Active Travel England (ATE) has recently published a Rural Design Guide (RDG), partly fuelled by concerns that, in the promotion on Active Travel schemes, some elements within local authorities are not always observing the correct legal procedures around the re-purposing of existing public rights of way.
Although key stakeholder organisations, including LARA, had been invited to comment on earlier drafts of the RDG, there has been no public consultation. However ATE has said that there will be six month window following publication where it will continue to accept comments and suggestions from a wide range of stakeholders including the public.
A copy of the RDG can be found here.
It is a sizeable document. The only sections of major concern to motoring interests are those on ‘modal filters’ on minor roads, which is ATE jargon for prohibiting use of those roads by motor traffic, and/or the repurposing and/or resurfacing of public rights of way, with the possible consequent loss of local, historical or rural character.
LARA has stressed the need to take account of the impact of vehicle prohibitions on those sectors of society not fortunate enough to be able benefit from Active Travel. This has not been taken on board within this guidance. But admittedly, it is design guidance, rather than policy guidance.
At the end of the day, this guidance is, of itself, not going to pose a significant new threat to motoring interests. It is guidance and there are no new powers or duties for authorities. Any risk lies in the fact that there is an abundance of funding available for Active Travel schemes, which must be very tempting for cash strapped authorities, regardless of the merits of individual schemes. For motoring interests, as ever, the key imperative is to monitor emerging proposals at local level and challenge them if needs be…
