CORE PATH PLANNING

Calling all Riders and Carriage Drivers

Across Scotland every local council access department, as well as the national parks are planning core paths for all non-motorised users including horse riders and carriage drivers.

They are at an advanced stage in these plans, and have been holding consultations over the last two years on the proposals, but there is still plenty of time to get involved and lobby the council for the routes that you want to ride on a regular basis.

Everyone is involved, all recreational users and most importantly the land managers, both private and public throughout Scotland.  But be aware, if riders do not ask for routes, they will, in many places not get access. There are many land managers who as we all know are perhaps not anti-horse but are definitely not pro-horse, and if a core path goes through their land, it may be with kissing gates or cattle grids, fine for walkers and cyclists but precludes riders, especially if there is seen to be an “acceptable alternative”.  The British Horse Society Scotland will do all it can to help you make sure that routes are available, but with over 100,000 horses in Scotland, many in their own little pockets and areas, its is difficult to cover all the eventualities.  This is the perfect opportunity for us all to get out there and help create riding routes for the future.

Don’t delay, as every council (or access authority) in the country expects to start their formal consultation this year, some have already started and one or two have already finished, but most are soon to proceed.  Check your council website below, or call your local BHS access representative, or me on 01294 270891 P.Somerville@bhs.org.uk and I can point in you in the right direction.

Consultations in your area

Aberdeen City -Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan - your chance to get involved!  Aberdeen City Council has developed a Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan, showing candidate core paths to form a complete network of paths throughout the City.  It aims to encourage healthy and sustainable access opportunitites for all, for recreation and for active travel.  The Council would like to hear your views on these initial proposals, which will be the subject of consultation until 4 February 2008. You can view the Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan on www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/corepathsplan or at any of Aberdeen City Council's libraries across the City, The Point or key Council offices.

Cairngorms National Park - The Core Paths Plan (Draft) for the Cairngorms National Park is now out to a final formal public consultation.   Please see our website for further details and to view the plan.  www.cairngorms.co.uk/access/corepaths   Whilst it is important that we hear about any problems with the Draft Plan, it is equally important for us to know where we have got it right.  If you are supportive of a proposal in the Plan we need to hear from you in case the proposal is challenged by another party. 

East Ayrshire Council has officially launched the consultation for the Draft Core Path Plan and its associated Environmental Report.  The consultation will run from the 14th July 2008 for 12 weeks till the 6th October 2008.   The Core Path Plan has been produced by East Ayrshire Council in response to the Land Reform Act (2003) and it provides a framework of routes to allow reasonable access throughout the area. The aim of the consultation is to ensure the Core Paths are selected in an equitable manner and the Core Path Plan meets the access needs of the communities and visitors to the area.   http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/comser/paths/corepathplan/

East Renfrewshire Council Core Paths Plan is out for consultation from 14th April until 6th June 2008. They are keen to get your views on the Plan: www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/corepaths

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is holding an 8 week consultation to gather views and feedback on core path proposals. This includes the opportunity for horse riders and carriage drivers to have their say, so please use the chance to get involved. if you would like to discuss core paths visit one of the public events or contact the access team directly on 01389 722672. The link is on the website at www.lochlomond-trossachs.org.

East Lothian Council is nearly finished its core path planning consulation but is keen to hear from riders and carriage drivers so please get in touch. The link is www.eastlothian.gov.uk/corepathsplan. Contact is Nick Morgan, Access Officer on 01620 827671.

Falkirk Council's second round of informal core path planning consultation is underway.  From May to July 31 there is an opportunity for you to look at / comment on the plans by clicking here. Horse riders can also comment on the state of paths in the Falkirk Council area through the FARAG website at www.farag.org.uk/survey.

Fife Council have draft core path plans for West, East and Central Fife on their website.  Drop in events are organised in West Fife - for details please click here.

Glasgow City Council is currently consulting the public on the "Glasgow Core Paths Plan - Final Consultative Draft" which will influence the development of Glasgow's Path Network over the next five years. Your thoughts and ideas are welcome as you know the city best.  The more people that contribute to the consultation the better the final plan will be. To view the online Core Path Plan visit www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GettingAround/CorePathPlan Note:  Consultation closes on Friday 30 May 2008.

Highland Council - Ross & Cromarty.  There will be various drop-in sessions through the area and the Consultative Draft may be viewed at Service Points, Libraries, Post Offices and other community buildings.  The Consultative Draft may also be viewed on the Highland Council website under: www.highland.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/countrysideaccess/corepathplans.  Please direct any queries to Phil Waite, Access Officer for Ross & Cromarty on 01349 868431 or philip.waite@highland.gov.uk.

Highland Council - Sutherland. The consultation will run until 27 July 2007.  For more information on where consultation drop-in events are held, and how to get involved, please go to Sutherland Core Path Network Plans.

Inverness & Nairn: for more information please go to Inverness & Nairn Core Path Network Plans.

Midlothian: for more information please go to Midlothian Council Core Paths Plan.

Perth & Kinross:  The core paths plan proposals for some areas of Perth & Kinross are now available to view as a series of maps online at www.pkc.gov.uk/countryside. There is also a comments form available to print.  As of 31 January 2008 the proposed core paths plan for Perth & Kinross will be available to view and comment on.   All the information and maps are available to view online at www.pkc.gov.uk 

Note that this informal consultation period runs until 31 March 2008.  We would like to take as many comments as possible now. These will be taken into account while drawing up the draft core paths plan for the formal consultation period due to take place around April 2008.

The comments form can be printed from the website and will soon be available as an interactive form.  The informal consultation will run until 31 March 2008. 

A draft Core Paths Plan will be developed from these proposals and the consultation.  A formal consultation period of 12 weeks will take place around April 2008. 

If you need further details which are not on the website please contact the Council's Access Officers:
Highland / eastern areas: Jane Pritchard: 01738 475332,jpritchard@pkc.gov.uk
South / western areas: Dave Stubbs: 01738 475 347,dstubbs@pkc.gov.uk

Scottish Borders Council is hosting a series of drop-in meetings to gather views on plans to establish their core plan network. The network should accommodate all types of functional and recreational users.  The Scottish Borders has a network of rights of way, promoted routes, and longer distance routes.  Some of these existing routes will become core paths.  The plans and comments forms will be available for viewing from mid July in local libraries, council offices and on the council website at www.scotborders.gov.uk

Stirling Council are moving on with their core path plan and for more information please go to www.stirling.gov.uk/countryside.