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IMPROVING ACCESS (Land Managers Options)
Article 52 (a)(iii) and (b)(i)
Measure Code (313)
Rationale for Intervention
This measure supports the enhancement of paths/routes to facilitate access by the full range of users as part of the Scottish Executive's commitment to encouraging additional responsible public outdoor access and to further integrate access with good land management, as well as assisting the Executive's policies for health improvement and increased physical activity.
It encourages additional activity by rural land managers, as aligned with Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 which gives the public in Scotland statutory rights of responsible access to most land and inland water whatever their age or ability. It is the duty of every owner of land to use and manage their land in a way that respects those rights. Excluded from access rights are those in, or with a motorised vehicle or vessel, other than a vehicle or vessel which has been constructed or adapted for use by a person who has a disability and which is being used by such a person.
Additional funding assistance is appropriate because the access facilities to be provided under this measure will encourage informal public outdoor access, and so generally are not revenue-producing for the applicant. Any new access facility resulting from this measure will provide a sustainable resource for nearby communities and for enterprises in the wider locality, generating broad social and economic benefits through improved opportunities for local outdoor access and recreation. This is strongly in support of Theme 3 of the SRDP Strategic Plan in Scotland - "promoting a more diverse rural economy and thriving rural communities".
Objectives
The aim of this measure is to upgrade paths/routes and enable paths which were previously footpaths only to be made accessible to multi-users. Multi users include members of the public, cyclists, horse riders and persons with disabilities.
The objectives of this measure are to encourage land managers to:
- enhance and mark access routes/paths for all types of public users to help them exercise their rights under part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; and
- encourage the use of routes that provide public benefits and integrate with land management activities.
The measure links with other management measures including provision or upgrading of infrastructure relating to access to farm and forest land, energy supplies and water management, and access creation for sustainable forest management.
Scope and Actions
Support will be available for existing paths/routes which meet the criteria of linking to local networks, giving access to points of attraction, or meeting the local needs of the full range of users, including core paths. Eligible access routes may include access on inland water, for which relevant capital items will be eligible. The path/route and associated capital items must meet all of the relevant technical specifications set out in the RDC guidance - well-drained, fit for the range of intended purposes, free from obstructions, signposted and waymarked, and regularly inspected.
Applicants will be required to submit invoices for all works undertaken. For verification requirements the applicant must keep the receipts for costs incurred under this operation. In addition, the applicant must identify the route on a 1:10,000 map which shows the location of the path/route to be managed and the location and type of path item for which the applicant is claiming funding. Both the map and receipts must be retained for inspection purposes.
Copies of the map must be submitted to your local Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate office and your local access officer by 31 August in year one of your agreement. This is to inform the local authority (or national park authority within a national park) local access officer, and to help ensure that the proposal meets at least one of the criteria set out above. It may also be used as the basis for public information on access opportunities.
Definition of beneficiaries
The measure is available to all rural land managers. All tarmac/bitumen surfaced motor-vehicle tracks are ineligible.
Amount of support
This is a five year management agreement and payment will be 75% of actual costs supported by invoices. This includes work such as providing gates, signposts, waymarkers and additional drainage works.
We will also contribute to the one-off costs of certain capital items. We will pay 75% of actual costs, up to €219 per item the following capital items, boardwalks, bridges, and culverts. All capital items must be directly associated with the enhancement of the path being claimed for and must be completed before the applicant can claim for the enhanced path works.
Demarcation criteria with other measures
The bridge capital item available under this measure is only eligible where the bridge is of a type which is not designed for motorised vehicle use, other than one which has been constructed or adapted for use a person who has a disability which will be used by such a person. The bridge will be for members of the public exercising their rights under Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to link two paths or routes together and cannot be used for vehicle infra-structure purposes.
Path development and improvement related options under this measure cannot be supported for access provision purposes through other measures in the Scotland Rural Development Programme including those in:
Axis 1 - provision or improvements of roads bridges culverts, gates; or formation or improvement of access track to land improvement areas as part of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme, Provision and upgrading of infrastructure related to access to farm and forest land, energy supplies and water management and Access creation for sustainable forest management.
Axis 2 - Livestock tracks, gates and river crossing, Sustainable management of forests and woodlands and Woods in and around towns challenge fund.
Axis 3- Support for diversification outwith agriculture, Support for the development and creation of micro-enterprises, Provision, development or upgrading of small scale tourist faculties by land managers, Information and awareness raising, Area access management and monitoring, and creation and upgrading of paths and routes, Forests for people challenge fund and Provisions of leisure, recreation, sporting, catering and other rural community services and facilities.
Transition arrangements
None
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