The Lincolnshire Joint Local Access Forum (LAF) – a pivotal committee dedicated to enhancing public outdoor access and sustainable travel – is at a crossroads.

Designed to be a robust team of 16, including councillors and local rights of way enthusiasts, Tuesday's meeting saw a mere four attendees, two in person and two online — with one member signing off with a resignation.

As this government-mandated committee teeters on the edge, the pressing question arises: Can the LAF revitalise its mission to safeguard and expand public pathways, ensuring every resident's safety and visibility?

Recent internal debates, however, cast a shadow over its future efficacy.

The LAF aims to advise authorities on managing public rights of way, especially in new developments, and to guide the maintenance and potential expansion of these pathways to ensure the visibility and safety of residents.

However, Chairman Chris Padley expressed frustration with the Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, citing lack of power and influence.

"The access forum has really no effect, there is no role, and since it was created interest in belonging to the forum has gradually waned.

"I think the landowning interests probably dropped out fairly early on, because they realised that it wasn't a threat to them, they really only wanted to be on it to keep an eye on us, and I think everybody else has tended to drop out. It's been difficult to recruit because they see that the forum has no power, no influence."

"To be honest it seems a bit like a fantasy at the moment — we're kind of imagining we're a consulting body but when you think about all the people in Lincolnshire who care about the countryside who don't have access to it, who says we're representing them?"

Other members reported that developers, councils, and other authorities were unaware of the forum's existence.

Mr Padley voiced his frustration at the lack of attention the forum was receiving, despite seeing "enormous potential" for Lincolnshire's paths to benefit both visitors and residents in health and economic terms.

"More access in terms of improved health care indirectly ends up saving money to the NHS, and also to the economy, because people like walking in the countryside and just making people happier.

"It really needs some interest on the part of the council itself to want to help us to revive this body and to actually make it more useful to everybody."

Andrew Fletcher, Public Rights of Way and Access Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said it would be "disingenuous" if the council did not utilise the LAF's advice in the best way.

"We don't necessarily always agree with the advice, but I think it's right that the forum is is active and regularly supported," he said.

"I would agree that a refreshed or a relaunch of the LAF might be beneficial," he added.

It was suggested that the forum should take another look at how it is run, including whether it would work instead as a consultation panel, and re-examining the role of the LAF to enable new members to understand the forum's role

The meeting concluded on a bitter note with Jon Thornes MBE, an online attendee representing landowners, resigning from the forum.

"I've decided to resign. So it's my last meeting. I'd like to thank everybody very much. If you do have a renewal and a refresh, I'd be quite happy to come back. Thank you very much," he said.

Speaking following the meeting, Mr Padley said there were multiple further frustrations, including planning officers prioritising compliance with the law over good design practicies, as well as dealing with Lincolnshire's 30 year backlog of pubic right of way applications.

He said many public rights of way had previously been in poor condition, suffered obstructions, or maps of the pathways were out of date.

Bridleways for horseriding were some of the other areas for improvement. Meanwhile, the issue of major construction projects such as solar farms are beginning to raise their heads.

However, the key issue for the LAF continued to be the need for more drive and energy from members, not relying on appointed officials and the need for young blood to make a difference.

There is also a need for public bodies to be more aware of the specialist advice and guidance the forum could bring, instead of just going to Lincolnshire County Council's Highways department.

The future steps regarding the LAF's revitalisation remain to be seen, but due to it being a government body, even if there were no members, the forum would continue to exist.