Join the Plymouth Local Access Forum

Do you want to help shape the future of countryside and coastal access in Plymouth?

Are you interested in helping manage, promote and develop green spaces in the city?

Can you spare half a day every three months?

If so your help is needed.

People with a passion for the great outdoors are invited to join the Plymouth Local Access Forum - an independent body set up to advise Plymouth City Council on how to help people make the most of the city’s green spaces.

Members will meet quarterly to discuss all aspects of managing public access to open countryside including, but not limited to:

• Discussing the way we handle public rights of way
• Helping us with, and giving opinion on our Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• Telling us and our partners what they think of our various recreation and access strategies
• Commenting on wider plans and strategies for landscape, recreation, transport, health, tourism and information
• Managing public access on Access Land and Common Land
• Utilitarian access (to shops, bus stops, schools and local services)
• Access to inland water or the coast
• Telling us if the strategies and policies currently in place suit different types of users and whether they reflect the needs of local people and businesses
• Commenting on Planning applications, Local Development Frameworks
• National policy development
• Looking for ways to encourage landowners to make more areas available for the public to use
• Finding new ways of getting money so we can make improvements
• Commenting on new large-scale developments so that peoples' use and enjoyment can be made better

Forum members act in a voluntary capacity, with the appointing authority meeting travel expenses and childcare costs as detailed in the member expenses document below.

The forum meets approximately four times per year and there is an element of work behind the scenes, self-promotion, attending training sessions and networking with others - including representatives of government bodies and other Local Access Forums. Members will also be encouraged to take part in site visits, join working groups on a range of topics and to consider standing for election as chair and Vice-Chair of the Forum.

If you think that you could contribute to the work of the forum then we would like to hear from you. You can apply to join the forum by completing the application form below or contact the Forums Secretary on 01752 307990, email laf@plymouth.gov.uk or write to the Secretary to the Plymouth Local Access Forum, Democratic Support, Civic Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2AA.