The purpose of the Forum is to encourage and enable public access to the countryside for recreation and enjoyment. It is a statutory body set up as part of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) to advise Cheshire East Council and Natural England on putting the new legislation into effect. It is independent of the Council.
The Forum works to balance the desire for greater public access to the countryside with the needs of landowners and land managers and to ensure the natural environment is not damaged as a result. It also gives advice to planners of major housing and transport developments about protecting existing public rights of way and incorporating the needs of walkers and wheelers, cyclists, horse riders etc.
Its members are volunteers representing different countryside interests including cycling, walking and wheeling, conservation, land management and horse riding.
The Forum meets four times a year, with meetings being open to the public - please contact cecaf@cheshireeast.gov.uk if you would be interested in attending.
It can set up sub-groups on particular issues to work outside these times and report back to the Forum. Recent work of the Forum has included:
- Publicity following the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2024
- Submission to the Council’s consultation on the Local Plan Issues Paper
- Supporting the Lindow Moss Partnership project Heritage Lottery Fund application
Forum members are happy to attend meetings of local groups to explain more about the work of the Forum - please get in touch if this might be of interest to your group.
The Forum covers all of Cheshire East except for that part of the county inside the Peak District National Park - the National Park has its own forum. The Terms of Reference of the Forum (PDF, 145KB) can be downloaded for information.
Members of the access forum
Current membership of the Forum is as follows:
| Forum member | Areas of interest |
|---|---|
| Marian Andrews | Disabled accessibility, walking |
| Chris Driver | Wildlife, conservation, planning |
| Terry Dykes | Walking, cycling, running and wildlife conservation |
| John Handley - Vice Chair | Land management, landscape interpretation |
| Maurice Palin - Chair | Walking, cycling, sustainable tourism, environmental issues |
| Laureen Roberts | Accessibility, especially equestrian access |
| Gail Robinson | Accessibility for all, walking, care and maintenance of the countryside |
| Richard Vickery | Health improvement, local communities, walking |
| Helen Wainwright | Land management, responsible footpath use |
| Ivor Williams | Visitor and rural economy, land management |
| Councillor Ben Wye | Member Champion Active Travel, Crewe West Ward Member |
Annual reports
The most recent annual reports of the Forum can be viewed here:
- Cheshire East Countryside Access Forum Annual Report 2025-2026 (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Cheshire East Countryside Access Forum Annual Report 2024-2025 (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Cheshire East Countryside Access Forum Annual Report 2023-2024 (PDF, 1.6MB)
Meeting agendas and minutes
- CECAF meeting agenda 3 September 2026 (PDF, 190KB)
- CECAF meeting notes 4 June 2026 (PDF, 273KB)
- CECAF meeting agenda 4 June 2026 (PDF, 205KB)
- CECAF meeting notes 5 March 2026 (PDF, 275KB)
- CECAF meeting agenda 5 March 2026 (PDF, 205KB)
- CECAF meeting notes 25 September 2025 (PDF, 246KB)
- CECAF meeting agenda 25 September 2025 (PDF, 211KB)
- CECAF meeting notes 12 June 2025 (PDF, 205KB)
- CECAF meeting agenda 12 June 2025 (PDF, 190KB)
- CECAF meeting notes 20 March 2025 (PDF, 232KB)
- CECAF meeting agenda 20 March 2025 (PDF, 190KB)
- CECAF meeting notes 12 December 2024 (PDF, 185KB)
- CECAF meeting agenda 12 December 2024 (PDF, 155KB)
Contact the Forum
Cheshire East Countryside Access Forum Public Rights of Way - Privacy notice