Mid and West Berkshire Local Countryside Access Forum

The Forum is a body set up by statute - Section 94 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (often called the CROW Act) - to advise Reading Borough Council, West Berkshire Council and Wokingham Borough Council on countryside access issues in their areas. The forum is independent of the 3 councils.

 

The forum members are all committed to improving access to the countryside. Membership is carefully balanced in 3 categories: land managers, recreational users of land and others. There are 20 members including 1 councillor from each of the 3 Councils.

 

 

A major part of the Forum's role is to advise the 3 councils on their preparation of the new rights of way improvement plan, which all highway authorities have to produce. The plans will assess how  the rights of way network in the council's areas meets, or fails to meet, the needs of current and future users. The plans will also set out how the councils intend to improve access to the countryside for everyone.

The councils have to produce their plans 2007. All 3 councils regularly report progress on this exercise to the Forum.

 

 

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act has also begun the opening of open country - mountain, moor, heath and downland. There is a small pocket of Access Land in Wokingham Borough.

 

 

The Forum meets three times each year. The public are able to attend the meetings and are able to contribute to discussions.

 

 

Roger Penfold, Chief Executive's Office

Reading Borough Council

Civic Offices

Reading

RG1 7TD

Tel.  0118 939 0444

Fax. 0118 939 0969

Email. roger.penfold@reading.gov.uk