Public Access Strategy - Review & Analysis Conclusions

• Long distance routes crossing the area (Clyde Walkway, Glasgow to Edinburgh Cycle Route, Forth and Clyde Canal);
• a number of key access areas: Clyde Valley, North and South Calder Valleys, Drumpelier Country Park, Strathclyde Country Park, Barons Haugh Nature Reserve, Walkers Welcome Woodlands, Estates etc;
• some strong community path networks, notably around Kilsyth and Cumbernauld, parts of Motherwell and Wishaw;
• strong positive, although qualified and prioritised, policy support for access from the national to local level;
• a diverse and open landscape offering a range of recreation experiences (hills, moorland, river valleys etc.)

• A lack of routes in some parts of North Lanarkshire (e.g. North Airdrie) and within farmland areas;
• problems with perceptions of safety and personal security on many routes, linked with high levels of crime in access areas;
• routes being lost to development;
• a poor local health record (particularly in terms of heart disease) and high levels of social exclusion – many people do not exercise regularly;
• less paths in the areas where there are higher rates of social exclusion;
• considerable environmental degradation in the area, primarily as a result of its industrial past;
• excessive vehicle speeds on rural roads prejudicing the safety of walkers, cyclists and horse riders;
• low levels of available baseline information, in terms of the use of paths, satisfaction with their condition etc.;
• a perception that people have to travel outwith North Lanarkshire to undertake countryside recreation.

• Growing awareness of the benefits of more active lifestyles, and enthusiasm for countryside recreation on the part of a large proportion of the local population;
• scope for access being developed as an integral part of initiatives which aim to overcome social exclusion – both through improving health and providing opportunities and incentives for community involvement;
• scope for broadening the range of routes available and completing links between routes to provide a more coherent network;
• the already emerging 'partnership' approach to access drawing together Council departments and other agencies such as Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and the Health Board;
• a wide range of potential sources of support which might be used to implement the strategy;
• the creation of new access opportunities through the implementation of Central Scotland Forest projects;
• scope for including access as an integral part of regeneration initiatives as a means of ensuring that re-invigorated areas are accessible to all via sustainable transport;
• a strong policy commitment to 'healthy transport' within the emerging local transport strategy;
• enthusiastic and interested communities and voluntary groups, who are keen to play a more proactive role in access planning and management in the area;
• improved dedicated staffing arrangements within North Lanarkshire Council (primarily through the appointment of two access officers).

• A large and diverse area with many communities – this can make it difficult to define a comprehensive vision for the area, which all stakeholders are willing to support;
• land manager concerns about access.  Often concerns relating to antisocial or criminal behaviour are erroneously attributed to access;
• a lack of awareness and understanding of the new legislation on access, particularly in terms of the emphasis on responsible access;
• the withdrawal of the Central Scotland Forest Challenge Fund by the Forestry Commission will have an adverse effect on the creation of new path networks on former agricultural land;
• continuing restrictions on local authority finance and lack of transparency of access management and spending.  Danger of spreading scarce resources too thinly.

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