The Leeds Local Access Forum (LLAF) was set up by Leeds City Council in April 2004. It is one of 81 local access forums established by local and national park authorities in England under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000). Its primary purpose is to provide advice to the council and Natural England on how to make the countryside more accessible and enjoyable for open-air recreation. It gives independent advice to Leeds City Council on the right of open access to the countryside, and the preparation of the Rights of Way improvement plan.
Members of the Leeds Local Access Forum
Local access forums represent your views and bring together interested parties and expertise. Membership of the forum reflects the broad range of interests – social, economic and environmental – involved in and affected by the countryside. The Leeds Local Access Forum meets at least twice a year and has a minimum of 10 members.
Forum members can bring a wide range of experience, including recreational use (e.g. walking, riding, cycling) and land management, to the forum. Those with an interest in the land, nature conservation and heritage as well as tourism, health, business, trade unions and transport can also help to provide a fully rounded perspective on countryside access issues. Members are not paid, but can claim reasonable expenses for attendance at meetings and are required to confirm a commitment to the Forum and its work for a period of up to three years.
Leeds City Council and the LLAF – a working partnership
Leeds City Council has always had a good working rapport with the various user groups such as the Ramblers Association, British Horse Society, National Farmers Union and the Country Landowners Association, and met regularly with these groups before the Leeds Local Access Forum was created.
The Leeds Local Access Forum has advised and assisted the council on a number of public rights of way and open access issues. They have also helped raise the profile of the public rights of way service within the council as a whole. Officers have enjoyed working alongside the members of the forum and members are also very interested in the service that the countryside and access officers provide.
Getting involved
All members of the public are invited to attend Local Access Forum meetings, but if you would like to register an interest in becoming a member of the Local Access Forum, please contact Bob Buckenham on (0113) 395 7400. You can download the application form from this page.
Please note that the Parks and Countryside's Head Office main reception telephone number 0113 3957400 is staffed from 8.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.00am - 4.00pm on a Friday. Outside of these hours you can leave a message on the answerphone.