Category: Uncategorized

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.

The work party for Factory lane provisionally agreed for Saturday 7th September has been postponed to a future date. We will let you know as soon as a date has been agreed.

Also many thanks to John, Steve, Yvonne, Ted who have cleared the Detton Prescott route at the top section where it was getting overgrown.

Present:

Chris, Jo, Steve, Philipa, Ted

Apologies:

Yvonne, John, Gill, Sally

John was called to another meeting at short notice which he had to attend. He and Chris met night before to go through items for the meeting.

General Comment to Local Riders 

Over the years the group has made some major improvements which are holding up well. Coming into height of summer routes do need maintenance and clearance to make them easy/safe to use. We need to encourage all local riders to be involved in helping maintain our bridleways. No one else is going to do it.

Action – Please try to contribute by attending meetings and work parties and encouraging anyone you know with an interest in our bridleways to become involved. Next meeting will be the AGM (see later item).

Work so far in 2019

John, Steve and Ted have completed work on Crammer Gutter (Route F) and Hinton (Route A). Many thanks. See previous reports.

Finance

2019 costs to date – £320 Stone, £72 Digger Hire, £45 Dumper and Matbro Hire.

Current Balance – £613

Routes Needing Attention/Work Parties

Back Of Mounts (J) and path to Lubberland/Nunnery Lane. Overhanging tree needs cutting back by where stone and drainage was done a few years ago. Also path is getting narrow and cut up in places between gorse bushes. These could be cut back to open up path.

Action – Work Party to be arranged.

Nunnery Lane (K). Wet/muddy area by gate at bottom of lane onto common needs work. Also some clearance work and overhanging tree by brook needs to be cut down.

Action – Chris and John to arrange site visit to see if we can get a dumper load of stone to the gate and any other drainage work needed then arrange work party.

Factory Lane to Prescott (D). New owners (Colin and Claire) are happy for us to do some work on this route. Main problem is very wet area by gate.

Action – John to arrange site visit and meeting with owners to assess what is needed.

Cleeton Court to High Lane (N). Sally recently walked this and reported that it is getting badly overgrown and also that gates appear to have dropped and need some adjustment to make them usable.

Action – Work party to be arranged.

Keepers Cottage – Detton (Route R). Ted reported that this is getting overgrown but is still passable. Would benefit from some clearance route later in summer.

Detton Prescott (C) – Would benefit from some clearance but is passable. Possible work party later in summer

Cleeton St Mary to Hill (Y) – We still need to finish marking this route. Also reports that couple of the marker posts we put in need checking (uprooted, rotten)

AGM 

Proposed to hold an AGM in July. We will also arrange project work and work parties at the AGM.

Action – AGM date to be agreed and all to try attend to support the group

Sorry I forgot to mention times for the meal, we are having a quick meeting at 7.15pm and sit down to eat at 7.45pm.

See you then.

Yvonne

Just a reminder at our last meeting we planned to have a get together and meal at the Fighting Cocks next Wednesday 11th Jan.

Hope you can come.

Details to follow.