Establishment of a local access forum
15.—(1) An appointing authority may—
(a)establish a local access forum for their area, or for any part of their area; or
(b)together with any other appointing authority establish a joint local access forum for their areas or for any parts of their areas.
(2) The local access forum referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) shall be established by appointing the members of the forum in accordance with regulations 3 to 5.
(3) Before establishing any local access forum, an appointing authority which is a local highway authority must consult—
(a)any district council in their area, and
(b)such other persons as they consider appropriate,
as to the area for which the forum is to be established.
(4) Before establishing any local access forum an appointing authority which is a National Park authority must consult—
(a)any district or county council for any part of the area of the National Park for which the National Park authority is the appointing authority, and
(b)such other persons as they consider appropriate,
as to the area for which the forum is to be established.
(5) An appointing authority must not establish a local access forum for any area in respect of which another forum already has functions.