Cumbria and Lakes Joint Local Access Forum
The Forum’s main purpose is to advise on improving public access to the countryside in the former county of Cumbria (excluding the Yorkshire Dales National Park who have their own forum, see link below). The three appointing bodies are Cumberland Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and Westmorland and Furness Council. The Cumbria and Lakes Joint Local Access Forum (C&LLAF) is an independent statutory advisory body.
The Local Access Forum’s role is to:
- advise on matters relating to access to the countryside
- improve opportunities for everyone to enjoy public rights of way network and open access land
- advise on balancing recreational access to the countryside with farming, wildlife, landscape, conservation, cultural, heritage needs
- consider the needs of residents, farmers, landowners, land managers and tourism operators
- consider social, economic and educational factors
- advise on issues concerning Open Access land (mountain, moorland, common, heath and down)
- help steer and monitor countryside access policy.
Minutes and Meetings
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 11 February, online.
All meetings are open to the public. If you wish to join please contact laf@lakedistrict.gov.uk at least 48 hours before the meeting.
For minutes and agendas for recent meetings follow the links below. Contact us for archived minutes and consultation responses.
pdf meeting agendas and minutes to add.
Attendance at meetings
Members of the public can attend meetings. They must contact the Local Access Forum (see contact details below) at least 3 days before the meeting date. The Chair is Carole Barr, the C&LJLAF should have between 10 and 22 members at all times.
Interested in joining?
If you care about countryside access and are interested in influencing future policy, you may be interested in joining us. Members can represent recreational users or landowners. We want a balanced range of interests and experiences, so if you feel you can be involved, please get in touch for an informal discussion, before considering whether to apply.
Local Access Forum FAQs
Four times a year, with other optional subgroups and site visits where needed.
We meet at locations around Cumbria including at National Park and Council offices, and village halls. Some of our meetings are held online or as hybrid, usually one of our quarterly meetings. The members decide suitable locations and times for meetings to ensure as many people as possible are able to attend, and we ensure that all meeting venues are accessible. We also have site visits where required.
The role is voluntary but expenses are paid for travel to meetings and site visits at the current LDNPA volunteer expense rate.
We welcome applications from everyone in the community. You do not have to live or work in the area covered but you should have a good knowledge or interest in the area. Please see member specification for details.
Member specification:
- Good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels. Ability to work constructively with competing interests.
- Knowledge of countryside issues. Interest in the interaction between recreation, land management, conservation and other interests.
- Experience of at least one of the following: Recreation, Land Management, Nature Conservation, Heritage, Tourism, Health, Business, Trade Union Interests, or Transport. Experience of dealing with and discussing strategic issues. Experience of working in partnership / consensus and liaison with a variety of groups and interests.
- Personal competencies: Confidence, diplomacy and team working. Availability and willingness to attend meetings and training sessions in person or online.
Contact us
If you would like more information about the Cumbria and the Lakes Joint Local Access Forum, or would like your views to be heard, please contact us:
- email: laf@lakedistrict.gov.uk
- phone: 015394 724555
- address: Cumbria and the Lakes Joint Local Access Forum, c/o Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Kendal, LA9 7RL.
Useful Links
