The Rutland Countryside Access Forum is scheduled to meet on 1 October 2025 to discuss the Rutland Water leaflets, the Countryside For All project, and construction sites in the countryside. The forum will also appoint a chair for the 2025-26 municipal year and confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

Countryside For All Project

The forum is scheduled to discuss the Countryside For All project and whether the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) could manage the project in the future.

According to the discussions with CPRE re Administration of the Countryside For All project report, the number of Countryside For All sites is growing, which means that:

...the amount of time spent managing and administering the process is continuing to increase. One of the major problems is getting funding. Many funding organisations see us as part of the Local Authority, no matter what we say. This reduces the chances of us obtaining outside funding.

The report states that the Disability Sub Group, with members in both the Rutland CAF and the Joint Lincolnshire LAF, is asking the CAF for their agreement for a member of the Sub Group and the Chair of the CAF to discuss this matter with the CPRE at a local level. The Sub Group is also asking for the CAF to provide names of other organisations which may be interested in managing the project should the CPRE feel it's outside their remit.

The Forum is asked to consider who John Law and Roger Linford (Chair) should approach to discuss this, and what other organisations may be interested in taking the project forward if the CPRE feels it is outside their remit.

Currently there are Countryside For All leaflets available for Rutland and Lincolnshire. In October a leaflet will be available for a site in North East Lincolnshire, with another site leaflet planned for 2026. In 2026 there will also be two leaflets for Nottinghamshire and one for Leicestershire. The Countryside For All sites and routes are currently promoted on websites such as Visit Lincolnshire and Discover Rutland.

Rutland Water Leaflets

The forum is scheduled to discuss the Rutland Water leaflets, and a report will be provided by John Law. According to the two Rutland Water leaflets report, the Rutland Water and the Egleton Nature Reserve leaflets are out of date, and there are an increasing number of inquiries for these leaflets.

Anglian Water have reportedly stated that they are not prepared to contribute to the redesign and printing of these leaflets, even though they will benefit financially from the increase in footfall. The report states that it is not right to increase Anglian Water's revenue without them contributing to aid people with limited mobility, and it also does not feel right that the money should come from Government or funding organisations grants.

The suggested way forward is to ask for business sponsors to fund the leaflets and in return have their logo and web address on the front page and acknowledgement of their funding on the back page of the leaflet. The Anglian Water logo will be removed from the leaflets.

If business sponsorship is secured, John Law will survey and update the Rutland Water leaflet. In the case of the Egleton Nature Reserve leaflet, the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust will be approached to see if they can assist in surveying and updating the leaflet.

The Forum is asked to consider whether they agree with this way forward, and what other businesses besides pubs, restaurants and hotels near the reservoir may be likely to sponsor the leaflets.

Construction Sites

John Law is scheduled to provide a verbal update on construction sites in the countryside.

Other items

The agenda for the meeting includes:

• Welcome and apologies
• Appointment of Chair for the 2025-26 municipal year
• Declarations of interest
• To confirm the minutes made at the meeting of the Forum held on 19th March 2025.
• Any urgent business
• Date of next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday 18th March 2026 at 2pm.