Repot of the meeting at Ramblers Central Office, Wednesday 21st September 2016
Present: Janet Davis, RA Central Office; Alan Goffee, Essex Area Chairman & Katherine Evans, Area FP Sec
Ramblers Central Office fully understands that the work Network Rail [NWR] is undertaking in respect of the closure of rights of way level crossings is a major threat to the footpath network.
The Ramblers are preparing campaign and advocacy plans to deal with this issue which will involve partnerships with other organisations, influencing government bodies involved with NWR (e.g. ORR - Office of Road & Rail which looks at safety on both road and railways systems),and the House of Commons Transport Select Committee) as well as contacting MPs, Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
It is expected to be a long campaign.
The following list identifies the work in progress and the issues to be addressed in the future.
- Central Office will ask Footpath Secretaries and other interested members to submit issues they are unhappy about from the Stage 2 Network Rail proposals to Central Office e.g. length of diversion, transferring to roads, condition of path surfaces and doubts about promises of routes not being deliverable (landowner consent). These will then be submitted to NWR as an overarching Ramblers central office submission and used as evidence for the future. This is in addition to those footpath secretaries and individuals making submissions directly to NWR in response in response to the Stage 2 consultation proposals.
- Central Office will ask Areas to review the information handed out by NWR at the meetings, on usage and safety assessments, and send through comments and observations from a local prospective.
- As a matter of urgency a clear statement on the Ramblers position will be placed on the main Ramblers website. www.ramblers.org.uk
- The October members’ e-newsletter will cover the issue and refer members back to the website item.
- Updates will be provided in the Walk Magazine together. In due course, if possible, there will be a bigger feature on the issue, detailing the scheme and how it is being tackled by Ramblers.
- Central Office will seek legal advice on whether there is any possibility of seeking Judicial Review of any aspect of NWR’s proposals, and how they are handling the matter.
- Contact has been made with Cambs, Suffolk and Esssex County Councils. They are reportedly all unhappy with the NWR proposals. The County Councils, as highway authorities, are very important players in this matter. If they object to a Transport and Works Act order they automatically become statutory objectors, and any objection they make must be heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State (that would not apply to the Ramblers or an ordinary member of the public).
- Contact has been made with other interested bodies, such as BHS, OSS, and Cycling UK (CTC) and joint positions will be developed.. CPRE will be also be contacted.
- Using the replies from Essex Area letters to MP's, contact will be made to these and other supportive Parliamentarians to gain support and advice.
- Contact will be made with bodies responsible for overseeing the operation on NWR, to gain insight into their views.
- Discussions will be arranged with the Office of Road and Rail (ORR), the regulatory body responsible for rail AND road safety.
- Continue to build the collections of statements from DEFRA, Ministry of Transport, House of Commons Transport Select Committee and similar bodies, on Rights of Way and NWR.
- Investigate employing a railway expert to advise on details of suitable train stopping distances, sight lines and safety devices for use on rights of way level crossings.
- Provide regular updates on progress and responses from interested parties via e-newsletters..
- Arrange direct contact with senior staff at NWR to discuss the programme and the future.