Formal Consultation begins on Core Paths – Your views are needed
Thursday, April 3 2008
Scottish Borders Council’s Access & Countryside Team is inviting comments on the Scottish Borders Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan, as part of a 12 week period of formal public consultation.
Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, a duty has been imposed on local authorities requiring them to draw up a plan for a system of paths ‘sufficient for the purpose of giving the public reasonable access throughout their area’. These paths are to be known as core paths and local authorities must produce a plan, formally consult the public and adopt the plan thereafter.
The Scottish Borders already has one of the largest path networks in the country made up of rights of way, promoted routes and longer distance routes such as the Southern Upland Way. Some of these existing routes will become core paths and in doing so the core path network, as a whole, should accommodate all types of users.
SBC has been collecting information from communities over the past few years to identify where these core paths could be. This has been used to draw up the Scottish Borders Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan.
Executive Member for Planning and Environment, Carolyn Riddell-Carre, said: “This Plan will undergo formal public consultation, which will determine where core paths will be throughout the Borders. We’re seeking to balance the working landscape with recreational opportunities, therefore it is paramount that all with an interest in the outdoors; landowners, farmers, walkers and riders, whether of horses or bicycles, view the Plan and submit their comments before Monday 7 July.”
The plan and comment forms will be available for viewing from Monday 14 April in local libraries, Council offices and on the Council’s website at www.scotborders.gov.uk .
In addition, drop-in meetings will take place at the following locations, from 5pm-8pm:
Council Chamber/ Committee Rm 1, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells - Mon 21 April; Jedburgh Town Hall, Abbey Place,
Jedburgh - Mon 28 April; Council Chamber, Galashiels Area Office, Albert Place, Galashiels - Thurs 8 May; Council Chamber,
Peebles Area Office, Rosetta Road, Peebles - Monday 12 May; Tower Mill, 2nd Floor, Hawick, - Thurs 15 May; Eyemouth Community
Centre, Albert Road, Eyemouth - Monday 19 May; Council Chamber, Duns Area Office, Newtown Street, Duns - Monday 26 May; Abbey
Row Centre, Abbey Row, Kelso - Thursday 29 May.
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