The Buckinghamshire Local Access Forum met to discuss a number of issues, including a proposed renewal of a Public Spaces Protection Order, the development of a new Local Transport Plan, and a proposal to make the Icknield Way a National Trail. The forum was also scheduled to discuss its annual review, promoted routes in Buckinghamshire, an update on the East West Rail project, and rights of way in the area.

Icknield Way National Trail Proposal

Tom Chevalier from the Icknield Way Association was scheduled to present a briefing note on the proposal to make the Icknield Way a National Trail¹. The forum was asked to provide feedback and comments on the proposal, and to indicate whether it would be willing to offer its support.

The briefing note stated that the Icknield Way is an existing 110-mile long distance path connecting The Ridgeway National Trail and Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail. It is part of the Great Chalk Way and is well known, well supported and well-marked.

The briefing note argued that National Trail status would improve the route and encourage more people to use it, bringing public health and economic benefits to people and local businesses along the route. It would also give fresh impetus to the small group of volunteers currently promoting and maintaining the route.

The briefing note outlined how the Icknield Way route meets Natural England's four quality standards for National Trails:

• Experience: The majority of the Icknield Way route is accessible by national and local public transport, allowing nearly half of England to enjoy the walking and riding experiences.
• Enhancement: The Icknield Way route uses a mix of footpaths, bridleways, byways, and roads. The route is largely traffic free and uses safe road and rail crossings.
• Engagement: The Icknield Way Association promotes the route and collaborates with local authorities and land managers/owners.
• Economy: National Trail status would make it easier for people to find out about and access local businesses and facilities, boosting UK expenditure on tourism and travel.

The presentation was also scheduled to raise other subjects for discussion, including whether there is a better multi-user route that Buckinghamshire Council and Central Bedfordshire Council can create between Ivinghoe Beacon and Dunstable Downs, and consideration of support/maintenance of the Icknield Way Trail (the riding route) from Ivinghoe Beacon going south through Buckinghamshire alongside, or coincident the Ridgeway.

Public Spaces Protection Order

Abdul Rahim, Community Safety Manager (Operational) at Buckinghamshire Council, was scheduled to present a report on the proposed renewal of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)² regarding antisocial behaviour along Footpath HWU/80/1 in High Wycombe.

The existing three-year order was due to expire in October 2025. Footpath HWU/80/1 runs behind the houses on West End Road in the Desborough Road area of High Wycombe. The report stated that the closure renewal application is due to ongoing antisocial behaviour and would be implemented by retaining gates at each end of the path, allowing access by residents only.

The order was originally introduced in 2017, extended in 2020 for two years, and further extended in 2022 for a three-year period until 2025. According to the report, the area is still subject to ongoing crime and antisocial behaviour, despite joint working by the council and police. A consultation exercise has been undertaken with residents, the local community and local councillors, and no objections to the extension have been received, with all respondents wanting the restriction to remain in place.

Local Transport Plan 5

Joseph Kay, Principal Transport Strategy Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, was scheduled to present information on the development of a new Local Transport Plan (LTP5). Local Transport Plans are a statutory requirement of the Transport Act 2000, and set out long-term priorities for transport, supported by a more detailed Implementation Plan.

The most recent LTP (LTP4) was published in 2016 under the former Buckinghamshire County Council. LTP5 will be a concise high-level strategic document, supported by more detailed guidance and plans.

Work to develop LTP5 is planned to be conducted in the following stages:

• Production of LTP5, part 1 supporting strategies and internal approvals: summer – winter 2025.
• Public Consultation on draft LTP5 and part 1 supporting strategies: spring 2026.
• Adoption of LTP5 and part 1 supporting strategies: summer 2026.
• Development of part 2 supporting strategies: winter 2026 onwards.

The current stage of work is focused on identifying LTP5 policy requirements, and input from the Local Access Forum on concerns and areas for consideration was requested to help inform the drafting process.

Buckinghamshire Local Access Forum Annual Review 2024/25

James Spratley, Strategic Access Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, was scheduled to present the Buckinghamshire Local Access Forum Annual Review 2024/25 for members' comments. Once agreed by members, it will be submitted to Natural England and published on the council's website.

The report summarises the Local Access Forum's work and advice over the April 2024/25 period. It includes information on membership, meeting diary, guest speakers and advice, monitoring success, general advice, major infrastructure, strategic consultations, improving public access, scrutiny, comments from the appointing authority, and comments from the Chairman, Neil Harris, Countryside Manager at the National Trust.

East West Rail Update

Jonathan Clark, Senior Strategic Access Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, was scheduled to provide an update on the East West Rail project.

The report pack included a letter from Glyn Thomas, Independent member, to Jonathan Clark from February 2025, expressing concern that the link to Aylesbury had been removed from the East West Rail proposals, and asking what was being done about it.

The report pack also included a response from Councillor Thomas Broom, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, to Glyn Thomas, thanking him for his letter and assuring him that the council is fully engaged to protect the interests of its residents and communities, as well as seeking to maximise the benefits of the proposals and continuing to lobby the Government to ensure that the Aylesbury link will be delivered.

Rights of Way Group Update

Claire Hudson, Definitive Map and Highways Searches Team Leader; Jonathan Clark, Strategic Access Officer; James Spratley, Strategic Access Officers; and Joanne Taylor, Rights of Way Operations Team Leader, were scheduled to provide an update on the work of the Rights of Way Group.

The update included information on Definitive Map Modification applications, Public Path Orders, Village Green Applications, Strategic Access, and Rights of Way Operations.

The Definitive Map section of the update listed a number of Definitive Map Modification applications that are currently under investigation, including:

• High Wycombe: Application to add a Public Footpath to the Definitive Map between Pinewood Road and Public Footpath No. 93.
• Bledlow-cum-Saunderton: Investigation clarifying the status of the disputed route at North Mill Road.
• Hazlemere: Application to record various routes in the field adjacent to Public Footpath No. 8 and Public Bridleway No. 6, Parish of Hazlemere as Public Footpaths.
• Leckhampstead: Application to upgrade Public Footpath No. 5 (part) to Public Bridleway and add a route which connects with No.5 as Public Bridleway.
• Stokenchurch: Application to add routes to the Definitive Map at East Wood.
• Penn: Application to add a route to the Definitive Map between Public Footpath No. 36 and No. 44.
• Little Missenden: Application to register circular footpath off Stoney Lane.
• Little Marlow and Marlow: Application to add public footpath along A404.
• Little Marlow: Application to add public footpath around Roach Lane.
• Little Marlow/Marlow: Application to add public footpath along Crowne Plaza.
• Little Marlow/Marlow: Application to add public footpaths, west of Westhorpe.
• Little Marlow: Application to upgrade footpath no. 20 to public bridleway.
• Dinton with Ford and Upton: Claimed Restricted Byway and Upgrading to a Restricted Byway, Moreton Road to Moreton Lane.
• Chesham: Claimed Footpath off Pednor Road.
• Whitchurch: application to add public footpath between Hawleys Lane and public footpath No. 54.
• Whitchurch: application to add public footpath from Glebe Field to Church Yard, east of White Horse Lane.
• Whitchurch: application to add public footpath between public footpath No. 33 & 26.
• Bledlow: application to investigate the alignment of public footpath No. 52.
• Whaddon: application to add a Public Footpath to the Definitive Map between Whaddon Hall and Public Footpath No.6.
• Buckingham: application to add a Public Bridleway to the Definitive Map following the dismantled railway walk from the A421 to Tingewick Road.
• Chalfont St Peter: application to add a Public Footpath to the Definitive Map at Windmill Farm connecting Public Footpath No 19 with Footpath no 55.

The Strategic Access section of the update included information on the Great Missenden to Wendover Greenway Cycleway, the Donate-a-Gate scheme, the North Bucks rRIPPLE round-up, and Buckinghamshire Council Staff Training at Centre for Outdoor Accessibility Training (COAT).

The Rights of Way Operations section of the update included information on the current staff structure, work crews, capital projects completed in 2024/2025, capital projects planned for 2025/2026, closure on Ashford Lane bridge Jubilee crossing, surface and bridge works, Thames Path - Great Marlow Footpath 1 - Temple Footbridge closed due to structure failure, and a summary of maintenance carried out between 1/04/23 and 16/06/25.

Buckinghamshire Promoted Routes

Andrew Clark, LAF member for the Chiltern Society and Chiltern magazine walks author, was scheduled to present a report on Buckinghamshire Promoted Routes.

The report noted that when the Buckinghamshire website was recently updated, the webpage for the promoted routes was limited, showing them just as line on a map without the ability to download the route as a leaflet. However, the rights of way team has since made many routes available to the public as a leaflet, simply by providing a link to an external website.

In addition, a volunteer, Claire Jones, has been enlisted to survey some of the promoted routes, updating and cleaning waymarkers where necessary and reporting issues via the council's website. Claire is currently assisting Andrew Clark in checking and updating other former Chiltern district promoted route projects, such as The Chiltern Heritage Trail and The Chiltern Link.

The Promoted Routes are shown on the online map accessible on the council website.