AN organisation is to be set up to improve access to open countryside in North Yorkshire.

The local access forum will act as an advisory group on issues in areas of the county that are outside the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks.

The county council is setting up the group in response to the Government's 2000 Countryside and Rights of Way Act.

Its primary role will be to advise councils and other official bodies on improvements to public access to land for open-air recreation and general enjoyment of the countryside.

However, despite calls for more than one forum to be set up to cover the county, officials are insisting that one 20-strong group will be enough for the task.

The Cyclists' Touring Club had wanted to see two forums set up, divided between the east and west of the county.

The Ramblers' Association was among those calling for a separate group to cover Nidderdale, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

However, the county council's director of environmental services, Mike Moore, said: "There seems to be no strong argument for the establishment of more than one forum outside the National Parks."

He said that members would not be representing their own organisations. "They will be individuals who will bring their own particular abilities, skills and experiences to the forum meetings," said Mr Moore.

Subject to approval by the county's executive, application for membership of the forum will close on January 17.

Fifteen members will be appointed through a panel, three will be county council members and two will be co-opted by the forum itself.

The county council would like to see the two co-opted places being made available to the Nidderdale AONB, however, the final decision will be up to the forum.

Members will sit for a maximum of three years and the first meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held in early March.