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Helping people access the countryside

The Northumberland National Park and County Joint Local Access Forum is an independent body with an interest in public rights of way and access to the countryside in our area. Northumberland National Park Authority works in partnership with Northumberland County Council in the running of the forum.

Please note that whilst meetings of the JLAF are not public meetings, members of the public are very welcome to attend as observers. JLAF meetings are also an ideal opportunity for people interested in joining the JLAF to come along and find out what we do. The dates of 2022 meetings are Tuesday 25 January, Tuesday 26 April, Tuesday 19 July (to be confirmed) and Thursday 20 October.

If you have a question you wish to put to the forum for this meeting please contact the JLAF Administrator on jlaf@nnpa.org.uk or Jayne.Longlands@nnpa.org.uk, Tel: 01434 611550, preferably within ten working days of the meeting but we welcome questions at any time.

The agenda can be viewed under ‘JLAF Agendas and Minutes’ further down the page.

Latest news

Read more about a priority initiative announced by Northumberland Joint Local Access Forum (JLAF) which aims to convert disused railway tracks to accessible shared-use greenways.

https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/rails-to-trails-initiative-by-njlaf/

About the Joint Local Access Forum

Find out more about the Joint Local Access Forum.

Advice

The forum covers the county of Northumberland and that part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within Northumberland, and gives advice on three main areas:

  • Improving the Rights of Way network
  • Developing strategies for recreation and access which cater for a wide range of people
  • Implementing the statutory right of access to the countryside

Areas of work

The forum has a remit of advising on strategic access and recreational issues generally. The forum’s work will include being consulted on:

  • Draft maps of open country and registered common land prepared by Natural England
  • Preparation of bylaws made by the access authorities that affect access land
  • Appointment of access wardens
  • Directions proposed by, for example, the National Park Authority, Northumberland County Council, Defra, Natural England, Forestry Commission in relation to long term closure of access land
  • Public rights of way improvement plans prepared by the appointing authorities.
  • Others issues as they arise such as access and the health agenda, access and public transport

Current Members

The forum currently has 15 members representing:

  • Users of local rights of way or open access land (e.g. walkers, horse riders, cyclists and carriage drivers)
  • Owners, managers and occupiers of access land or land over which local rights of way subsist
  • Wider interest groups, including rural business, education, tourism, youth work, urban interests, conservation and disability issues, especially relevant to the appointing authority’s area.

Getting involved and how to apply for membership

Members of the public are very welcome to attend forum meetings which, though not public meetings, are open to members of the public.

If you are interested in open access issues and would like to be considered for membership of the forum, attending one of our meetings is a good place start. Anyone between the ages of 18 – 80 can apply to join the forum if they have a genuine interest and some knowledge of the countryside and access issues.

Recruiting new members

A recruitment drive will take place early in 2022. More information will be added to this page in due course.

However, you can apply for membership at any time by contacting Jayne.Longlands@nnpa.org.uk or jlaf@nnpa.org.uk, Tel: 01434 611550.

 

Contact

The Joint Local Access Forum Administrator, Jayne Longlands, is your point of contact for matters relating to the forum or Lorna Lazzari, National Trails Officer. You can contact Jayne and Lorna by contacting them as follows:

Telephone: 01434 605555

Email: jlaf@nnpa.org.uk or Jayne.Longlands@nnpa.org.uk or lorna.Lazzari@nnpa.org.uk

Post:

Northumberland National Park Authority,
Eastburn,
South Park,
Hexham,
Northumberland.
NE46 1BS.

Opportunities to access the countryside

With 700 miles of footpaths and rights of way, Northumberland National Park can keep every pair of boots, trainers, wheels or set of hooves happy. This landscape is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.

Walking

Walking is the best way to see Northumberland National Park. Take a relaxing stroll to walk off that tasty pub lunch or stride out on a long-distance moorland trail across Northumberland National Park.

Running

Just starting or a seasoned pro? Whether you’re just keeping fit or taking part in a challenge event, we have some of the most inspiring running routes in the country.

Cycling

Northumberland National Park is a cyclist’s dream. Our quiet roads are perfect to eat up the distance while off-road family-friendly routes mean that anyone can bring their bike and get cycling.

Horse Riding

Horse Riding over the wide open spaces, hills and moors of Northumberland National Park is exhilarating. On these heather and grass covered uplands you can ride for hours without seeing anyone else. Enjoy quiet rides either as part of an organised group or on a self-guided ride.

Three men walk along a stretch of path next to Hadrian's Wall with a small lake in the background
Family Cycling in the cheviots
Young woman riding a horse in the National Park
a father and son Running in the National Park

Membership

Find out more about JLAF membership here.

Current Members

At their meeting on 24 November 2021, the JLAF appointed Alex MacLennan as Chair, and Moray Allan and Ian Glendinning as Vice Chairs.

Northumberland County Council appointed Cllr Catherine Seymour as their representative in March 2019. The National Park Authority representative appointed at their Annual Meeting in September 2020 are Fiona Gough and Marie Fallon (shared).

Joint Local Access Forum members represent a wide variety of interests. These include landowning, tourism, education, business, recreation, farming, conservation, ecology, health issues, sustainable transport and accessibility for all.

Members are also represented on forums and groups of a number of other organisations such as the Regional Local Access Forum Chairs group, Local Nature Partnership, Northumberland Coast AONB and North Pennines AONB Access & Recreation Group.

Current Membership as at 24 November 2021

Alex MacLennan (Land) – Chair

Moray Allan (Recreational) – Vice Chair

Ian Glendinning (Other) – Vice Chair

Stephen Blake (Observer Member February 2018)

Phillip Cotton (Other)

Liz Bray (Recreational)

Vic Brown (Recreational)

Marie Fallon (NNPA representative shared)

Fiona Gough (NNPA representative shared)

Ted Liddle (Recreational)

Sarah Radcliffe (Other)

Sue Rogers (Recreational)

Violet Rook (Other)

Nick Rossiter (Other)

Cllr Catherine Seymour (NCC representative)

Joint Local Access Forum Position Statements

From time to time the JLAF will publish position statements.

The latest – A Position Statement on Wind Turbines – was ratified at the meeting of the JLAF on 24 July 2014.

 

Decadal Review

The Forum is keen to hear from anyone who would like to help them in identifying anomalies with the conclusive map of open country and registered common land within Northumberland. While, given the size of the task, we feel that the Conclusive Map produced by the Countryside Agency was a reasonable first attempt, we feel that errors and anomalies do exist.

Please use the attached form – the accompanying letter explains more about the Decadal Review. Please note – there is a blank page after the letter.

Download the Decadal Review Form