Author: chris bargman

Improvements to Route C – Prescott

Steve and John spent a long day and multiple trips with their dumper of hardcore and stone and spread with Steve’s digger to improve the going at the Prescott end of route M.

This work was finished off Monday evening with some extra help from Pete and Chris and 2 further loads of stone spread in the eroded and wet areas.

Many thanks to Steve and John for their hard work.

We plan to have a further work-party for this route to clear back the overgrowing edges and open up the path. There are also a couple of wet  patches which may require more stone if we can arrange to get the stone there. This work-party will probably be on a Friday evening followed by a chip supper!

prescott-4 prescott-3 prescott-2 prescott-1

Meeting 28th Jun 2016 – Minutes and Actions

Present:

John, Yvonne, Steve, Chris, Jo, Kay, Clare, Pete, Louise,

Apologies:

Marce, Gill

Visit by Shropshire Council Byways Officer Tim Simmons

John has spoken to Tim and he is planning to visit us in couple of weeks time. We agreed that we should send him a list of our priority projects before the visit so that he has prior information.

We agreed the following:

Route R – Tittford Bridge – Need some more stone to continue below area already stoned last year. We will get permission for access if we can get council to provide stone.

Route M – Walters Lane – Look at this with Tim and see if council will do work (as this is a RUPP they are best to do this work, similar to route L on Silvington Common)

Route C – Detton Prescot – Ditch needs reinstating to improve drainage. You have previously made a visit.

Route G – Crammer Gutter (across top of field) – Have had discussions with SWT and agreed on principle of cross drains and clear out ditch. Will need stone to cover cross drains. Have someone local who may be able to provide digger work.

Route F – Crammer Gutter to bottom Withies Bank – Needs drainage ditches reinstated in wooded section. Need to get council to arrange this as land owner does not want us to do the work.

Route K – Nunnery Lane – If we can get council to provide stone then with small grant from Hopton Parish (£100) matched by our own funds we may be able to do some work on this.

Cleeton Court – Outstanding issue. Route has been blocked by barn and needs enforcement action to be taken by council.

Route P Hardwick Farm – Outstanding issue. Route has been blocked and needs enforcement action to be taken by council.

Also we would like to know how to access historical maps showing old paths as we have a couple of routes that we would like to reclaim as part of the “Lost Ways” project.

Action: Chris to email above to Tim.

Work Party

Friday 1st July 6pm to rehang gate and improve  safety of access from Crammer Gutter onto Catherton Common.

John, Steve, Chris and Pete agreed to do this, John has a suitable post and high lift catch and will bring necessary tools. Chris to bring short length of stock fence.

Louise will provide a “we fixed this” laminated label.

Chris to email Carl Pickup SWT and inform them we are doing the work.

Proposed Future Work Party

Route C Detton Prescott. Need to fill in hollow at Prescott end with rubble/stone and clear overhanging branches (best done from dumper).

John has some suitable stone.

First job is to check pipe is flowing into catch pit. This may need to be cleared before starting work.

Action John/Steve to take digger and see how best to fix drainage pipe before taking stone and doing clearance work party.

Stand at F&O School Fete in September

Reminder we have booked a stand at the fete Saturday 10th September. Chris will provide some pictures we can put onto a map. Suggest we run a fund raising competition e.g. how many miles of Bridleway/Footpath are there on the map (will need a map distance measuring wheel)

Next Meeting – Tuesday 16th August 7:30 pm at Chris and Jo’s Portacabin (Mannerly Mutts HQ)

Topics – Feedback from meeting with Tim Simmons.

Arrange stand for Fete plus some ideas on fund raising we can publicise at the Fete.

Improvements to Route F – Crammer Gutter

Steve, John, Pete and Chris have re-hung the gate onto the common and put in a new post and fence so that it now opens away from the dangerous drop down into the stream. There is now plenty of space to walk through and turn a horse to shut the gate without having to go into the stream.

Hopefully you will find this a big improvement.

Meeting 24th May 2016 – Minutes and Actions

Present:

John, Yvonne, Steve, Chris, Pip, Kay, Clare, Pete, Louise, Izzy

Apologies:

Marce, Jackie, Tina, Jo, Gill

Reports:

Route Q – New Bridge to Catherton. John has replaced the dangerous metal pin on the gate and it should now be much safer to use.

Council communication – John has tried to speak to Tim without success but has spoken to Richard who indicated that they would be able to supply stone to us and also that he would get Tim to visit us to look at key projects.

Route F – Someone has been putting lose stones below gate onto  stream which are dangerous for horses, Chris will contact SWT to see if they have done this and ask them not to do this again. Also notify them that we will be changing the way the gate swings to move it away from the drop (was originally done with a drop to stop quods but this is no longer seen as an issue)

Key Projects:

Route R – Tittford Bridge – Need some more stone to continue below area already stoned last year. Will need to get permission for access if we can get council to provide stone.

Route M – Walters Lane – Look at this with Tim and see if council will do work (as this is a RUPP they may be prepared to do the work, similar to work done by The Firs onto Silvington Common)

Route C – Detton Prescot – Ditch needs reinstating to improve drainage. See if we can get council to do this work.

Route F – Crammer Gutter onto Common – Rehang gate so that it opens slightly lower down and away from stream without a big drop. This is a work party project we will do ourselves. John probably has a suitable post in stock.

ACTION John to notify Chris of a suitable date for work-party (probably a Friday evening). Will put up a Clee View Bridleway label saying we did this!

Route G – Crammer Gutter top of field – All agreed this would be a good route to make usable. Needs series of lateral drains plus ditch opening up (above where new fence has been put in).Need to see if council are able to help with this or possibly other local support (Neil, Ed)

Route F – Crammer Gutter to bottom Withies Bank – Needs drainage ditches reinstated in wooded section. Need to get council to arrange this as land owner does not want us to do the work.

Route K – Nunnery Lane – If we can get council to provide stone then with small grant from Hopton Parish (£100) matched by our own funds we may be able to do some work on this.

Cleeton Court – Outstanding issue. Route has been blocked by barn and needs enforcement action to be taken by council.

ACTION: John to contact Richard/Tim and arrange for Tim to visit and discuss above projects. Tim has previously visited most of the problems. Will need to look at Walters Lane. Ideal will be to get council to provide stone plus digger work on routes where there may be issues with landowner or a major project (Walters Lane to make this suitable as a RUPP)

“Lost Ways” :

John and Clare both expressed an interest in going to the talk on 16th June at Berriewood (see previous post).

Action: Contact John if interested in going to the talk.

Action: John to ask Richard/Tim for a contact in Council who can provide us with access to old maps of our area.

Publicity/Fundraising:

It was agreed we would have a stall at the Farlow and Oreton School Fete in Sept (sat 10th). A stall has been booked and we will plan what to show and a fund raising “competition” at a future meeting.

Oreton Riders:

Kay has set up a public Facebook page Oreton Riders for anyone in the area who would like to ride out together.

Next Meeting:

7:30pm Tuesday June 28th at Well Farm

Countryside and Rights of Way Act – “Lost Ways”

I have recently received an email from Andrew Kelly re “Lost Ways” (see below). We can discuss at our next meeting.

 

I see that you and several others are interested in keeping bridleways open to which I have to say is great news. The sad fact is as I am sure you are fully aware is that the Government are about to bring in the section of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act that deals with “Lost Ways”. I suspect that you like me are very disappointed that this is to happen but it is so we will have to live with it.

The reason for contacting you tonight is that the Shropshire Committee of the British Horse Society are holding an evening to start showing people how they can claim these lost ways that we need to save. I presume that you and others are hard at work already on this project? However, if you are interested in coming along please let me know. It is being held at Berriewood on Thursday June 16th.

Please let me know if you are interested in the Lost Ways project or indeed what are your group doing to help plus how many of you would be coming to the BHS meeting that evening?

Thank you and I await to hear further from you.

Kind regards,

Andrew.

ANDREW KELLY

fforddlas1966@btinternet.com

Reminder – Meeting tomorrow (Tue 24th May)

Tuesday 24th May 2016 7:30 pm at Louise Killey’s

The main purpose of this meeting will be to list main issues and proposals (including materials required) and put these into a letter to be sent to the Council. Any ideas for fund raising will also need to be discussed.

Please try to attend and bring notes of any issues that we should consider.

Meeting 20th April 2016

Present: – See 2016 AGM minutes

A number of routes and issues were discussed in the area. It was agreed that due to limited funds we would need to see what the council are prepared/able to provide and then this would set what projects we are able to take on and how much additional funding we will need to obtain to tackle priority projects.

Chris gave feedback from a presentation and funding request he made to Hopton Wafers Parish Council. This was for a project to make  improvements to route K (Nunnery Lane leading from Stockhall Lane onto Common). The council were concerned that the major benefisiciaries would be livery and riding schools and these should make a contribution to the project. Chris did explain that there were now no riding schools in the immediate area (The Mounts has long closed).  The council agreed to consider a grant of £100 towards a specific project in the parish.

It was agreed that all should make a careful note of any issues they find before the next meeting and we would then work out the materials needed and formally write to the Council listing the issues and materials needed. It is hoped that, by putting this in a consolidated list in a written letter and formally signed by the group, the council will respond quickly and positively.

ACTION: ALL to spend time before next meeting making a detailed note of any issues they see and ideas they may have for improvements.

Note – anyone using route F to look at gateway onto Common from Crammer Gutter field  and consider option to re-hang gate onto other side of clapper post  so it opens further away from stream.

Next Meeting

Tuesday 24th May 2016 7:30 pm at Louise Killey’s

The main purpose of this meeting will be to list main issues and proposals (including materials required) and put these into a letter to be sent to the Council. Any ideas for fund raising will also need to be discussed.

Please try to attend and bring notes of any issues that we should consider.

2016 AGM – 20th April 2016

Present:

John Sutton (Chairman), Yvonne Jones, Steve Jones, Chris Bargman, Jo, Kay, Clare Ratcliff, Pete Brown, Louise Killey

Apologies:

Marcelle, Jackie, Tina. Pip

Previous Minutes (see website):

These were approved by all attendees

Chairman’s Report:

Refer to website for list of activities and projects undertaken during 2015-2016.

Accounts:

Date Type Description Debit Credit Balance
15/02/2016 BGC SHROP Councl 150 516.46
23/11/2015 DEP Cash Dep (Tabletop sale) 333.5 366.46
06/05/2015 PAY 15 (Digger/Dumper Hire) 70 32.96
28/04/2015 PAY 16 (Digger/Dumper Hire) 60 102.96

Officers:

Trustees  – Chris proposed that all attending to be elected as Trustees (see Present for list of names

Seconded by Yvonne Jones

Chairman – John Sutton

Secretary/Treasurer – Chris Bargman

Proposed Steve Jones, seconded Pete Brown

 

AGM was closed with thanks to attendees and to Chris and Jo for hosting the event