Upland Path Management Standards for delivering path projects in Scotland’s mountains

Upland Path Advisory Group 2nd Edition 2016

Acknowledgements

This good practice guide was originally produced by The National Trust for Scotland for the Upland Path Advisory Group in 2003. Editors:

Bob Grant, Scottish Natural Heritage Paul Johnson and Dougie Baird, The National Trust for Scotland

Authors:

Jo Hunt, Richard Ball, Dougie Baird, Rory McLeod and Michael Meighan

Project Funders and joint copyright holders:

Scottish Natural Heritage The National Trust for Scotland Highlands & Islands Partnership European Social Fund

Design by:

Alasdair Hamilton and Bill Thompson, Ordie Interpretive Design

Editor:

Fiona Cuninghame, Scottish Natural Heritage

Comments and Contributions: Bob Aitken, Bob Brown (NTS), Chris Goodman (JMT), Chris York (Walking the Talk), Dougie Baird (COAT), Gilbert McNeill (Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority), Gordon Paxton-White (COAT), Kevin Fairclough (Paths for All), Richard Fox (Lake District National Park Authority) and Tom Wallace (COAT). The second edition was produced in 2016 by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of the Upland Path Advisory Group (UPAG).

Hard copies of this edition are not available.

Upland Path Management

2

www.snh.gov.uk

Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4 Section 1: 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4

Is pathwork the answer? ................................................................................... 6 Developing a Path Project .............................................................................. 11 Planning for maintenance ............................................................................... 21 Consents and Planning Permission ................................................................ 23

Section 2: 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6

Managing health and safety

Health and safety - statutory framework.......................................................... 96 CDM in upland path projects ......................................................................... 104 CDM: Health and safety during the pre-construction phase .......................... 118 Assessing risks – in the design and on site ................................................... 133 CDM: Health and safety preparation before the construction phase.............. 138 CDM: Health and safety during the construction phase................................. 145 Monitoring site health and safety performance .............................................. 155 Maintaining site health and safety ................................................................. 162

Section 5: 5.1 5.2 5.3

Project delivery and contract management

Managing Path Contracts ............................................................................... 63 Preparing a competitive tender ....................................................................... 71 Selecting a tender ........................................................................................... 80 Running, monitoring and closing contracts...................................................... 87

Section 4: 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8

Upland Path Surveys

Purpose and Use of Surveys .......................................................................... 27 Planning Your Surveys ................................................................................... 30 Area (Green) Surveys ..................................................................................... 36 Condition (Amber) Surveys ............................................................................. 40 Specification (Red) surveys