Core Paths Plan

Aberdeenshire Core Paths Plan Final Consultation

The final consultation on the draft Aberdeenshire Core Paths Plan runs from 19 June 2009 until 14 September 2009

This is the last opportunity to comment on the Aberdeenshire Core Paths Plan before it is finalised. At this stage of the core path planning process, it is important when responding to the Plan that you make it clear if your response is a comment or an objection. Further details on how to respond can be found on pages 4 - 5 of the consultation document (pdf 1.94mb) . Responses must be made on the standard response form.

There have been two earlier rounds of consultation that have helped inform the development of this final draft of the Plan.

The first consultation was in 2006 when 18 workshops were held across Aberdeenshire and provided an opportunity for communities, land managers and access user groups to identify potential routes in and around local areas.

The second consultation was the publication of the informal consultative draft of the Plan. This consultation ran between June and September 2008 and following consideration of the responses (pdf 152kb) received, the Council made further modifications to the Plan.

Copies of the Aberdeenshire Core Paths Plan are available to view at key Council offices and all Aberdeenshire Council libraries as well as online. Copies of the Plan are also available on CD free of charge and paper copies can be obtained at a cost of £10.

If you require a copy of the Plan or would like further information on the core paths planning process please contact the Environment Team.

E-mail: cpp@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Telephone: 01467 62838 or 01467 628481

Aberdeenshire Core Paths Plan

Since 1997, Aberdeenshire Council's Outdoors Access staff have been working with landowners and communities to improve the rural paths network in many parts of Aberdeenshire.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 places various new duties on local authorities, one of which is to prepare a Core Paths Plan. The Plan should be "sufficient for the purpose of giving the public reasonable access throughout their area".

How have Core Paths been selected?

The Council collated the information obtained from the 2006 and 2008 consultations and have used this to draw up the draft Plan for final consultation.

This consultation is the final part of the statutory process before presenting the Plan to the Council, and if necessary the Scottish Government, for adoption and makes provision for objections to the suitability and sufficiency of the draft Plan.

What are Core Paths?

It is difficult to give a precise definition of what a Core Path will be because that will largely be determined by the results of the consultations. However, Core Paths could

• Provide opportunities for walking, cycling, horse riding and access to water
• Be multi-use paths, or may be more suitable for a particular activity
• Provide functional paths in and around communities e.g. to shops and schools as well as recreational routes for leisure
• Be an existing path or a completely new route
• A Right of Way may become Core Path but not necessarily all will; it depends on the outcome of the consultation process
• Provide short routes in and around communities or may provide links to other path networks.

But Core Paths will

• Provide the basic framework of paths to meet communities' needs
• Minimise any potential conflict with land management
• Be well sign posted, well maintained and welcoming.