Author: chris bargman

2023 AGM and Meeting 13th April 2023

Present:

John (Chairman), Steve, Yvonne, Gill, Becky, Chris, Jo, Sally, Philippa, Pete, Louise, Emma, Clare, Arthur, Ted, Paula, Matilda, Jill, Steve, Julia, Mike

Previous AGM Minutes (see website):

These were approved.

Chairman’s Report:

Clearance/mower work on route R completed.

Tree clearance route A (Hinton). This required use of digger to pull the fallen trees clear so that they could be safely removed.

Route D Factory Lane. Drainage pipe installed and ditching into the brook . Colin and Clare have also done general clearance work. This is now much improved.

Also general clearance/maintenance work on various other routes including route M (Walters Lane and Hill Houses).

Route N – Site meeting held with Brian Hickman (Council Byways Officer) to look at the dangerous bridge. Council have agreed to repair this and install ant-slip surface.

Route F – Site meeting with SWT to look at drainage improvements to path after crammer gutter as you go up onto the common. We are limited on what we can do as it is SSI. We can re-instate a ditch which is on the uphill side on the right as you go away from crammer gutter.

Route L – Improvement made to the gate at the bottom of the path so that it can be opened more easily. Thanks to Ewald and Alison.

Thanks to all who have helped and in particular John, Steve and Ted.

Accounts:

Balance as of 13th April 2023 is £726.22 During last 12 mths we had an income of £150 council P3 grant. We have outstanding costs for digger and dumper hire and fuel of £350 leaving a balance of £376.22. A fund raising event may be needed later in the year.

Officers:

Chairman – John Sutton, Secretary/Treasurer – Chris Bargman

Proposed Yvonne, seconded Jo

The AGM was formally closed and the meeting then went on to discuss activities for 2022

Meeting 13th April 2023

A meeting was held following the AGM (see above for attendees)

Issues and work parties

Route R – Keepers Cottage. A gate post has rotted away and the gate and fence fallen down. This has been temporarily moved to the side. The council have supplied a replacement post. An option to remove the gate completely was raised. There is no live stock either side.

ACTION: Clare to approach the landowners either side and suggest removing the gate.

ACTION: Work party to be arranged to either replace gate and post or remove the gate and tidy up fencing.

Route F – Crammer Gutter onto common. Agreed that this should be improved.

ACTION: Steve to met with Chris to look at the ditch and work out best approach for clearing this and improving drainage of the path. A work party will probably be required to clear gorse etc from around the ditch prior to any ditching.

For Information

Facebook – We have a Facebook Group which can be a useful method to post any issues or information.

Website – The website has a map showing the area we cover and the bridleway route letters we use.

The Worcestershire Bridleways and Riders Association have arranged private parking spaces and arrange guided rides which may be of interest.

Useful/recommended Apps for route finding –

Outdooractive

Alltrails

The meeting closed with thanks to all who attended and to Yvonne for organising the venue and meal.

Reminder – Three Horseshoes, Wheathill, 6:46pm Thurs 13th April 2023

Meeting start at 6:45pm to review work done over the last 12 months and discuss activities for this year. This will be followed by the social meal (food orders should have already been sent to Yvonne).

We also need to look at the finances for the group. For information we have received an annual grant of £150 from the council to cover running costs for this year leaving us a balance of £726.22. From this we need to pay for digger and dumper work undertaken last year.

Note: Sorry if you have already received an email notification for this post. I have sent it again to all subscribers as it appears not everyone has received an email. I think that a setting had changed which meant only the first 30 subscribers were receiving emails! I have changed it now so hopefully all subscribers will receive emails for any new posts. Apologies if you have not been receiving email notifications and do let me know if you want to be removed as a subscriber.

Thurs 13th April 2023 – Reminder

A reminder to let Yvonne know if you are coming to the meeting and social meal at the Three Horseshoes, Wheathill on Thursday 13th April and to give her your menu selection before the 10th.

See previous post for the menu, prices are around £5-£6 for starters and £11-£12 for mains.

Please email Yvonne (see below) as they have problems with their landline.

yvonne.stevefarm@gmail.com  

Social Meal – Thurs 13th April 2023- Menu

Menu Options for Three Horseshoes

Starter

Soup of the Day, Farmhouse Pate, Garlic Mushrooms

Mains

Fish & chips & garden or mushy peas (please specify preference), Gammon steak, Beef lasagne, Chicken tikka curry, Veg lasagne, Veg curry

Desserts

Choice available on the evening.

Please contact Yvonne with you selection by Monday 10th April.

yvonne.stevefarm@gmail.com  

2023 Plans

A belated Happy New Year to everyone.

It has been suggested we have an evening social meal/meeting sometime soon. It would be great to see everyone and to discuss plans for this year.

Please drop me an email with any thoughts on this eg. would you want to come along, possible venue, dates (would you prefer weekend or weekday) etc.

Hopefully after the last 2 years this year will be a bit easier to organise activities etc.

Work/Update

Update on activities –

Meeting held with Chris and SWT reserves manager to discuss improvements to bridleway on Catherton Common coming down to the stream before gate to Crammer Gutter. SWT have no issue with us digging out a ditch to left of path going towards Crammer Gutter and putting in a cross drain and stone to improve the going. Main issue is that because this is SSI it will need approval from Natural England. SWT will contact Natural England to discuss. It is therefore unlikely we will be able to do anything in immediate future! Will probably need to chase.

Gates by Cattle Grids on Catherton Common. Gate clapper post by Abkats was lose and difficult to close. This has been repaired by Chris. Fence across cattle grid at Riddings Gate had been damaged and lose netting was making it difficult to use the gate. This has been repaired by Chris.

Hill Houses. Jo and Chris have cleared overhanging branches and brambles so should be easier to use.

Please let me know if you find any urgent issues that need to be looked at and also let me/John know if you do any work on any routes as we can log these with the council. Do feel free to use our Facebook/Whatsapp group to notify the group if you want to arrange a work party.

Good News and Work Parties

We have had a positive response from Council regarding materials for Factory Lane (D) improvements. They have said they will supply some 12″ pipe and also stone . They will also get back to us regarding the other issues raised although it sounds like they are looking for a new rights of way officer for our area.

John, Steve and Ted have managed to clear the fallen trees from Hinton (A). Digger and dumper were needed to be able to remove the larger trees. Many thanks to them for their hard work. Some general clearance work was also started (thanks to Matilda) but further work is needed.

We don’t seem to be able to get many helpers. Maybe weekend mornings are not suitable. There are a number of routes that need some clearance work and many hands gets the work done quickly.

Please can you let us know if a weekday early evening might be better for you or any other preferences. Alternatively if you do have some time to do some work on your own just let us know. Thanks.