Public Access Strategy - Implementation Framework Local Access Groups

In the longer term the forum will be complemented by bottom-up development of locally focused access groups, within which local communities will play a central role.  However, experience has shown that bottom-up develop often only occurs when a specific problem acts as a catalyst for collective action.  It can often be difficult to develop and maintain attendance in such groups, and as a result a proactive approach will be require to stimulate interest.  We would suggest that in the interim it may be helpful to establish some broader local groups, from which more locally grounded sub groups can be expected to cascade.  It is therefore proposed that the following area based interim LAGs are developed:

• The Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Interim Local Access Group: would cover Action Areas A, B, and C. Potential participants include Kilsyth Community Council, Kilsyth "Wild Area" Trust, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Ramblers Association, and Friends of the Kelvin Valley.
• The Coatbridge and Airdrie Interim Local Access Group: would primarily relate to Action Areas D, E and part of H, essentially covering semi urban communities central North Lanarkshire to the North of the M8.  Potential members might include the Plains Country Park Ranger Service, Monklands Association for Voluntary Service, Monklands Ramblers, Monklands Historical Society, Summerlee Training Resource Unit.
• The Motherwell and Wishaw Interim Local Access Group would primarily relate to the southern areas of North Lanarkshire covered in Action Areas H, I, J and K.  Potential participants might include the SWT, Motherwell Heritage Group, Greenhead Moss Community Trust, Shotts Nature Park Group.

It will be important to ensure that local land managers play an integral role in decision making, and that local residents' and tenants' groups are also encouraged to participate, ensuring that the groups are as inclusive as possible.

These three groups are intended to cover broad geographical areas. It is likely that as interest in access planning develops, the groups will subdivide to relate more closely to local communities, depending on the level of enthusiasm or concern for access in the area.  It may be that each Local Access Group has a rolling programme of more detailed, community based work.

Local Access Groups would play a more 'hands on' role than the North Lanarkshire Public Access Forum.  This could be achieved in the following ways:

Whilst these tasks together represent a significant amount of work, each LAG is likely to focus on those activities which best suit their skills and interest.  Clearly, responsibility will be limited by their essentially voluntary nature.  Nevertheless, the North Lanarkshire Public Access Forum and Local Access Groups should work towards achieving an attitudinal shift away from established perceptions that the local authority is solely responsible for path maintenance in the area.  Contributions could be made towards travelling expenses to encourage participation in initiatives, particularly in areas where demand remains latent (e.g. Social Inclusion Partnership Areas).  This is an issue which should be considered further by the North Lanarkshire Public Access Forum.

In particular, this Strategy aims to emphasise the potential importance of community and voluntary involvement in access management. Participation has the potential to develop a stronger sense of local 'ownership' of paths, and a shared responsibility of their maintenance. However, it should be recognised that community involvement can only be expected to go some way towards compensating for the limited resources available to the local authority.

The participants suggested above, could be expected to act as a catalyst for developing local involvement.  Membership should in no way be restricted, and the groups should actively encourage wider participation in the longer term.  Their meetings should be held on an open basis, providing a forum for discussion which is open to everyone.  Some communities have existing social structures which could form the basis for developing a LAG, whilst others may require funding to help them gain momentum in the short term.  Whilst this is an issue for national consideration, it is important the groups are supported locally, perhaps through the access officers helping them to set realistic aims, and monitoring progress to ensure that enthusiasm does not wane.

At least, community involvement could provide a means of monitoring routes, and at its best, it could result in a community taking responsibility for minor maintenance works along particular parts of the network. Volunteers and participants in training schemes could also play a role in meeting the priorities set out here (see 'Key Principles', chapter 5 for further discussion of this theme).