North Northants Local Access Forum (NNLAF)

Local Access Forums (LAFs) are advisory bodies that provide independent advice on public access to land, for recreational and other functional and utility purposes.​

Local Access Forums have a legal function to give advice to a collection of bodies and organisations including:

  • the appointing authority, including the local highways authority or National Park authority
  • any county, unitary, district or borough council within the area of the LAF
  • any secretary of state (or government department)
  • Natural England
  • The Forestry Commission
  • English Heritage
  • Sport England
  • any parish or town council for any part of the area in which a LAF is established

Our role and responsibilities

The function of the North Northants Local Access Forum (NNLAF) is to advise North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Councils, as appointing authorities for the area, regarding matters affecting public access within the county.

The main remit of the group is to advise the unitary councils, along with other local authorities, on the management of the county's public rights of way. The advice of the group is to ensure the continued improvement and protection of public rights of way in Northamptonshire for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the countryside.

Terms of reference

Membership renewal

The correct administration of the NNLAF means that each member must step down and be re-elected after a maximum of 3 years to keep the group open and fair.

Membership of the NNLAF may be applied for from Northants Highways, whose responsibility it is to ensure there is a reasonable balance in the representation of the interests of public access user groups and landowner and occupier groups.

Members must serve in a personal capacity to represent public interests rather than the views of any particular organisation.

Current membership

  • Chris Shaw (Chair)
  • Claire Marshall (Vice Chair)
  • Andrew Knapman
  • Bob Entwistle
  • Fiona Rawlings
  • Kathi Barker
  • Tony Hoyle
  • Tony Skirrow
  • Kay Driver
  • John Shenfield

Members of the public are usually entitled to attend meetings, however, we are currently looking to welcome new members to the Forum.   

If you are interested in becoming a member of the NNLAF, please contact the Secretary using the details in the further information section below.

Next meeting

Wednesday 13 December, 6pm to 7pm (West Northants), 7pm to 7:30pm (Shared Issues), 7:30pm to 8:30pm (North Northants), Brixworth Depot.

Agendas and meeting minutes

Agenda: Wednesday 13 December 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Location: Brixworth Depot

1: Welcome and Apologies

  • Welcome and Introductions for new members

2: Declaration of Interests – All

3: Review of Minutes of Last Meeting – All

4: Update on resources – Row, Amenities etc.

5: Future of the NNLAF

  • Dates of future meetings
  • Location of future meetings

6: Update on Projects

  • Trunk Road Crossings (TC)
  • The Greenway
  • Active Travel
  • Definitive Map (SF)
  • Report on current outstanding DMMOs
  • Review of draft ToR

7: Area Reports

  • North Northamptonshire
  • Active Travel

8: Any Other Business

  • Stakeholder Drop-In Events

9:  Dates of future meetings

  • 2024 meetings to be scheduled (as above)

Local Access Forum – Joint Issues

Agenda: Wednesday 13 December 7:00pm to 7:30pm

Location: Brixworth Depot

1: Welcome and Apologies

  • Welcome and Introductions for new members

2: Joint Issues to be discussed

  • Rights of Way Action Plan 2024 / 25
  • Parish Path Wardens
  • Websites and Interactive Mapping
  • RoW Users Group meetings
  • StreetDoctor
  • Training of Volunteers

3: AOB

Draft Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Tuesday 30 May, 6pm to 8:30pm

Location: Brixworth Depot

1: Welcome and Apologies

  • welcome and introductions for new members

2: Declaration of Interests

3: Update on resources – Row, Amenities etc.

4: Update on Projects

  • Trunk Road Crossings (TC)
  • The Greenway
  • Active Travel
  • Don’t Lose Your Way (SF)
  • Definitive Map (SF)
  • report on current outstanding DMMOs
  • NNC Websites, Interactive Mapping etc.

5: Issues

  • RoWIP action plan(s) – implementation and update
  • parish path wardens (JW)
  • websites and interactive mapping
  • liaison meetings with The Ramblers (JW)
  • StreetDoctor (AL)
  • maintenance of cycleways and unadopted cycleways (AL)
  • training of volunteers (AL)

6: Standing orders of business

  • review of ROW issues, diversion / modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • membership issues (mileage / governance)

7: Area reports

  • North Northamptonshire

8: Any other business

9: Dates of future meetings

  • to be decided

Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Thursday 9 February, 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Location: Brixworth Depot

1: Welcome and Apologies

  • welcome and Introductions for new members

2: Declaration of Interests

3: Election of Chair and Vice Chair

  • nominations to be forwarded to the NLAF Secretary prior to the meeting

4: Update on resources – Row, Amenities etc.

5: Update on Projects

  • Trunk Road Crossings (TC)
  • The Greenway
  • Active Travel
  • Don’t Lose Your Way (SF)
  • Definitive Map (SF)
  • report on current outstanding DMMOs
  • NNC Websites, Interactive Mapping etc.
  • Chester Farm Bridges

6: Issues

  • RoWIP action plan(s) – implementation and update
  • parish path wardens (JW)
  • websites and interactive mapping
  • liaison meetings with The Ramblers (JW)
  • StreetDoctor (AL)
  • maintenance of cycleways and unadopted cycleways (AL)
  • training of volunteers (AL)

7: Standing orders of business

  • review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • membership issues (mileage / governance)

8: Area reports

  • North Northamptonshire

9: Any other business

10: Dates of future meetings

  • to be decided

Combined agenda: Thursday 9 February, 7pm to 7:30pm

Location: Brixworth Depot

1: Update on LAFs and Contract Overview – Andrew Leighton

2: Review of the minutes of last meeting

3: Terms of Reference

  • review of West Northants Terms of Reference
  • review of North Northants Terms of Reference

4: Volunteer Activities on the RoW Network

  • list of appropriate tasks
  • training
  • risk assessment
  • provision of equipment (PUWER)
  • appropriate supervision
  • lone working arrangements

Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Tuesday 29 November, 5pm to 7pm

1: Welcome and Apologies – Bob Entwistle

  • Welcome and Introductions for new members

2: Declaration of Interests

3: Election of Chair and Vice Chair

  • Nominations to be forwarded to the NLAF Secretary prior to the meeting.

4. Update on NLAF and Contract Overview – Andrew Leighton, James Docherty, Graeme Kane

  • Future of the NLAF Forum – Bob Entwistle
  • Details of Operational Changes (to include maps, organisational charts, etc).

5: Review of Minutes of Last Meeting – Bob Entwistle

6. Update on Projects:

  • Safe crossings on the A43 and other Trunk Roads (TC)
  • The Greenway
  • Chester House Bridges (official opening Friday 25th November)
  • Don’t Lose Your Way (SF)
  • Upton Country Park Accessibility
  • Definitive Map (SF)
  • Report on current outstanding DMMOs
  • Procedure for upgrading a footpath to a bridleway
  • WNC / NNC Websites, Interactive Mapping etc. (JD)
  • Surface of Drovers Road, Hunsbury 

7: Issues

  • RoWIP Action Plan(s) – Implementation and Update
  • Parish Path Wardens (JW)
  • Websites and Interactive Mapping (JD)
  • Liaison meetings with The Ramblers (JW)
  • StreetDoctor (AL)
  • Maintenance of Cycleways and unadopted Cycleways (AL)
  • Training of Volunteers

8. Standing Orders of Business

  • Review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • Forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • Membership issues (mileage / governance)

9. Area Reports

  • West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire
  • Active Travel – to include information on how Active Travel intersects with National Highways

10. Any Other Business

11. Dates of future meetings

  • To be decided.

Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Thursday 25 August, 1900 – 2100hrs

1: Welcome and Apologies – Bob Entwistle

  • Welcome and Introductions for new members

2: Declaration of Interests

3. Update on NLAF and Contract Overview – Leon Jolly, James Docherty, Graeme Kane

  • Future of the NLAF Forum – Bob Entwistle

4: Review of Minutes of Last Meeting – Bob Entwistle

Matters arising

5. Update on Projects

  • Safe crossings on the A43 and other Trunk Roads (TC)
  • The Greenway and Chester Farm Bridges
  • Don’t Lose Your Way (Steve Fowler)
  • Site Visits (Rob Carroll)
  • Upton Country Park Accessibility (Leon Jolly)
  • Definitive Map (Steve Fowler)
  • WNC / NNC Websites, Interactive Mapping etc. (James Docherty)
  • Brixworth Churchyard Kissing Gate (Leon Jolly)

6: Issues

  • RoWIP Action Plan(s) – Implementation and Update: Leon Jolly
  • Parish Path Wardens
    • PPW Teams Page
  • Websites and Interactive Mapping
  • Links to Websites
  • Liaison meetings with The Ramblers
  • StreetDoctor / Fix My Street
  • Maintenance of Cycleways

7. Standing Orders of Business

  • Review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • Forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • Membership issues (mileage / governance)

8. Area Reports

  • Areas 1, 2 and 3
  • Active Travel

9. Any Other Business

10.  Dates of future meetings:

  • Thursday 6 October
  • Tuesday 29 November

Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Wednesday 20 April, 1900 – 2100hrs

1: Welcome and Apologies – Bob Entwistle

  • Welcome and Introductions for new members

2: Declaration of Interests

3: Review of Minutes of Last Meeting – Bob Entwistle

  • Matters arising

4. Update on Projects:

  • Safe crossings on the A43 and other Trunk Roads (TC)
  • The Greenway and Chester Farm Bridges
  • Don’t Lose Your Way
  • Site Visits (Rob Carroll)
    • Upton Country Park Accessibility
  • Definitive Map (Steve Fowler)
  • WNC / NNC Websites, Interactive Mapping etc. (James Docherty)

5: Presentation on Local Issues:

  • Highways Contract Procurement -  Leon Jolly and client officers
    • Future of NLAF
  • RoWIP Action Plan – Implementation and Update: Leon Jolly
  • Parish Path Wardens
    • Induction: March 2022
    • PPW Teams Page
  • Websites and Interactive Mapping
  • Links to Websites
  • Liaison meetings with The Ramblers
  • StreetDoctor / Fix My Street

6. Standing Orders of Business

  • Review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • Forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • Membership issues (mileage / governance)

7. Area Reports

  • Areas 1, 2 and 3
  • Active Travel
  • Greenway

8. Any Other Business

  • Access issues:  Upton Country Park and West Hunsbury (KB)

9.  Dates of future meetings

  • Thursday 25 August
  • Thursday 6 October

Meeting minutes

Agenda: Tuesday 18 January, 1900 – 2100hrs

1.  Welcome and Apologies – Bob Entwistle

  • Welcome and Introductions for new members

2. Declaration of Interests

3. Elections – Chair and Vice Chair

2. Review of Minutes of Last Meeting – Bob Entwistle

  • Matters arising

3. Update on Projects:

  • The Greenway and Chester Farm Bridges update
  • Lost Ways update
  • Isham Bypass
  • Site Visits (Rob Carroll)

4. Presentation on Local Issues:

  • Highways Contract Procurement -  Leon Jolly and client officers
    • Future of NLAF
  • RoWIP Action Plan – Implementation and Update: Leon Jolly
  • Parish Path Wardens
    • Induction: January 2022
  • Budget 2022/23: Leon Jolly
  • Liaison meetings with The Ramblers
  • StreetDoctor / Fix My Street

5. Standing Orders of Business

  • Review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • Forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • Membership issues (mileage / governance)

6. Area Reports

  • Areas 1, 2 and 3
  • Active Travel

7. Any Other Business

  • Access issues:  Upton Country Park and West Hunsbury (KB)
  • Protected Characteristics Working Group

8.  Dates of future meetings

  • To be discussed and confirmed

Agenda: Thursday 16 December 2021, 7pm to 9pm

1: Welcome and apologies - Bob Entwistle

  • welcome and introductions for new members

2: Declaration of interests

3: Elections - Chair and Vice Chair

4: Review of minutes of last meeting - Bob Entwistle

  • matters arising

5: Update on projects:

  • The Greenway and Chester Farm Bridges update
  • lost ways update
  • Isham Bypass
  • site visits (Rob Carroll)

6: Presentation on local issues:

  • highways contract procurement - Leon Jolly & client officers
  • future of NLAF
  • RoWIP Action Plan – Implementation and Update: Leon Jolly
  • Parish Path Wardens
  • induction: January 2022
  • budget 2022/23: Leon Jolly
  • liaison meetings with The Ramblers
  • Street Doctor / Fix My Street

7: Standing orders of business:

  • review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and 
  • opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • membership issues (mileage / governance)

8: Area reports:

  • areas 1, 2 and 3
  • active travel

9: Any other business

10: Dates of future meetings:

  • Tuesday 15 February 2022
  • Wednesday 17 May 2022
  • Thursday 6 October 2022
  • Wednesday 14 December 2022

Meeting minutes

Agenda: Thursday 23 September 2021, 7pm to 9pm

1: Welcome and apologies - Bob Entwistle

  • welcome and introductions for new members

2: Review of minutes of last meeting - Bob Entwistle

  • matters arising

3: Presentation on local issues:

  • transition to unitary status (including procurement of contracts)
  • update: Leon Jolly & client officers
  • RoWIP action plan - implementation and update: Leon Jolly
  • Parish Path Wardens
  • budget 2021/22: Leon Jolly
  • liaison meetings with The Ramblers
  • potential closure of byways in county

4: Update on projects:

  • The Greenway and Chester Farm Bridges update
  • lost ways update
  • slow ways update
  • proposed government changes to the planning system

5: Standing orders of business:

  • review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • membership issues (mileage / governance)

6: Area reports:

  • Areas 1, 2 and 3
  • active travel

7: Any other business

8: Dates of future meetings:

  • Thursday 16 December
  • To be confirmed

Meeting minutes

Agenda: Thursday 27 May 2021, 7pm to 9pm

1: Welcome and apologies - Bob Entwistle

  • welcome and introductions for new members

2: Review of minutes of last meeting - Bob Entwistle

3: Presentation on local issues:

  • transition to unitary status (including procurement of contracts)
  • update: Leon Jolly & client officers
  • future of the LAF including representation of NNC and WNC at meetings: All
  • Parish Asset / Structure List: Leon Jolly
  • RoWIP action plan - Implementation and update: Leon Jolly
  • Parish Path Wardens
  • budget 2021/22: Leon Jolly
  • liaison meetings with The Ramblers

4: Update on projects:

  • The Greenway and Chester Farm Bridges update
  • lost ways update
  • slow ways update
  • proposed government changes to the planning system

5: Matters arising

6: Standing orders of business:

  • review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • membership issues (mileage / governance)

7: Area reports:

  • structures
  • Areas 1, 2 and 3
  • active travel

8: Any other business

9: Dates of future meeting

Meeting minutes

Agenda: Thursday 18 February 2021

1: Welcome and apologies - Bob Entwistle

  • welcome and introductions for new members

2: Election / Appointment of Vice Chair – Leon Jolly

3: Presentation on local issues:

  • transition to unitary status - update: Leon Jolly
  • future of the LAF: All
  • Parish asset / structure list: Leon Jolly
  • RoWIP action plan - implementation and update: Leon Jolly
  • budget 2021/22: Leon Jolly

4: Update on projects:

  • The Greenway and Chester Farm bridges update
  • lost ways update
  • government changes to the planning system
  • Northampton Local Cycling and Walking Plan

5: Matters arising

6: Standing orders of business:

  • review of ROW issues, diversion/modifications (TRO) recommendations
  • forward plan of ROW to walk and review and identify issues and opportunities for improvement (agree any site visits)
  • membership issues (mileage / governance)

7: Area reports:

  • structures
  • areas 1, 2 and 3

8: Forward plan:

  • dates of future NLAF meetings
  • review of the NLAF webpage

9: Any other business

If you require a copy of the minutes or agendas for the years 2014 to 2020 please email [email protected].

Further information

For all enquiries please email Jacqui Williams, Secretary for NNLAF, at [email protected].

Natural England supports and co-ordinates the work of Local Access Forums at a regional level across the country. Further information and guidance is available on the Government website:

Last updated 28 December 2023