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Trails on Bicton, Woodbury and Colaton Raleigh common were assessed.
- A trail audit was carried out on Bicton, Woodbury and Colaton Raleigh commons during the summer/autumn of 2017. The purpose was to assess the current condition of the trails and to inform a programme of works to ensure they are brought up to a good condition.
Maintaining trails crucial to managing visitor pressure.
- Maintaining the trails in a good condition is crucial to managing the visitor access across the site. It is recognised that the site is subjected to high visitor pressure and so managing public access is key to maintaining the site appropriately in line with our obligations. It is expected that public use of the heaths will increase due to development in the surrounding area.
Areas requiring priority attention identified.
- Areas which need priority attention in relation to public access in order to maintain SAC/SPA features are highlighted in the table produced in the report to the Executive Committee (see agenda pages 28-37). A summary table is shown on agenda page 27.
Survey can be repeated with standard methods.
- The survey procedure was designed to easily highlight priority sections of trails for attention by recording in a structured spreadsheet with accompanying photos.
- This allowed us to create a costed programme of works. It was carried out in a way that is replicable so that the survey can be repeated in the future.
Works identified to reduce erosion will have wider benefit.
- As well as being works identified to reduce direct impact (e.g. erosion) of interest features, this work also fits into the wider mitigation strategy as most of the work will be carried out on routes which will be promoted through trails/maps/licencing of events.
Strict criteria apply to replacement path material.
- The protected status of the heaths means that there are strict criteria which govern the makeup, pH and type of aggregate which may be used for path material.
- Blackhill Quarry on the Pebblebed Heaths has traditionally provided this material but is no longer operating. As such, an amount of aggregate from Blackhill Quarry was stockpiled in order to use for path repairs.