Mid and West Berkshire Local 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 

Rights of Way improvement planning

A major part of the Forum's role is to advise the 3 councils on their preparation and implementation of the rights of way improvement plans (ROWIPs), which all highway authorities have to produce. The plans 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 also set out how the councils intend to improve access to the countryside for everyone.  Wokingham Borough Council’s ROWIP can be viewed in the improvement planning section. 

Meetings

The Forum meets three times each year. The public are able to attend the meetings and are able to contribute to discussions.  Minutes from the meetings can be downloaded below.  For further information about the Mid and West Berkshire Local Access Forum, please contact the Roger Penfold, Secretary to the Forum:

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