Isle of Anglesey council is in the process of reappointing its Local Access Forum, and is seeking local volunteers with an interest and knowledge of access issues to apply for membership.

Local Access Forums were established in the wake of the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 to advise Local and National Park authorities regarding the improvement of public access to land for the purposes of open air recreation and the enjoyment of the area. Local authorities and similar bodies have, by law to take regard of relevant advice given by these forums, including aspects of public access such as rights of way and access to land mapped as open access under CROW legislation.

This includes giving advice on such matters as applications for long term closures of open access land, the preparation and review of the Authority's Rights of Way improvement plan, making bylaws relating to access land, and even advising on the appointment of wardens to mange the access land.

Climbers have a considerable interest in some of the access land on Anglesey, which includes Holyhead Mountain and Gogarth, as well as the cliffs along the Range and some newly developed cliffs on the east side of the island.

BMC Cymru are very keen for active climbers or mountaineers, ideally based on Anglesey to apply for these voluntary appointments. Reasonable expenses will be paid by the council to enable succesful applicants to attend meetings, usually three a year, but with occassional site visits as well.

The deadline for applications is 28 May 2010, and further information is on the Anglesey Council website

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