Carry out works to improve access on appropriate public rights of way and established permissive routes, so that 262km (10%) are suitable for users of all ages and abilities by 2024.
How the local partners are doing on this objective
Progress: A further 17km of routes were identified as accessible in 2022/23, taking the current total to 248km (9.5%) that are suitable for users of all ages and abilities.
Press Releases & related articles:
21 February 2023 – Access ‘certainly improving’ for disabled people
Rationale: The Local Access Forum considers the access improvements that have taken place in the last 5 years to be one of the success stories from the last National Park Management Plan. The objective would increase the proportion of the network available to a wide range of users (currently 6.5% following the extension of the Park boundary) by improving around 100km of routes. In recent years there has been a step change in the equipment available to help increase the accessibility of the rights of way network overall.
Lead partner: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Supporting partners: Yorkshire Dales Farming & Land Management Forum; Experience Community; Access the Dales; Westmorland & Furness Council
Further information: YDNPA – Access for All
Cost over 5 years: £100,000
Funding shortfall: None
Related objectives: B1; B2; B4;
Ecosystem services: Recreation
Trade-offs: Potential impacts on landscape character (A3) are through the principles set out in Special Qualities, Special Experiences.
Baseline: 170 km of routes suitable for users of all ages and abilities (March 2018)
‘State of the Park’ indicator – YES