Category: Meetings and Work Parties

2018 AGM 1st May 2018

Present:

John (Chairman), Gill, Chris, Jo, Clare, Sally, Alan, Steve, Philippa, Pete, Louise, Ted, Jo,

Apologies:

Yvonne, Sandra, John, Gill

Previous Minutes (see website):

These were approved by all attendees

Chairman’s Report:

There were various communications/meetings with Council and we were again promised that they would undertake major improvement work to route M – Walters Lane. So far this has not been done. Jo has been chasing and has been told that Roddy Yapp has been contracted to do the work which is planned for May 18.

ACTION: John to contact Roddy to check if this is correct and when work will start.

If the work has not been contracted then all members will be emailed to get them to contact council.

We have been provided with a report from Carl Pickup of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust on Route G (top of Cramer Gutter field) on how this can be improved. An application for funding to support this work was submitted to Green Shropshire XChange (thanks to Lousie for doing this). Unfortunately this was unsuccessful.

A number of successful work parties were held July/August to clear routes (see website for details). Thanks to all who helped.

During 2017 the group committed over 60 hrs of volunteer work (not including meetings etc.).

Accounts:

Last years ending balance as of 29th March 2017 was 378.46 (bank)+ 46.10(petty cash)

There was no fundraising undertaken in 2017.

We received £150 grant on 20th Feb 2018 from Shropshire Council towards P3 group running costs. £44 from petty cash was deposited leaving a balance of £572.46 as of 1st May 2018.

Officers:

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

Seconded by Clare Ratcliff

Chairman – John Sutton

Secretary/Treasurer – Chris Bargman

Proposed Clare, Seconded Lousie

The AGM was formally closed and the meeting then went on to discuss activities for 2018.

Improvement Projects

Crammer Gutter (across top of field)

It was agreed to try to apply for Tesco funding through their Groundwork scheme. Landowners written permission is required.

ACTION: Chris to forward copy of Landowners Permission Form to Carl Pickup (SWT)

ACTION: Gill to start to complete application

ACTION: Louise to email Gill copy of the application sent to Green Shropshire XChange

 

Prescott – Detton

Has been damaged by tractor use.

ACTION: Clare to raise issue with RW

Nunnery Lane

Could use small grant from Hopton Parish Council but will need a load of stone

ACTION: John to ask RK if they are able to provide us with stone

Route  from Cleeton over hill

Need to do more way marking.

ACTION: John to ask RK if they can supply some posts. A work party will then be arranged

Bank Top Farm to Musbatch

Needs clearing. Could do some initial work to clear overhanging branches and then further clearance later in year after main bird nesting is over.

ACTION: Clare to contact Pearces to see if they are OK for this.

High Lane to Bromdon

Needs route markers and improvement to a gate.

ACTION: John to arrange a work party if we can get some posts.

The Tangles

Needs work party to clear this route

ACTION: Work party to be arranged later in year (after main nesting is over)

Hinton

Centre section needs drainage improvement work. This will require piping and stoning. Estimate cost approx £1000. Will need fund raiser to be able to fund this.

Factory Lane to Detton-Prescott

Is better and current owners seem supportive. Does need improvement around gate (very wet).

ACTION: John to talk to owners when an opportunity orrises to discus how this could be improved.

Fund Raiser Quiz

It was agreed to hold a “summer solstice quiz night”. Tickets £8 per person. Format similar to the successful quiz we held in 2016.

Proposed dates 15 or 16 June as Cleeton Village Hall.

A ploughman’s type lunch will be provided

ACTION: Steve to ask Yvonne to check on availability of hall

ACTION: Jo/Sally offered to organise food.

ACTION: When date agreed Clare to create and circulate poster and promote on Facebook page.

ACTION: 5 Quiz rounds plus 1 picture round – Chris, Pip, Louise, Pete (picture round), Yvonne, John/Gill to come up with ideas for a round each.

Meeting Closed

 

menu for meal

Happy new year everyone, here is our menu for Wednesday 10th January, at the Fighting Cocks, we will have a short meeting at 7.15pm followed by our meal at 7.45pm

Starters

Soup- broccoli and blue cheese

Prawn Cocktail

Pate

Main

Fish and Chips

Steak and ale pie

Lasagne

Vegetarian Option

Creamy Veg Pie

Feta Lasagne

Desserts

Sticky toffee pudding

Baileys Cheesecake

Lemon Meringue Pie

£13 2 courses

£17 3 courses

Please e-mail Yvonne with your choice by MONDAY 8th  which is yvonne.farm@btopenworld.com

Minutes Meeting 7th Dec 2017

Attendees: John, Chris, Gill,  Yvonne, Steve, Sally

Apologies: Kay, Gill, Pete, Louise, Corinne

Review of Routes/Issues

Walters Lane

Still waiting for council to do the work as promised over 12 months ago. Chris has chased a number of times. Latest email reply received 10th November was – “We haven’t forgotten you, we just have some issues with availability of plant.  We are also having to do some training to improve our towing and cannot tow plant for the time being. This will be resolved hopefully by the end of next week and Tim is fully aware of the need to get to this job as soon as possible.  I will ask Tim to let you know as soon as we can get back to this job.”

Agreed that we if nothing has been done by next meeting (mid Jan) all members to individually contact council. Emails to the address on their website should have a response within 10 days so they are obliged to respond.

Crammer Gutter (across top of field)

Grant submission was unsuccessful (thanks to Lou for doing this). Work is on-hold until we have enough funds.

Prescott

A section being regularly used by RW (to feed cattle) but seems to be holding up OK. Any issues to be reported to group.

The Firs

Main gate onto road has been chained and is difficulty to undo and open. The wicket gate is difficult/dangerous to use (strong return spring and post box with sharp edges). We agreed that for our purposes we should make sure the wicket gate is easy/safe to use.

Sally has contacted council but no response so far.

Action: John/Steve will have a look and see if this can be improved.

Tangles (alternative route from Hill Houses onto common)

Has become very overgrown since we cleared this a couple of years ago.

Action: Work party next year.

Crammer Gutter to bottom of Withies Bank

Has on occasion been blocked by vehicles parked at cottage at end of Crammer Gutter/

Action: All to monitor and report if problem continues.

Time Sheet

John will complete time sheet early next year for the work we have done (at same time as we submit annual grant funding application).

Fund Raiser

Plan to do another quiz in spring with shared rounds. Will agree details at next meeting (Jan).

At same time will promote the groups activities and “encourage” all local riders to join/contribute. Clare has done a poster. Cleeview poster

Next Meeting/Late Christmas Meal

We will have our annual group late Christmas meal/meeting at the Fighting Cocks in January. Proposed dates are Wednesday 10th or Wednesday 17th January.

Action: Yvonne to check with pub and get menu

Routes P and M Cleared

Work parties Sunday 13th August – John and Yvonne cleared overhanging branches, brambles etc. from route P Prescott over the river and Chris and Jo did similar on the top half of the main Hill Houses route up onto the common.  Also thanks to Jon for trying his best to join the work parties.

Over the last 3 weeks we have completed approaching 100 hrs of voluntary work on the bridleways. Something we can use to try to get help from the council towards larger projects. We will be chasing them.