Ceredigion County Council website

Ceredigion Local Access Forum (LAF) was established in 2002, as required by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (the CROW Act).

The Local Access Forum has reached the end of its latest three year term and arrangements are being made to appoint a ‘new’ Forum. Membership will be for a period of three years from the date of the first meeting of the new Forum.

The function of the Forum is to advise the local authority, Natural Resources Wales and other bodies exercising functions of the CROW Act, as to the improvement of public access to land in the area for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area. These bodies must, by law, have regard to relevant advice given by the Forum.

The role of the Forum

The LAF advises upon aspects of public access in the area, including public rights of way and the right of access to open country and registered common land. The Forum will consider all forms of access, including but not limited to horse riding, cycling, off road driving and access on foot.

There are certain issues upon which a Local Access Forum must, by statute, be consulted. These include:

• The making of Byelaws relating to access land;
• The appointment of wardens in respect of access land;
• The preparation or review of a Rights of Way Improvement Plan; and
• Applications for long-term exclusions or restrictions on access-to-access land.

As well as advising the Council on matters referred to it, the Ceredigion Local Access Forum, like other such Forums in Wales, is encouraged to set its own agenda within the broad remit set by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. The work programme is included in the Forum’s annual report. The exact nature of the annual work programme will vary from year to year and is decided upon mainly by the Forum.

It is expected that full Forum meetings will generally take place four times a year. In addition Forum sub-committees will be arranged to consider specific issues.

Further information, including the minutes from the meetings of Ceredigion Local Access Forum, and Annual Reports, can be viewed on the Local Access Forum page.

Criteria for Selection

The following is a list of criteria against which applications will be judged. However, applicants will not necessarily have to comply with all of the criteria to be successful.

It is essential that a LAF member will:

• Be committed to the function of the Local Access Forum i.e. advising as to the improvement of public access to land in the area for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area;
• Be willing and able to play a full part in all aspects of a LAF’s work – persons who are only willing or able to represent a narrow specific interest may not be suitable members.
• Be prepared to take part in the work of Forum sub-commitees.

It is desirable that a LAF member will:

• Have a wide range of experience of access issues in the area;
• Reside in, be particularly familiar with, or have any other interests especially relevant to, the area of the Forum;
• Be able to network with a wide range of organisations and individuals, with an aim of disseminating the LAFs work.
• Be able to attend all meetings of the Forum (deputies are not permitted).

These are unpaid positions but Forum members will be able to claim reasonable expenses including care costs for children and elderly or disabled dependants.

Following receipt of applications

The Authority will review all applications and make the decision to appoint new members based on the requirements of the Countryside Access (Local Access Forums) (Wales) Regulations 2001. Prospective members may be asked to attend interviews depending on the quantity and quality of applications received.

The Authority will contact all successful applicants on completion of the review process. We will endeavour to contact unsuccessful applicants; however this is dependent on the number of applications received.