Issue - meetings

John White

The Chairman reported that the next meeting of the Regional LAF Chairs was on 6 October 2011 in Preston.  He was unable to attend this meeting and asked if another member would like to attend with John Taylor.  Andrew Needham agreed to attend in his place.

The Regional Chairs’ meeting had previously discussed the Coastal Access project.  Genni Butler reported that she had spoken to Danny Moores at Natural England, on the progress of this project.  She reported that Danny had stated that he was working with 2 others in a team on the Allonby to Whitehaven stretch in West Cumbria, which was one of 5 lead stretches across the country: Somerset, Kent, Norfolk, Durham and West Cumbria.  An advanced stretch was being developed at Weymouth to be completed prior to July 2012.  Hearings on this stretch were being held presently to hear objections from landowners and other parties.  The relatively low number of issues arising was pleasing to Natural England as this shows the consultation work done up front has paid off.  Natural England was currently awaiting ministerial approval to develop the project beyond the initial 5 stretches.  This approval was expected any time in the next month or so.