Local Access Forums: participate in decisions on public access
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-12)

How to join or contact a Local Access Forum in England.

Local Access Forums (LAFs) advise decision making organisations (such as local authorities) about making improvements to public access for outdoor recreation and sustainable travel.

LAFs can set their own priorities depending on local issues. They also respond to consultations and draft policy documents. When making recommendations, LAF members need to consider land use, as well as the need to conserve flora, fauna, geological and physical features.

How to become a LAF member

Members of LAFs are volunteers and include a range of people from the local community, including:
- land owners and land managers
- access users such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders
- those representing other interests, such as health and conservation
Contact a LAF (#contacts) if you are interested in becoming a member. They will let you know when vacancies become available.

New members are appointed by the local authority or national park authority, known as the ‘appointing authority’ or ‘access authority’.

LAF meetings

All the meetings are advertised on the local access authority’s website and many are included in the local press.

Most LAFs meet at least 4 times a year. Some forums also have topic groups which meet more regularly.

Members of the public can attend meetings as an observer, but only LAF members can participate in the discussions. There may be an opportunity after the meetings for non-members to ask questions.

Advice for LAF members

LAF members can use the online resources on Natural England’s community SharePoint site (https://defra.sharepoint.com/sites/Community3660/SitePages/Home.aspx?spStartSource=spappbar) (a secure, shared workspace):
- for advice on how to fulfil day-to-day and annual reporting responsibilities
- to share best practice and ideas
If you are an LAF member and would like access to the Local Access Forum SharePoint site, email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Contact a LAF

North East

County Durham Local Access Forum (http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/3323/County-Durham-Local-Access-Forum)

Northumberland National Park and County Joint Local Access Forum (https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/about-us/looking-after-the-park/joint-local-access-forum/)

Tees Valley Local Access Forum (https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20011/sport_leisure_and_culture/231/tees_valley_local_access_forum/1)

Tyne and Wear Local Access Forum (https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/3564/Local-Access-Forum)

North West

Bury Local Access Forum (http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11779)

Cheshire East Countryside Access Forum (https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_and_tourism/public_rights_of_way/countryside-access-forum.aspx)

Cumbria and Lakes Joint Local Access Forum (https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/access-and-recreation-our-work/cumbria-and-lakes-joint-local-access-forum)

Lancashire Local Access Forum (http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/mgOutsideBodyDetails.aspx?ID=415)

Stockport Local Access Forum (http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=604)

Yorkshire and the Humber

Barnsley Local Access Forum (https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/parks-and-open-spaces/public-footpaths-and-rights-of-way/local-access-forum/)

Bradford Local Access Forum (https://www.bradford.gov.uk/environment/countryside-and-rights-of-way/bradford-local-access-forum/)

Calderdale Local Access Forum (https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/environment-planning-and-building/countryside-conservation/calderdale-local-access-forum)

East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull Local Access Forum (https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/council/committees/joint-local-access-forum/)

Leeds Local Access Forum (https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/public-rights-of-way/leeds-local-access-forum)

North Lincolnshire Local Access Forum (https://northlincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=308)

North York Moors National Park Local Access Forum (https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/plan-your-visit/rights-of-way/local-access-forum)

North Yorkshire Local Access Forum (https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/public-rights-way/rights-way-information-and-advice)

Rotherham Local Access Forum (https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/rights-way/public-rights-of-way/6)

Sheffield Local Access Forum (https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/roads-pavements/prow)

Wakefield Local Access Forum (https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/parks-countryside-and-outdoor-spaces/public-rights-of-way/public-rights-of-way-information/)

Yorkshire Dales Local Access Forum (https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/park-authority/how-we-work/who-we-work-with/yorkshire-dales-access-forum/)

East Midlands

Derby and Derbyshire Local Access Forum (https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/access/local-access-forum/derby-and-derbyshire-local-access-forum.aspx)

Leicester City Local Access Forum (https://www.leicester.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/roads-and-pavements/public-rights-of-way/)

Lincolnshire Local Access Forum (https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coast-countryside/public-rights-way/8)

North Northamptonshire Local Access Forum (https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/rights-way-and-searches/north-northants-local-access-forum-nnlaf)

West Northamptonshire Local Access Forum (https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/rights-way-and-searches/west-northamptonshire-local-access-forum-wnlaf)

Nottinghamshire Local Access Forum (http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/planning-and-environment/walking-cycling-and-rights-of-way/rights-of-way/local-access-forum)

Nottingham City Local Access Forum (http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/localaccessforum)

Peak District Local Access Forum (http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/looking-after/local-access-forum)

South Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Access Forum (https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=654)

West Midlands

Dudley Borough Local Access Forum (http://www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/parking-roads/roads-highways-and-pavements/public-rights-of-way/local-access-forum/)

Herefordshire Local Access Forum (https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/localaccessforum)

Shropshire Local Access Forum (https://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=266)

Telford and Wrekin Local Access Forum (http://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20319/walking/140/local_access_forum_laf)

Walsall Local Access Forum (https://go.walsall.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/public-rights-of-way-prow/local-access-forum)

Warwickshire, Solihull, and Coventry Local Access Forum (http://laf.warwickshire.gov.uk/)

Worcestershire Local Access Forum (https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/environment/countryside-and-leisure/public-rights-way/local-access-forum)

East of England

Bedford Local Access Forum (https://www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/countryside/local-access-forum/)

Broads Local Access Forum (https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/about-us/committees/local-access-forum)

Cambridgeshire Local Access Forum (https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-culture/countryside-access/local-access-forum)

Central Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Local Access Forum (http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/jlaf/overview.aspx)

Essex Local Access Forum (http://www.essexhighways.org/Transport-and-Roads/tell-us/Getting-Around/Public-Rights-of-Way/essex-local-access-forum.aspx)

Hertfordshire Local Access Forum (https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/countryside-access/local-access-forum-laf-hertfordshire/hertfordshire-local-access-forum-laf.aspx)

Norfolk Local Access Forum (https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/what-we-do-and-how-we-work/policy-performance-and-partnerships/partnerships/local-access-forum)

Peterborough Local Access Forum (https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-streets/public-rights-of-way/)

Suffolk Local Access Forum (https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/public-rights-of-way-in-suffolk/suffolk-local-access-forum?nodeId=2808fd2c-dfba-5f1d-a5df-9511868a37db&entryId=5f738341-f97d-5f66-af5f-5a62771db8bf)

South East

Bracknell Forest Local Access Forum (https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/local-countryside-access-forum)

Brighton and Hove Local Access Forum (https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/travel-and-road-safety/brighton-hove-local-access-forum)

Buckinghamshire Local Access Forum (https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/environment/countryside-and-public-rights-of-way/public-rights-of-way/rights-of-way-local-access-forum-laf/)

East Sussex Local Access Forum (https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisure-tourism/discover-east-sussex/rights-of-way/east-sussex/local-access-forum)

Hampshire Countryside Access Forum (https://www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/countryside/hcaf)

Isle of Wight Local Access Forum (https://www.iow.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-heritage/recreation-and-leisure/public-rights-of-way/local-access-forum/)

Kent Countryside Access Forum (http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/volunteering/countryside-volunteering/kent-countryside-access-forum)

Medway Local Access Forum (https://www.medway.gov.uk/homepage/320/medway_local_access_forum)

Mid and West Berkshire Local Access Forum (http://info.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=27480)
- Secretary: Rosie Armstrong
- phone: xx-xxxx-xxxx
- email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
New Forest Access Forum (http://www.newforestaccessforum.org.uk/)

Oxfordshire Countryside Access Forum (https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/environment-and-planning/countryside/countryside-access/improving-countryside-access-oxfordshire/oxfordshire-countryside-forum)

Slough Local Access Forum (https://www.slough.gov.uk/public-rights-way/slough-local-access-forum)

South Downs Local Access Forum (http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/get-involved/local-access-forum)

Surrey Countryside Access Forum (https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/countryside/management/footpaths-byways-and-bridleways/countryside-access-forum)

West Sussex Local Access Forum (https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/public-paths-and-the-countryside/west-sussex-local-access-forum/)
- Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Access Forum (https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/rights-way/local-access-forums)
South West

Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Joint Local Access Forum (https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/joint-local-access-forum-jlaf)

Cornwall Countryside Access Forum (https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment/countryside/cornwall-countryside-access-forum/)

Dartmoor Access Forum (http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/how-we-work/jobs-and-volunteering/dartmoor-local-access-forum)

Devon Countryside Access Forum (https://new.devon.gov.uk/prow/devon-countryside-access-forum/)

Dorset Local Access Forum (https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/countryside-coast-parks/rights-of-way/dorset-local-access-forum)

Exmoor Local Access Forum (https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enpa/Committees-and-Meetings/exmoor-local-access-forum)

Gloucestershire Local Access Forum (https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/glaf/)

North Somerset Local Access Forum (https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/libraries-leisure-open-spaces/parks-countryside/public-rights-way/local-access-forum)

Somerset Local Access Forum (http://www.somerset.gov.uk/get-involved/community/somerset-local-access-forum/)

Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum (http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recreation-caf)

Further information

LAFs send their annual reports to Natural England.

For more information about LAFs, please contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).