Download - LTP and ROWIP Integration - Natural England
1
England’s extensive network of public rights of way is a unique and valuable resource. It not only provides opportunities for recreation, but also forms an integral part of the transport system. Rights of way provide means of sustainable travel, particularly for short journeys, in both rural and urban areas, and can play a significant part in reducing traffic congestion and harmful emissions, providing safer routes for vulnerable travellers.
Rights of way improvement plans have given an impetus to authorities to undertake a strategic review of their rights of way networks, to ensure that they cater for current and future needs. And the linking of rights of way improvement plans to local transport plans will help to optimise the part that rights of way play in the wider transport system.
2
1. Purpose
The publication of the Department for Transport’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2009 guidance offers an opportunity to local authority transport planning and rights of way officers to optimise the part that rights of way can play in the wider transport system. Linking statutory rights of way improvement plans to local transport plans will promote a shift to active travel, a more interesting and connected transport network and help lever funding for implementation schemes that meet several joint objectives. This good practice note gives advice on how to achieve these outcomes and make efficient use of funding through joined up working.
2. Usefulness of LTP and ROWIP integration
The new Local Transport Plan (LTP) guidance recognises the role of active travel solutions such as walking and cycling. There is now an opportunity for local authorities to take a broader, more holistic approach to transport and address the rights of way network as an integral part of urban and rural transport systems and in contributing to the achievement of all the national transport goals1
-reducing carbon emissions;
-supporting economic growth;
-promoting equality of opportunity;
-contributing to better safety, security and health; and
-improving quality of life and a healthy natural environment Further detail on how rights of way can help contribute to these goals is illustrated in Table 1.
There are many shared aims and links between LTPs and Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIP) which can serve to strengthen and facilitate the long term sustainability of rights of way and the delivery of sustainable transport objectives. Joined up implementation plans can secure more direct and integrated funding and delivery.
Integration encourages new ways of working with internal and external partners including local access forums.
Integration gives local authorities an advantage in delivering positive benefits for people and the natural environment – a more active lifestyle in a greener, healthier, low carbon, quieter and safer environment.
3. Our Good Practice Note outcomes
Our aims are:
for local authorities to be clearer on how the two documents relate to each other- their common themes, objectives and how the new LTP flexibilities enable pragmatic integration measures in the new plans and projects.
To provide examples of good practice that cement the relationship between the LTP and ROWIP and in particular new ways of packaging rights of way schemes that meet national transport goals in both urban and rural areas that can contribute to sustainable tourism and recreation in addition to linking local communities to employment, key services and facilities.
1 http://www.dft.gov.uk/ltp
3
4. Timeline
The Local Transport Act 20082 requires all transport authorities to have a new local transport plan in place by April 2011. The CROW Act 20003 requires a review and a new assessment of a ROWIP not more than ten years after it is first published. This means that in many instances ROWIPs will not be due for review until 2017.
Authorities can now review the ROWIP within the same timescale as the LTP for both strategy and implementation elements. Alternatively owing to the increased flexibilities over timescales built into LTP review and replacement beyond 2011, authorities can review and integrate their ROWIP within the period of a future LTP implementation plan.
Authorities may also wish to consider aligning the implementation plan element of the LTP and statement of action of the ROWIP with local government funding settlement and local area agreement (LAA) timescales.
5. Document Format
Authorities can produce the LTP policy and implementation parts in separate documents and are free to determine when they renew the different parts. It is advisable to consider incorporating the ROWIP within the same framework to help achieve integration. Alternatively it is possible to keep the ROWIP and LTP documents separate but make clear that they complement each other, are both statutory and should both be taken into account in any transport/access related matters.
A common branding style will help integration with thorough cross-referencing to ensure that key aspects of the ROWIP and the role that rights of way can play in delivering sustainable transport solutions are clear.
Should authorities choose to produce the two documents separately, the LTP might include:
a summary of the benefits and contribution that rights of way bring to the wider transport network;
the key ROWIP priorities and how they can benefit other parts of the LTP; and
signpost the detail contained within the separate ROWIP.
The ROWIP might include:
recognition of the national transport goals and any other local transport objectives; and
outline how development of the rights of way network can help contribute to these goals.
6. Cross boundary plans
The boundaries of a LTP/ROWIP do not need to follow traditional local authority boundaries; they may instead reflect travel patterns, particularly in city regions. There have been a number of successful Joint Plans for LTP2 and Joint ROWIPs with the same spatial coverage to maximise collaboration and accountability. Tyne and Wear4 is a model for LTP/ROWIP integration which other joint authorities may wish to follow in future. At Tyne and Wear an access development officer was appointed with responsibility for the ROWIP, supported by funding from the LTP partners.5
2 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080026_en_13 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000037_en_14 http://www.gateshead.gov.uk5 The LTP partners consist of officers and elected members from the five highway authorities (Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council) and the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority.
4
7. Other statutory plans and strategies
To maximise the opportunities and benefits that active travel solutions can bring, authorities should ensure integration with other statutory plans and strategies at the local and regional levels and make timely contributions to these on key aspects of the LTP and ROWIP. For example, rights of way and the definitive maps which record them should be an integral part of local development frameworks (LDFs), transport asset management plans (TAMPs), cycling, walking, green space, road safety, crime and anti-social behaviour strategies. Merseyside ROWIP 2008-20186 contains a clear diagram of the relationship between the ROWIP and other local authority plans and strategies.
6 http://www.merseysiderightsofway.org
5
Tab
le 1
Mea
sure
s to
en
sure
su
cces
sfu
l in
teg
rati
on
8.
Mea
sure
s to
en
sure
su
cces
sfu
l in
teg
rati
on
The
Nat
iona
l Eva
luat
ion
of R
OW
IPs
200
87 id
entifi
ed a
num
ber
of m
easu
res
whi
ch c
an h
elp
ensu
re s
ucce
ssfu
l int
egra
tion
of L
TP
s an
d R
OW
IPs.
Tab
le 1
be
low
out
lines
thes
e an
d pr
ovid
es e
xam
ples
of l
ocal
hig
hway
aut
hori
ties
that
suc
cess
fully
dem
onst
rate
d th
ese
mea
sure
s w
ith L
ocal
Tra
nspo
rt P
lan
2.
Mea
sure
s
Inte
rnal
st
ruc
ture
s
Str
on
g
wo
rkin
g
rela
tio
nsh
ips
Ea
rly
dis
cus
sio
ns
and
lin
kin
g
RO
WIP
/LT
P
targ
ets
and
ac
tio
ns
De
scri
pti
on
Man
y au
thor
ities
hav
e re
orga
nise
d th
eir
inte
rnal
str
uctu
res
as
a di
rect
res
ult o
f the
RO
WIP
in o
rder
to im
prov
e jo
int w
orki
ng
with
the
LTP
team
and
mor
e ef
fect
ivel
y de
liver
the
aim
s an
d ob
ject
ives
of t
he R
OW
IP.
Str
ong
wor
king
rel
atio
nshi
ps b
etw
een
LTP
and
RO
W s
taff
are
ke
y to
suc
cess
ful o
utco
mes
.
A p
artn
ersh
ip a
ppro
ach
betw
een
RO
WIP
and
LT
P s
taff,
w
hich
incl
udes
ear
ly d
iscu
ssio
ns a
nd c
ontin
ued
dial
ogue
, is
criti
cal t
o un
ders
tand
ing
LTP
pri
oriti
es, o
bjec
tives
and
how
th
e ri
ghts
of w
ay n
etw
ork
mig
ht c
ontr
ibut
e to
thes
e ob
ject
ives
. F
urth
er in
tegr
atio
n ca
n be
ach
ieve
d by
set
ting
out a
n au
thor
ity’s
pol
icie
s w
hich
pro
vide
the
fram
ewor
k fo
r m
eetin
g LT
P/R
OW
IP S
MA
RT
9 ta
rget
s an
d ac
tions
, inc
ludi
ng a
Go
od
pra
cti
ce
exa
mp
le
Not
tingh
am C
ity C
ounc
il8 be
nefit
s fr
om a
str
ong
depa
rtm
enta
l w
orki
ng a
rran
gem
ent,
whi
ch in
clud
es a
rig
hts
of w
ay o
ffice
r lo
cate
d in
the
LTP
team
. As
part
of t
he L
TP
team
, rig
hts
of w
ay s
taff
can
re
char
ge “
prep
arat
ion
time”
spe
nt o
n de
sign
ing
sche
mes
to th
e LT
P
as fe
e ea
rnin
g. T
he R
OW
IP a
nd L
TP
team
s al
so s
hare
the
sam
e D
irect
or w
hich
hel
ps fa
cilit
ate
mor
e “j
oine
d up
” de
liver
y. M
erse
ysid
e Jo
int A
utho
rity
has
als
o be
en s
ucce
ssfu
l in
loca
ting
a ri
ghts
of w
ay
offic
er w
ithin
the
LTP
Sup
port
Uni
t.
Dur
ham
Cou
nty
Cou
ncil
has
been
suc
cess
ful o
win
g pr
inci
pally
to
str
ong
wor
king
rel
atio
nshi
ps b
etw
een
LTP
and
RO
W s
taff
from
th
e ou
tset
and
clo
se a
lignm
ent i
n a
new
Cou
ncil
stru
ctur
e w
ithou
t of
ficer
s be
ing
phys
ical
ly lo
cate
d to
geth
er. R
ight
s of
way
sta
ff a
tten
d LT
P b
udge
t allo
catio
n m
eetin
gs a
t the
beg
inni
ng o
f the
fina
ncia
l ye
ar to
pre
sent
idea
s, s
ecur
e in
itial
app
rova
l fro
m th
e lo
cal s
trat
egic
pa
rtne
rshi
p (L
SP
) an
d se
cure
fun
ds to
del
iver
pro
ject
s.
Not
tingh
am C
ity C
ounc
il’s
part
ners
hip
wor
king
hel
ps id
entif
y R
OW
IP
sche
mes
as
earl
y as
pos
sibl
e w
hich
form
pro
posa
ls fo
r ye
ar o
n ye
ar
LTP
fun
ding
.
7 R
ight
s of
Way
Impr
ovem
ent P
lans
: Nat
iona
l Eva
luat
ion
200
8:N
atur
al E
ngla
nd
http
://na
tura
leng
land
.etr
ader
sto
res.
com
/Nat
ural
Eng
land
Sho
p/P
rodu
ct.a
px?P
rodu
ctID
=71f
087
f6-7
914
-4b2
4-9
d8
4-d
38
4d
90
56
be4
8 ht
tp://
ww
w.n
ottin
gham
city
.gov
.uk
9 S
MA
RT
(S
peci
fic, M
easu
rabl
e, A
chie
vabl
e, R
elev
ant,
Tim
ed)
6
10 S
ee A
nnex
111
htt
p://w
ww
.leic
s.g
ov.u
k
Est
ab
lish
men
t o
f a
ste
erin
g
gro
up
Po
liti
cal
su
pp
ort
Wo
rkin
g w
ith
L
SP
s/L
AA
s
times
cale
for
achi
evin
g th
e ac
tions
whi
ch c
over
eith
er p
art o
r th
e w
hole
life
of t
he L
TP
and
RO
WIP
. Thi
s ap
proa
ch w
ill h
elp
defin
e m
eani
ngfu
l ind
icat
ors
for
mon
itori
ng/r
epor
ting
purp
oses
su
ch a
s an
nual
rev
iew
mee
tings
with
the
gove
rnm
ent o
ffice
.
For
bot
h la
rger
rur
al c
ount
y au
thor
ities
and
sm
alle
r ur
ban
or
unita
ry a
utho
ritie
s th
e ev
iden
ce is
that
mor
e su
cces
sful
LT
P/
RO
WIP
inte
grat
ion
has
bene
fited
from
the
esta
blis
hmen
t of
a st
eeri
ng g
roup
to a
gree
, gui
de a
nd c
arry
out
the
proc
ess
take
n fr
om th
e ou
tset
. The
se in
clud
e re
pres
enta
tives
from
the
LTP,
RO
WIP
, pla
nnin
g an
d to
uris
m te
ams
and
the
loca
l acc
ess
foru
m. A
ste
erin
g gr
oup
will
hel
p to
rai
se th
e pr
ofile
of t
he
RO
WIP
and
LT
P a
nd li
nk to
reg
iona
l/ co
unty
/ dis
tric
t str
ateg
ic
docu
men
ts.
Pol
itica
l sup
port
- fo
r ri
ghts
of w
ay, f
or s
taff
res
ourc
ing
and
fund
ing
/ im
plem
enta
tion
of s
chem
es is
key
for
succ
ess.
Loca
l aut
hori
ties
have
to s
how
goo
d pe
rfor
man
ce a
gain
st a
ll na
tiona
l ind
icat
ors
and
show
impr
oved
per
form
ance
for
thei
r se
lect
ed t
arge
ts in
thei
r lo
cal a
rea
agre
emen
t. T
he n
atio
nal
targ
ets/
impr
ovem
ent t
arge
ts fa
ll w
ithin
five
mai
n th
emes
and
it
is p
ossi
ble
to li
nk r
ight
s of
way
impr
ovem
ents
with
all
of th
ese:
1) s
tron
ger
com
mun
ities
;2)
chi
ldre
n an
d yo
ung
peop
le;
3) a
dult
heal
th a
nd w
ellb
eing
;4)
loca
l eco
nom
y;5)
env
ironm
enta
l sus
tain
abili
tyT
he N
atio
nal I
ndic
ator
set
con
tain
s sp
ecifi
c tr
ansp
ort i
ndic
ator
s an
d th
ere
are
also
a n
umbe
r th
at r
elat
e to
rig
hts
of w
ay.10
Tyne
and
Wea
r se
t up
an in
tern
al s
teer
ing
grou
p, in
clud
ing
repr
esen
tativ
es fr
om th
e Jo
int L
AF
(JL
AF
), th
e LT
P a
nd h
ighw
ay
auth
oriti
es. S
uppo
rt fr
om th
e el
ecte
d co
unci
l mem
bers
and
the
JLA
F
was
sec
ured
thro
ugh
this
app
roac
h an
d re
gula
r pr
ogre
ss r
epor
ts
mad
e to
this
gro
up, r
aisi
ng th
e pr
ofile
of t
he R
OW
IP a
nd L
TP
with
in
the
resp
ectiv
e au
thor
ities
.
Not
tingh
am, L
eice
ster
, Dur
ham
and
Mer
seys
ide
also
att
ribu
te
succ
ess
in L
TP
/RO
WIP
inte
grat
ion
to th
e ea
rly
esta
blis
hmen
t of a
st
eeri
ng g
roup
.
Not
tingh
am C
ity h
as e
xcel
lent
pol
itica
l sup
port
for
thes
e pu
rpos
es.
The
inte
grat
ion
of th
e R
OW
IP/L
TP
bui
lds
on a
nd d
evel
ops
polic
ies
agre
ed b
y el
ecte
d m
embe
rs a
s ex
pres
sed
in th
e C
orpo
rate
Pla
n,
ther
eby
embe
ddin
g po
litic
al s
uppo
rt a
nd r
esou
rces
. Ret
entio
n of
a
spec
ific
RO
WIP
offi
cer
has
prov
ed to
hel
p dr
ive
forw
ard
and
inte
grat
e w
ith th
e LT
P th
e po
licie
s an
d ac
tions
of t
he R
OW
IP.
Leic
este
rshi
re C
ount
y C
ounc
il’s11
suc
cess
in L
TP
fun
ding
for
righ
ts
of w
ay p
roje
cts
is li
nked
to th
e st
rong
iden
tifica
tion
of r
ight
s of
w
ay p
roje
cts
with
loca
l str
ateg
ic p
artn
ersh
ip p
rior
ities
and
loca
l ar
ea a
gree
men
t per
form
ance
tar
gets
that
del
iver
on
gove
rnm
ent
obje
ctiv
es fo
r pu
blic
hea
lth, q
ualit
y of
life
, phy
sica
l act
ivity
in a
dditi
on
to th
e na
tiona
l tra
nspo
rt g
oals
.
7
12 h
ttp:
//ww
w.d
urha
m.g
ov.u
k
Mo
nit
ori
ng
an
d r
epo
rtin
g
Pro
acti
ve lo
cal
ac
ce
ss
foru
m
Wo
rkin
g w
ith
c
om
mu
nit
y g
rou
ps
Sp
ecifi
c c
ap
ital
bu
dg
et
“Su
cc
es
s b
reed
s su
cce
ss”
Eff
ectiv
e m
onito
ring
and
rep
ortin
g is
vita
l to
rais
e th
e pr
ofile
an
d im
port
ance
of a
ctiv
e tr
avel
tar
gets
and
pro
ject
s in
ord
er to
w
in p
oliti
cal s
uppo
rt a
nd e
asie
r ac
cess
to f
undi
ng. A
utho
ritie
s sh
ould
con
side
r re
gula
r in
tegr
ated
RO
WIP
/LT
P r
epor
ting.
The
invo
lvem
ent o
f a p
roac
tive
and
wel
l sup
port
ed lo
cal
acce
ss fo
rum
can
hel
p id
entif
y jo
int L
TP
/RO
WIP
impr
ovem
ent
sche
mes
thro
ugh
thei
r in
depe
nden
t rol
e.
Goo
d lin
ks a
nd s
uppo
rt fr
om c
omm
unity
rep
rese
ntat
ives
who
si
t on
loca
l str
ateg
ic p
artn
ersh
ips
is a
n im
port
ant f
acto
r in
fu
ndin
g sc
hem
es fo
r ri
ghts
of w
ay im
prov
emen
ts
Loca
l aut
hori
ties
may
wis
h to
con
side
r th
e fe
asib
ility
of s
ettin
g up
a s
peci
fic c
apita
l bud
get f
or R
OW
IP d
eliv
ery
from
the
LTP.
Man
y au
thor
ities
suc
cess
ful i
n ga
inin
g LT
P f
undi
ng a
lso
repo
rt
succ
essf
ul b
ids
from
oth
er f
undi
ng s
trea
ms
follo
win
g on
from
th
at.
Dur
ham
Cou
nty
Cou
ncil12
mai
ntai
ns a
nd m
onito
rs a
wor
k pr
ogra
mm
e of
pro
pose
d pa
th im
prov
emen
ts to
pre
sent
for
cons
ider
atio
n fr
om
any
unde
r sp
end
from
abo
rted
sch
emes
in th
e ar
ea p
rogr
amm
es a
t LT
P b
udge
t allo
catio
n m
eetin
gs.
Tyne
and
Wea
r Lo
cal A
cces
s F
orum
has
bee
n fu
lly in
volv
ed
thro
ugho
ut th
e LT
P/R
OW
IP p
roce
ss a
nd p
lays
an
impo
rtan
t im
plem
entin
g ro
le in
sup
port
ing
RO
WIP
sch
emes
that
com
plem
ent
and
supp
ort L
TP
obj
ectiv
es.
Dur
ham
’s s
ound
exp
erie
nce
of w
orki
ng w
ith c
omm
unity
gro
ups
is
an im
port
ant m
echa
nism
for
iden
tifyi
ng a
nd d
eliv
erin
g pr
ojec
ts,
prov
idin
g th
e ev
iden
ce b
ase
requ
ired
by th
e LT
P.
Che
shire
Cou
nty
Cou
ncil
advo
cate
s th
is a
ppro
ach.
Dur
ham
’s h
ealth
y re
puta
tion
for
deliv
erin
g la
rge
scal
e sc
hem
es w
ith
LTP
fun
ding
has
rai
sed
thei
r pr
ofile
, att
ract
ing
addi
tiona
l fun
ding
so
urce
s fo
r ri
ghts
of w
ay im
prov
emen
ts o
n th
e ba
sis
that
“su
cces
s br
eeds
suc
cess
”.
8
9.
LTP
s, R
OW
IPs
and
th
e N
atio
nal
Tra
nsp
ort
Go
als
The
Dep
artm
ent f
or T
rans
port
adv
ises
aut
hori
ties
to c
onsi
der
the
natio
nal t
rans
port
goa
ls a
s ov
er-a
rchi
ng p
rior
ities
for
thei
r LT
Ps.
The
rig
hts
of w
ay n
etw
ork
has
an im
port
ant r
ole
in h
elpi
ng to
con
trib
ute
to a
ll of
the
natio
nal t
rans
port
goa
ls a
nd s
ugge
stio
ns a
re o
utlin
ed in
the
tabl
e be
low
. 13
htt
p://w
ww
.eas
tsus
sex.
gov
.uk
Tab
le 2
Th
e co
ntr
ibu
tio
n r
igh
ts o
f w
ay c
an m
ake
to t
he
LTP
an
d t
he
nat
ion
al t
ran
spo
rt g
oal
s
Nat
ion
al
tran
spo
rt g
oal
Red
uc
e c
arb
on
e
mis
sio
ns
Su
pp
ort
ec
on
om
ic
gro
wth
Co
ntr
ibu
tio
n r
igh
ts o
f w
ay (
Ro
W)
net
wo
rk c
an m
ake
to
th
e LT
P a
nd
nat
ion
al t
ran
spo
rt g
oal
s
A w
ell p
lann
ed a
nd m
aint
aine
d R
oW n
etw
ork,
inte
grat
ed w
ith
the
publ
ic tr
ansp
ort n
etw
ork
prov
ides
a lo
w c
arbo
n al
tern
ativ
e to
th
e ca
r. E
ncou
ragi
ng p
eopl
e to
use
this
net
wor
k, p
artic
ular
ly fo
r sh
ort j
ourn
eys,
can
hel
p ta
ckle
con
gest
ion
and
redu
ce c
arbo
n em
issi
ons.
Pos
sibl
e m
easu
res:
Im
prov
ing
cond
ition
and
man
agem
ent o
f exi
stin
g R
OW
C
reat
ion
of n
ew R
oW to
impr
ove
conn
ectiv
ity o
f the
net
wor
k
Wor
king
with
loca
l pla
nnin
g au
thor
ities
to a
chie
ve
impr
ovem
ents
in a
cces
sibi
lity
to a
nd fr
om e
mpl
oym
ent,
re
side
ntia
l are
as, k
ey s
ervi
ces
and
the
natu
ral e
nviro
nmen
t
Pro
mot
ing
wal
king
and
cyc
ling
such
as
part
neri
ng lo
cal
sc
hool
s an
d pr
ovis
ion
of in
form
atio
n/p
ublic
atio
ns o
n w
alki
ng
an
d cy
clin
g ro
utes
.. In
bot
h ur
ban
and
rura
l are
as th
e R
oW n
etw
ork
has
a ro
le in
co
ntri
butin
g to
bot
h su
stai
nabl
e to
uris
m a
nd c
onne
ctin
g lo
cal
com
mun
ities
to a
reas
of e
mpl
oym
ent,
key
serv
ices
and
faci
litie
s.
Pos
sibl
e m
easu
res:
Im
prov
ing
cond
ition
and
man
agem
ent o
f exi
stin
g R
oW a
nd
cr
eatin
g ne
w R
oW to
impr
ove
acce
ss to
sus
tain
able
tour
ism
dest
inat
ions
P
rovi
sion
of p
ublic
tran
spor
t lin
ks a
long
pro
mot
ed r
oute
s
Pro
mot
ion
of c
ircul
ar r
oute
s fr
om r
ail a
nd b
us s
tops
..
Go
od
pra
cti
ce
exa
mp
le
Eas
t Sus
sex13
has
inte
grat
ed th
e ob
ject
ives
of i
ts c
yclin
g st
rate
gy w
ith th
e LT
P a
nd R
OW
IP, i
nclu
ding
the
need
s of
re
crea
tiona
l and
off
-roa
d cy
clis
ts a
nd th
e im
port
ance
of l
inks
fr
om u
rban
are
as in
to th
e co
untr
ysid
e.
Not
tingh
am C
ity C
ounc
il ha
s at
trib
uted
its
LTP
fun
ding
suc
cess
in
par
t to
linki
ng r
ight
s of
way
impr
ovem
ents
to th
e C
ity’s
gr
owth
as
a to
uris
m d
estin
atio
n fo
r la
rge
num
bers
of v
isito
rs
draw
n to
the
City
’s h
isto
ric
past
. It h
as c
once
ntra
ted
on p
rim
ary
pede
stri
an a
nd c
yclin
g ro
utes
into
/out
of t
he c
ity li
nked
to th
e tr
am/b
us s
ervi
ces.
9
14 h
ttp:
//ww
w.le
ice
ster
.gov
.uk
Pro
mo
te
equ
alit
y o
f o
pp
ort
un
ity
Co
ntr
ibu
te t
o
bet
ter
safe
ty,
secu
rity
an
d
hea
lth
Thr
ough
car
eful
pla
nnin
g an
d in
clus
ive
desi
gn th
e R
oW n
etw
ork
can
prov
ide
oppo
rtun
ities
for
all u
sers
to a
cces
s em
ploy
men
t, ke
y se
rvic
es, t
he n
atur
al e
nviro
nmen
t and
incr
ease
peo
ple’
s so
cial
inte
ract
ion
and
sens
e of
com
mun
ity.
Pos
sibl
e m
easu
res:
A
dopt
“le
ast r
estr
ictiv
e” a
cces
s op
tion
to p
ath
impr
ovem
ents
that
are
app
ropr
iate
to la
ndsc
ape
sett
ing
Im
prov
e an
d pr
omot
e in
form
atio
n on
pat
h ac
cess
ibili
ty
th
roug
h si
gnag
e, p
ublic
atio
ns a
nd w
eb.
The
RoW
net
wor
k pr
ovid
es th
e op
port
unity
for
phys
ical
ly a
ctiv
e tr
avel
and
rec
reat
ion
in u
rban
and
rur
al a
reas
, con
trib
utin
g to
im
prov
ed p
hysi
cal a
nd m
enta
l hea
lth a
nd w
ellb
eing
.
Pos
sibl
e m
easu
res:
W
orki
ng w
ith tr
avel
pla
n an
d sa
fe r
oute
s to
sch
ool o
ffice
rs
to
ens
ure
the
RoW
net
wor
k is
incl
uded
for
peop
le’s
jour
neys
Li
nkin
g w
ith th
e pr
imar
y ca
re tr
ust i
n th
e de
liver
y of
loca
l
Wal
king
you
r w
ay to
Hea
lth In
itiat
ives
(W
HI)
Cre
atio
n of
new
link
s, h
ighe
r ri
ghts
or
upgr
adin
g ex
istin
g
ri
ghts
of w
ay to
impr
ove
conn
ectiv
ity o
f net
wor
k fo
r w
alke
rs,
ri
ders
and
cyc
lists
and
red
uce
the
need
to u
se th
e ro
ads
Im
prov
ing
educ
atio
n an
d sa
fety
aw
aren
ess
for
all r
oad
user
s.
Impr
ovin
g co
nditi
on o
r m
anag
emen
t of e
xist
ing
RoW
whe
re
th
ese
are
curr
ently
per
ceiv
ed n
ot to
be
safe
or
attr
activ
e
ro
utes
.
Leic
este
r C
ity14
has
a w
ide
rang
ing
data
base
of s
take
hold
ers.
T
he C
ounc
il co
nsul
ts s
take
hold
ers
thro
ugh
an a
nnua
l Loc
al
Tran
spor
t day
whi
ch p
rovi
des
an o
ppor
tuni
ty to
put
vie
ws
dire
ctly
to th
ose
resp
onsi
ble
for
the
tran
spor
t str
ateg
y -
it re
sults
in m
any
usef
ul o
bser
vatio
ns a
nd id
eas
shar
ed. L
eice
ster
C
ity a
lso
carr
y ou
t eac
h ye
ar t
wo
maj
or p
ublic
con
sulta
tion
exer
cise
s- P
ublic
War
d m
eetin
gs a
nd G
roup
Dis
cuss
ions
- th
e kn
owle
dge
gain
ed h
as c
ontr
ibut
ed to
LT
P o
bjec
tive
form
ulat
ion.
Thr
ough
reg
ular
par
tner
ship
wor
king
(Le
ices
ter
Par
tner
ship
, City
Old
er P
erso
ns’ F
orum
and
Mob
ility
and
S
enso
ry Im
pair
men
t Gro
up, L
ocal
Acc
ess
For
um)
and
the
othe
r co
nsul
tatio
ns h
ighl
ight
ed, a
LT
P s
trat
egy
has
been
dev
elop
ed
supp
orte
d by
sta
keho
lder
s.
Mer
seys
ide
Join
t Aut
hori
ty h
as w
orke
d w
ith th
e P
rim
ary
Car
e Tr
ust a
nd h
as b
een
succ
essf
ul in
fun
ding
rig
hts
of w
ay s
chem
es
linke
d cl
osel
y to
nat
iona
l tra
nspo
rt g
oals
that
incl
ude
wal
king
an
d cy
clin
g op
port
uniti
es th
at a
ddre
ss c
ross
bou
ndar
y is
sues
, pa
th im
prov
emen
ts a
nd n
etw
ork
mis
sing
link
s th
at a
ll he
lp
addr
ess
the
heal
th a
gend
a.
10
15 h
ttp:
//ww
w.s
taff
ord
shire
.gov
.uk
Imp
rove
qu
alit
y o
f li
fe a
nd
a
hea
lth
y n
atu
ral
envi
ron
men
t
The
opp
ortu
nitie
s R
oW p
rovi
de fo
r re
crea
tion,
tour
ism
and
su
stai
nabl
e ac
cess
to th
e na
tura
l env
ironm
ent h
as p
ositi
ve
impa
cts
on p
eopl
e’s
qual
ity o
f life
. T
hey
can
form
par
t of
mul
ti-fu
nctio
nal g
reen
infr
astr
uctu
re n
etw
orks
whi
ch a
lso
deliv
er a
ran
ge o
f ben
efits
for
the
natu
ral e
nviro
nmen
t (cl
imat
e ch
ange
ada
ptat
ion,
floo
d al
levi
atio
n, w
ater
man
agem
ent
and
biod
iver
sity
). S
ensi
tive/
appr
opri
ate
cons
truc
tion
and
mai
nten
ance
of t
he r
ight
s of
way
net
wor
k ca
n he
lp p
rote
ct a
nd
enha
nce
the
natu
ral e
nviro
nmen
t.
Pos
sibl
e m
easu
res:
P
rovi
ding
RoW
link
s be
twee
n, a
nd w
ithin
, urb
an a
nd r
ural
area
s to
faci
litat
e su
stai
nabl
e ac
cess
to th
e na
tura
l
en
viro
nmen
t
Info
rmat
ion
on a
nd p
rom
otio
n of
the
righ
ts o
f way
net
wor
k
Co
oper
atio
n an
d jo
int w
orki
ng a
cros
s a
rang
e of
team
s to
deliv
er b
ette
r R
oW im
prov
emen
ts.
Sta
ffor
dshi
re15
ack
now
ledg
es th
e im
port
ant r
ole
gree
nway
s an
d gr
een
rout
es (
off-
road
rou
tes)
, can
pla
y in
pro
vidi
ng s
hare
d us
e (w
alke
rs, c
yclis
ts a
nd h
orse
rid
ers)
bet
wee
n co
mm
uniti
es
in u
rban
are
as w
ith th
e su
rrou
ndin
g co
untr
ysid
e. P
roje
cts
to
impr
ove
conn
ectiv
ity u
sing
gre
en r
oute
s fo
r sh
ares
use
are
id
entifi
ed in
the
stat
emen
t of a
ctio
n w
ith a
gree
d LT
P f
undi
ng.
11
10. ROWIP/LTP issues specific to different tiers of local government
Urban/unitary authorities There is often an inherent focus placed on primary objectives of reducing congestion, air quality and road safety in urban/unitary authorities. Rights of way are perceived as an integrated part of these transport objectives. They can also contribute to improved access to the natural environment and for recreation purposes. The co-location of RoW and LTP staff in urban and unitary authorities is often cited as a key reason for success.
Rural highway authorities Some rural authorities have many smaller settlements which are important service centres for large catchment areas. Access to and from these settlements often involves the use of well used rights of way which link with the public transport network and can therefore make them eligible for improvement within LTP funding criteria.
Other rural authorities, such as Leicestershire County Council, have one or two large urban centres where a policy decision has focused on gaining LTP funding for rights of way improvements in and around those centres where the majority of the population live.
Some rural authorities may demonstrate areas of low car ownership, poor health or low physical activity levels. Promoting non- car journeys through improvements to and promotion of the rights of way network can help meet combined ROWIP/LTP objectives.
National parks Many national park authorities are involved with several ROWIPs and LTPs. For example the Peak District National Park Authority has six LTPs covering passenger transport authority and executive boundaries :Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, South Yorkshire ( including Barnsley and Sheffield), Greater Manchester (including Oldham) and West Yorkshire (including Kirklees) and the number of ROWIPs is even greater and produced by each local highway authority.
This additional complication makes it sensible for those highway authorities to make use of the increased flexibilities over timescales built into the new LTP and to integrate the ROWIP/LTP as much as possible.
Accessing LTP funding for rights of way improvements in the national parks requires linking projects with the wider transport agenda – and raising awareness that improvements to access services are not mutually exclusive to access for visitors and recreation. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s16 Countryside & Public Rights of Way Service has successfully accessed LTP funding for rights of way improvements within the North York Moors National Park as a result of :
a close working relationship with the park authority generally ,– the Countryside and Public Rights of Way Service has a close working relationship with the LTP team which both form part of the Area Management Service Directorate with responsibility for both the ROWIP and the LTP.
through management on cross-border projects, strategies and policies.
16 http://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
12
11. Local Access Forums Local Transport Plan Guidance Part 1, Annex C includes local access forums (LAFs) as stakeholders. Authorities should consider their involvement at the outset of the LTP/ ROWIP plan preparation/review and encourage LAF input throughout. Whilst LAFs have a statutory duty to advise local authorities on rights of way and access issues, it is good practice to consult the LAF in LTP development and implementation, particularly on ROWIP/LTP integration matters. Support and encouragement for a proactive LAF can make a positive difference in helping to deliver sustainable transport objectives.
Annex 1 Transport and rights of way national indicators for local area agreements
Transport NI 47 People killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents NI 48 Children killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents NI 167 Congestion – average journey time per mile during the morning peakNI 168 Principal roads where maintenance should be considered NI 169 Non-principal roads where maintenance should be considered NI 175 Access to services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling NI 176 Working age people with access to employment by public transport (and other specified modes) NI 177 Local bus passenger journeys originating in the authority area NI 178 Bus services running on time Outcome - Environmental sustainabilityNI 198 Children travelling to school – mode of travel usually used
Rights of way The following national indicators related to rights of way can also help deliver transport indicators
NI 5 Overall/general satisfaction with local areaNI 8 Adult participation in sportNI 55 Obesity among primary school age children in Reception YearNI 56 Obesity among primary school age children in Year 6NI 57 Children and young people’s participation in high quality PE and sportNI 110 Young people’s participation in positive activitiesNI 175 Access to services and facilities by public transport, walking and cyclingNI 186 Per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in LA areaNI 198 Children travelling to school- mode of travel usually usedNI 199 Children and young people’s satisfaction with parks
Natural England is here to conserve and enhance the natural environment, for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity that it brings.
© Natural England 2009 NE325
www.naturalengland.org.uk
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