoul Tomintoul Community Association meeting to be confirmed to be confirmed 5