Hilary Winter, Regional Coordinator SW LAFs.

Hilary Winter, Regional Co-ordinator for the South West LAFs, gave a presentation to Members.  She advised that:

·         Torbay was one of 15 national coastal path trails in the United Kingdom covering a total of 633 miles with Torbay share bring 22 miles.

·         South West Coast Path (SWCP) was a Gold Winner for the Best Walking Route and at the Tourism Excellence Awards 2013-1014 the South West Coast Path had won the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award.

·         SWCP was to receive £2.1 million extra funding between 2010-2014 with tourism visits increasing from 7.9 million to 8.6 million between 2010 and 2013 with the expenditure of these walkers increasing by 15% to £436 million during this time and associated employment related to this spend growing to 9,771 full-time equivalent jobs.

·         There were significant benefits to Torbay with walkers spending on accommodation, food, drink and shopping and health benefits associated with exercise and exposure to green space with associated savings to the NHS.

·         There was a new management arrangement set out in Natural England’s New Deal for National Trails.

·         The core grant from Natural England had been reduced from 100% to 75% and was administered by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust on Torbay’s behalf to manage the coastal paths and to monitor the National Trail quality standards known as the four ‘E’s’

1)    Experience

2)    Enhancement

3)    Engagement

4)    Economy

·         SWCP Management Structure split into four groups with James Nichols sitting on the Regional Stakeholder Group along with Councillor Ray Hill and Hilary Winter representing LAF.  There has been one meeting so far with another due in October 2014.

·         There are nine local Stakeholder Groups to cover the SW Coast Path with Torbay being in the Brixham to Starcross stretch, one of the shortest at 39 miles.

·         LAFs are invited to participate in the Stakeholder Groups as they know the local coastal paths and are able to identify problems and identify future projects.

·         Members of the Torbay Local Access Forum are invited to identify potential projects which could attract funding.

Members to send these ideas to the Clerk to compile (internal deadline 4 weeks and should consist of 5 bullet points). 

Hilary Winter will advise Members of the deadline for submission of the projects which can be done through a link which will be sent to them separately by the Clerk.

·         South West Coast Path announced at the beginning of August a £1 million Investment through the Coastal Communities Fund. This project will repair, improve and promote the South West Coast Path (SWCP).

Funds will help with 32 urgent repair works to the path, information boards and signage, and marketing. This will create and safeguard around 788 jobs from construction, management and tourism generated by the path.

·         South West Coast Path Association is a Membership organisation, established as a charity in 1973 with Esther Pearson employed as the new Business Development Manager to increase volunteers to monitor path conditions, oversee commercial partnership and sponsorship, develop fundraising bids and develop relationships with key partners – the SWCP Team, the National Trust and highway authorities.  

·         There will be Great SW Walks taking place between 20^th and 28^th September 2014 raising funds through sponsored walks which will be used for improvements to the Coast Path and for Children’s Hospice South West.

·         Monday 22^nd September at Walls Hill (Babbacombe) there will be a History and Wildlife Walk. http://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/great-sw-walks/bookings/

Members thanked Hilary for attending the meeting and for her informative presentation.