Earlston Paths Group

EARLSTON PATHS GROUP Minutes of Maintenance & Improvement Projects sub group meeting held on Tuesday 14 March 2017 in the Black Bull Inn, Earlston. Present: Bill Bryson, Ian Gibb (Secretary), Sheila Gibb (website co- ord.), Irene Jones (Treasurer), Jack Jones, Tom McGhee (Vice Chair), Apologies: Ruth Gregory NOTES ACTION BY WHEN 1 Welcome and The Secretary welcomed everyone to the meeting. Introductions

2 General PATH ROUTES: Business The Secretary provided updates relating to the path network as follows: 2.1) Leader Water Path : Overall, the path remained in good condition. The donated type1 surfacing materials would be delivered shortly and arrangements had been made to move it along the path. Some prep work was required to resolve the wet area beyond "Gibbs Leap" and timber, to form a walk way, would be ordered to allow this work to be carried out. Materials would also be purchased at the same time to construct two small board walks over the wet area and drain below the community woodland. SBC path warden had kindly agreed to collect and deliver to site; work would be Ian / Tom / carried out quickly thereafter. Bill Ongoing

2.2) Speedy’s Path: Two more steps replaced on tennis court bank using materials from store and two log steps replaced on bank above the bridge at LWP gate; thanks to Hugh Chalmers for supplying logs. Overall, the path remained in good condition.

2.3) Black Hill: Nothing to report. Ian/ Luke/ Access to the hill from Redpath via Park Farm had still to be Redpath looked at over the coming months. reps. Ongoing

2.4) Sorrowlessfield Mains to Gattonside: Nothing to report.

2.5) Mill Meadow: Worn area at gates had still to be repaired. Sections of dead tree overhanging the path had been removed; thanks to David Brown. Ian / Tom Ongoing

2.6) Mill Bank: All surfacing work using the bags of type1 materials had been completed and the site tidied up. Thanks to all who were able to lend a hand and especially to the volunteers from Jog Earlston. The remaining section of path would be reviewed in the Autumn. Ian / Tom Ongoing

2.7) Earlston Circular: Nothing to report on path condition however more walkers appear to be using the route.

2.8) Sorrowlessfield: Overall, path in good condition. 2.9) The “Jubilee Path”: Leaf blower in action between Glen Road and top of Scots Pine bank and numerous rotting pegs, retaining the log steps on Scots Pine bank, had been replaced. A fallen birch tree blocking the path at Cowdenknowes had been removed. Overall, the path is in good condition.

3 Finance The Group noted the Treasurers report; no significant spend had taken place since the last update.

4 Web site / Twitter contact steady at around 360 mark and web site update to Social Media show news and events e.g coffee morning. The cost of investing in a stand alone web site (rather than that hosted by Online Borders) had been looked at; a local company had quoted £1.5k to build and transfer current content to a new site. Ongoing costs of approx £120 pa would also have to be paid. A decision on whether or not to take action would be kept under review. Sheila Ongoing

5 Other Business 5.1) Coffee Morning: The Earlston "Walk It" group coffee morning, in support of the paths group, would be held in the lounge at Hanover Close from 10:00 on Saturday 25 March 2017. Contributions for cake and candy stall or tombola to organisers on morning of event please. All 25 March

5.2) Educational / Information display boards and Path Surface Improvements Project 2017/18: Even at this early stage it was clear that funding the whole project might be difficult to achieve and it might be necessary to split it in to more discreet sections if small funding sources could be identified; more investigation required. Ian Ongoing Details of the project would be presented to the Community Council at their next meeting (16/3) and backing requested. Ian 16 March

6 Date of Next Tuesday 2 May, 19:00, Black Bull All 2 May Meeting