Author: chris bargman

We are proposing to hold an open meeting combined with a short AGM for 2022. Suggested dates are Monday 23rd, Tuesday 24th, Monday 30th or Tuesday 31st May. There are also a number of routes that require some work and we need to organise some work parties.

Please let me know if you have any preferences for the date for our meeting and also if there is anything you would like added to the agenda.

John and Ted have been busy with the grass cutter and have cleared the bridleway (route R) near Keeper Cottage so you don’t have to ride right next to the barbed wire fence. Many thanks.

We are having a work party on Sunday 8th August at 10 am to clear the Hinton bridleway (route A). Need loppers, strimmer, chainsaw. Meet Hinton end. Please come along if you can.

We had a very wet site visit to look at work required on route F,G.

The bottom section going to Withies Bank is not too bad. The work done some years ago by the council is doing a good job but the drains do need some clearing out. As the land owner is not happy for us to do any work we need to approach the council to arrange for this to be done, possibly by Roddy Yapp who did the original work for the council.

The route across SWT nature reserve is not good particularly towards the top gate where there are some very deep boggy sections which would be dangerous to use.

We reviewed the proposal from SWT (done in 2107) and this still appears to be relevant and should improve the route considerably. Prior to our site visit Chris had contacted SWT plus council and NE. Council are happy so long as work does not cause issues to the other path on the field, SWT commented that this is a proposal and will need sign off from NE which they will need to obtain as the land owners.

We agreed to contact SWT, NE and Council and provide them with a report on our site visit and that we need these improvements done ASAP. We also agreed that we would start to pull together outline costs for the work to put into a grant application to the BHS. We will need an estimate for fencing costs. We agreed to contact local fencing contractors (e.g Kevin Phillips, Ant Harman) for an outline cost per metre.

During the visit some tweaks were also made to the gates (thanks to Ted who brought some tools).

Thanks to everyone who attended and got very wet. Clothes are still drying out.

Present:

John (Chairman), Chris, Jo, Sally, Philippa, Pete, Louise, Clare, Ted, Becky, Clare, Dan, Gemma

Apologies:

Yvonne, Steve, Gill, John, Sandra, Scilla

Previous AGM Minutes (see website):

These were approved by all attendees

Chairman’s Report:

Due to the pandemic and restrictions during 2020 and the first half of 2021 there were limited opportunities for any improvement projects. Small groups did manage to undertake some work including drainage and clearance work on route C (Detton – Prescott) and route A (Hinton) using stone we already had in store.

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

During 2020 the group committed over 28 hrs of volunteer work (not including meetings and informal work undertaken by individuals) plus 1hr digger work and 4hrs dumper work .

Accounts:

Balance as of 22nd June 2021 is £426.22. During last 12 mths we had an income of £150 council P3 grant.

Officers:

Trustees – Chris proposed that all attending to be elected as Trustees (see Present for list of names, Seconded by Sally.

Chairman – John Sutton, Secretary/Treasurer – Chris Bargman

Proposed Lou, Seconded Ted.

The AGM was formally closed and the meeting then went on to discuss activities for 2021.

Meeting 22nd June 2021

Communications within Group

It was proposed to set up a Whatsapp group for the group. This could be used for members to share information on routes, work party dates, joint rides etc. All agreed this was a good idea.

ACTION: Clare to set up a group and invite those attending to the group.

BHS Bridleways Grant

Sally provided information she has researched on a grant available from the BHS including examples of grants from other bridleway groups. Grants of up to £5k are turned around within 4 weeks, over this takes longer.

All agreed that we should consider applying for this grant and put together a suitable project ASAP.

ACTION – Gemma to try to get further information on availability of funds from her contact within the BHS and send this to Chris.

ACTION Chris to froward his contact details to Gemma

ACTION: All to consider their top 2 improvement projects for review

Kinlet Estate Bridleways and Access

Clare has contacted the new owners (Green Knight Estates) on behalf of the group to try to get a dialogue started on improvements and some better joining up of routes on the estate. This could provide some excellent off-road rides for us to use.

ACTION: All to look for any opportunities to encourage this initiative via any contacts they may have.

Possible Larger Projects for 2021 and Grant Application

Factory Lane (D) – Needs improvements to drainage and clearance work.

ACTION: John, Ted to arrange a meeting to look at route and work out what is needed and notify the date via Whatsapp. Possible Grant.

Nunnery Lane K – Work has previously been done but flooding has caused further damage. It is usable but could be improved.

Crammer Gutter (G) and (F) – We have a draft specification for how the work on the Crammer Gutter field must be done from the Wildlife Trust.

All agreed to hold a work party to look at the route in detail and come up with a plan and possible grant application to improve this route.

ACTION: Chris to contact SWT and inform them we are planning to work on this route and if there is anything else we need to do.

ACTION: John to contact Caroline (Natural England) to discuss work on wildlife trust field.

ACTION: Clare to contact Ed to let him know about the work party.

Crammer Gutter Work Party Friday 25th June 6:30pm

Can park at Pips and start from bottom of route and work up. Target is to work out what needs to do and approximate costs for work at the bottom end and top end (across SWT field).

Work Parties For Other Routes

Hinton (A) and Keepers Cottage (R)

ACTION: John and Ted to use our mower and notify date for clearance parties using Whatsapp

Doctors Cottage (O) – Overgrown and difficult to find/use.

Cleeton Court (N) – Overgrown and concerns with Bridge

ACTION: Sally to email Chris with photos of bridge to forward to Council

ACTION: Gemma/Dan to suggest date for work party and notify via Whatsapp.

Wheathill and Other Local P3 Groups

In past have had difficulties on responsibility for bridleways on border with Wheathill area. We suspect this group may no longer be active. A quick check showed that we are the only P3 Bridleways group in the local area (emphasising the importance of what we are doing). Could look at some of the routes going this way in future as they can provide some nice quiet riding.

It has been a long time since we have been able to meet to discuss our local bridleways. Now that life is getting back to a form of normality we are hoping to hold a meeting to discuss work party and project plans, funding opportunities and any issues with our bridleways.

Start 7:00 pm on Tuesday 22nd June at Chris and Jo’s (Upper Marshes)

Please let us know if you are able to attend (or not). We might need to re-arrange if this date proves unsuitable.

We have decided to postpone the meeting. One of the main purposes was to organise the Quiz fund raiser. Because of the Coronavirus issues we cannot really have the Quiz until the situation is a bit clearer.

We will re-arrange as soon as things have settled down.

Action – Sally please can you cancel the provisional bookings with the village hall. Thanks

Proposed dates for the Quiz Night are either Saturday 18th or 25th April. Sally has checked with Cleeton Village Hall and they have provisionally held these dates for us.

Please put these dates in your diary and let me know ASAP if you have a strong preference so that we can finalise the date when we meet on Tuesday 17th March.

Thanks, Chris.

If you have not already done so please let Yvonne know your menu choices. The soup is roasted pepper and tomato.

See you on the 25th.