Time is short as there is a short deadline for applications and the application form is immanently due to hit the streets. The Coastal Communities Fund is a £24m fund to support imaginative and innovative projects that promote jobs and growth and help to build stronger and more diverse local economies. There are grants available of between £50,000 and £2million. ATOG’s aim’s puts a tick in many of the boxes that the funds criteria sets out. There will be lots of competition nationally from other coastal communities hoping to attract funding. The timescale is short as expressions of interest are required by end of March. Fast track applications by May. Deadline for UK wide applications is September. We have asked Sustrans to help us with the application. Lucy Barron has also kindly offered any help that can be given by the AONB as the project has been part of their Business Plan for a number of years. Mark Brierley informed us of other sources of funding for projects in the South Lakeland area of the National Park and information on the Coastal Access Bill, which promotes public access  to coastal areas.

Adrian, Stuart, Nikki and Martyn then in true tradition adjourned to the coffee shop to admire and study in detail the recently arrived first draft report of the Arnside to Grange Cycleway Feasibility Study which is nearing completion by Sustrans North West team. The report has identified seven possible options for routes on the Western side of the viaduct with considerations for each route. It also includes information on the process Network Rail follows for projects that affect their infrastructure which is a staged project development and delivery process known as the ‘GRIP (Governance of Railway Investment Projects). Also an initial assessment of potential constraints for route development taking into account; designated sites for nature conservation, protected and notable species and notable habitats.

The report is not yet finalised as amongst other things will include cross sections to illustrate what the path would look like. 

We will shortly arrange dates to hold  public meetings for ATOG supporters in both Arnside and Grange. We hope that Tim Farron will be able to attend one of these meetings.

We will in touch with our supporters soon with these dates and hope to see as many of you as possible at these meetings and put names to faces.

Regards Adrian and Stuart

For more information about ATOG visit their Facebook page at this link.

There is an e-gov petition running which has already reached nearly 8000 signatures; if we can get this to 100,000 then it has to be debated in  parliament at this link.

The above was e-mail today, you never know when you need Air Ambulance when you cycling or mountain biking in the fells, hopefully never but ask everyone who visit  this blog to sign the petition.

• Huge impact on road users and road safety – the winding and narrow lanes are popular with walkers, cyclists, joggers, horse riders and other visitors. The hotel project will not be sustainable without big changes to the local road networks and character of the area.
• Light pollution – significant increase in light from the car park, sports facilities, hotel buildings and increased traffic. As highlighted on the BBC’s hit series, ‘Stargazing’, there are fewer and fewer dark skies in the UK.
• Noise pollution – noise generated from day to day conference hotel activities and weddings including music and fireworks.
• Wildlife habitat destruction – the valley is widely appreciated as a haven for wildlife, including a vast range of birds, owls, bats, deer, hares, fish and other river-dwellers.
• Visual impact – the proposed extensions are out of keeping with the original Robert Adam listed building and will be seen from many different locations in the area as the building sits on top of a hill.

You can have your say. Write a letter to Mrs Andrea Stewart, Planning Officer, Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire, FY6 7PU and view the application at: http://www.wyre.gov.uk/info/200074/planning.
You can contact Protect Wyresdale Group: protectwyresdale@yahoo.co.uk or visit the website at  www.protectwyresdale.org

Have you ever heard of the Lake District Local Access Forum (LDLAF for short)? Do you know that we are recruiting for new members? below explains what the LDLAF is and what it does and offers for you or someone from your organisation the chance to join.

What is the Local Access Form?

It is an independent statutory body. It has up to 20 members who are appointed by Lake District National Park Authority (under Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000). These members represent both owners of land with access (whether open access or public rights of way), all users ( for example, walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, water based users such as canoeists and anglers) as well as those with more specialist interest or link to access such as health, education, sustainable transport and limited mobility.

What does the Local Access Forum do?

The purpose of the LDLAF is to advise the National Park Authority and other organisations on the improvements of public access to land and water for open air recreation and enjoyment. In giving advice, the LAF takes into consideration the needs of both land management and conservation of the natural beauty of the National Park. Example of recent work include:

• supporting or opposing changes to individual rights of way on the ground (sometimes with suggestions of alternative routes)
• representing a number of user groups in respect of Cumbria County Council’s proposals to co-ordinate and manage large events.
• commenting on proposals to fence common land (for woodland regeneration) to ensure public access is maintained.
• every meeting of the LAF provides an opportunity for members of the public or representatives of parish councils or other organisations to make representations to the LAF

Are you interested in becoming a LDLAF member?

We are recruiting now for up to ten members with aim to have them on board in time for the next meeting on 26th April 2012. The schedule is as follows:

• Applications submitted from 9th February to 1st March 2012
• Informal workshop and meeting for candidates 14th March 2012
• Successful candidates informed week beginning 19th March 2012
• Induction session 17th to 18th April 2012 at Torver
• LDLAF meeting  26th April 2012

There are up to four meetings a year and members agree to sign up for three years. We are looking for people with a wider or special interest in access to the National Park. These could include health and limited mobility issues, education and getting young people into the outdoors, tourism or local business, water based access or natural history among others. There are further details and application form at this link.

If you have any questions  about this letter or would like some advice from the LAF on a particular access matter in your parish, then please get in touch with David Robinson, Lake District National Park Authority’s Access and Recreation Developer on 01539 792698 extension 2735 or at David.robinson[at]lakedistrict.gov.uk

Your faithfully

Carole Barr

Chair, Lake District Local Access Forum

I receive above letter in the post today.

with regards

Simeon

Eddie and Cliff riding through Badger Wood, east of Ironbridge, Shropshire. Photo taken by Roger Thorp

1) Welcome, introductions and apologies

2) Minutes of previous meeting

3) Proposal by Dynamo to take over running of meeting (David Horton)

4) Infrastructure (Alasdair Simpson)

Completed schemes (or nearly complete)

· Lune Valley Cycle Path Extension (Bull Beck)

· Heysham High / Westgate

Works in progress

· Lune Aqueduct

Update on proposed scheme

· Stonewell Toucan, Lancaster

· A6/A588 Pointer Roundabout, Lancaster

· Chapel St contra-flow cycle lane, Lancaster

· Spring Garden St, Lancaster

· Middleton Way, Heysham

· Sainsburys, Morecambe

Other matters

· Cycle parking Lancaster Station

· Surfacing of canal towpath Lancaster - Carnforth

· Way of Roses Route

5) A6 Corridor Study and Local Sustainable Transport Fund Bid (Alasdair Simpson)

6) Break out session (in groups) – What three things would do most to increase cycle use in the district? (15 minutes)

7) Freewheelers Cycle Cooperative (Aurora Trujillo)

8/ Cycle Training (Damian Bonsall - CTC)

9) Cycle Promotion (Dynamo)

· Olympic torch

· Local mountain biking routes

10) Activities by employers and cycle groups to promote cycling

The Iron bridge at Halton.

Grass on the platform at Halton Station.

A leaf on the cycle track at Halton.

A Cyclist’s  in Halton.

A close up of Holly.

The above photos are from walk I did last Thursday, when I was testing out my new camera which I bought the day before from Coment, for just under £50.00.

Above is the photo of the tin of chocolate biscuits which I bought today for Saturday’s South Lakes Group Christmas Eve ride, which I hope members will enjoy before start of ride.

The above photo taken at Sow How Tarn on the 20th November 2011 ride of the South Lakes Group by Geoff Smith, you can see rest of the ride photos at this link.

Ian Welsby Public Realm Manager Area North, Lancashire County Council

Alasdair Simpson, Sustainable Travel, Lancashire County Council

Professor Colin Pooley, University of Lancaster

Griet Scheideman, University of Lancaster

Pat Douglass, Area North, Lancashire County Council and Sustrans Ranger Group

Matt Hodges, CTC

David Horton, University of Lancaster and Dynano

John Leach, Dynamo

Paul Andrews, Saltayre Cogset

Joy Greenwood, Sustrans Ranger

Peter Edge, CTC, Sustrans Ranger, Wray Parish Council

Simeon Orme, Rough Stuff Fellowship

Nick Hewitt , Lancaster University cycle commuter

Jennifer Hutton, Cumbria University cycle commuter

Kathy Bashford, Sustrans Bike it

Stephen Hensel, Visitor from Beliguim

1) Apologies

Gary Bowker, Regeneration and Projects, Lancaster City Council

Annie Cousins, Sustrans Bike it

2) Minutes of Previous Meeting

Agreed

· Temporary gangway was now being installed on Crook O’Lune (East) Viaduct and the bridge should be reopened to cyclists and walkers before Christmas

· John Leach reinforced the point about closing rat runs.

3) Understanding Walking and Cycling

Professor Colin Pooley gave a presentation of the Understanding Walking and Cycling Project

4) Maintaining the impetus from Cycling Demonstration

Alasdair Simpson outlined progress following the ending of the Cycling Demonstration Project

Comments

· Need to keep Celebrating Cycling Website up to date. Could the County Council take it over?

· 20 mph limits were also being introduced outside schools which should help cycling to school.

5) Infrastructure

a) Capital Programme

Work on the following schemes was underway and should complete by Christmas / Early 2012

· Lune Aqueduct Ramp to Riverside Cycle Path (British Waterways)

· Extension of Lune Valley Cycle Path by about ¾ km at Bull Beck, Caton

· Extension of cycle path on Westgate and route by Heysham High (City Council / Sustrans)

The following schemes had been approved in the County Council Local Transport Implementation Plan at the start of October and should be complete by April 2012.

· Stonewell Toucan, Lancaster City Council

· A6 / A588 Pointer Roundabout, Lancaster cycle facilities

· Chapel St – relocation of contraflow cycle lane to other side of road to reduce accidents to cyclists

Comments

· Matthew Hodges suggested that New Street and part of Market Street should be open to cyclists to give them access to the traffic lights by Waterstones’ as this was a better route than Castle Hill which was cobbled

· If successful Lancashire’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund included funding for key corridors, one of which was Galgate (M6 junction) to Lancaster City Centre

· Matthew Hodges mentioned improving the canal towpath between Lancaster, Galgate and Potters Brook

b) Other Infrastructure Matters

i) Cycle parking at Lancaster Station

At present there were 28 cycle lockers and 18 Sheffield stands on Lancaster Station. The cycle stands on platform 1 were overused with cycles being attached to drain pipes and railings. Those on platform 5 were underused as they were difficult to get to. There was a waiting list of 10 for the cycle lockers. Cycle lockers were free to use, but let out to single users on an individual basis. The current system of booking cycle lockers was easy to manage and met Network Rail Security requirements (as Virgin had a list of locker users). However it meant that the lockers were not being used efficiently.

Action: Alternatives means of managing the lockers to be investigated

ii) Canal towpath resurfacing

Canal towpath between Lancaster and Carnforth had been given a tar spray and chip surface about 9 years ago. In places the surface was wearing thin and needed another layer of surfacing.

When the towpath had been surfaced, British Waterways had been a commuted sum for future maintenance.

Action: It would be raised with British Waterways whether the remaining commuter sum could be used to put another layer of surfacing on the towpath but this would not cover the whole scheme

iii) National Cycle Route 6 Preston to Lancaster

It was commented that some pothole repairs on minor roads on national cycle route 6 were not all that good. This problem had been rectified with the method of filling in potholes being revised

6) Promotion

a) Bike it update

The Bike it Project was likely to come to an end in July 2012. To help ensure continuity once the project had finished and reengage with schools that had taken part in the project in the past a school mark scheme had been introduced (Bronze, Silver & Gold). So far 18 schools in the area had achieved the bronze standard.

For more info http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/bike-it/bike-it-and-our-school/bike-it-school-mark

b) Cycle Training

Bikeability cycle training was been offered to Years 5, 6 and 7 pupils by the City Council Sports and Leisure Section, who had funding from the Department of Transport for 900 places.

c) Universities

Cycle road shows had / were taking place by two Universities. The University of Cumbria had made their event into a bigger event.

7) Next Meeting

Gregson Institute, Moor Lane, Lancaster 1800 hours Monday 6th February 2012