The Ramblers’ Association – Dorset Area

Annual Report – 2007/2008

General Overview As stated in last years report membership numbers in the Dorset Area have continued to decline and, although it is mirrored in the national statistics it is nonetheless worrying. There is, however, an initiative at national level which hopes to identify the reasons for the trend and then reverse it. In parallel with this Area Council have been studying methods of making their activities more obvious to the membership and also explaining the relationship between Central Office, Areas, Groups and Members. It is hoped that the fruits of this will be seen in subsequent issues of Dorset Footnotes . Coastal Access As previously reported this has been on the agenda of the Ramblers’ Association for some time but the latest proposals by Natural England have given it a new impetus. At the heart of Natural England’s recommendations is a coastal corridor that will enable the public to walk all the way around the coast, an impossible feat at present. Currently access to the coast is patchy at best and many walking routes are unnecessarily diverted inland. Our vision for the English coast is for the general public to have right of access on foot to coastal areas, including beaches, cliffs and foreshore. Currently, no general right to walk on the coast exists. Obviously there would need to be common sense restrictions to address nature conservation and safety concerns and to take account of private and/or commercial developments but this should not be an insuperable problem. This is the next significant improvement to the public’s right of access following on from the Freedom to Roam Legislation and we ask for your support in this . General Council 2008 General Council this year was held at the University of Winchester and was attended by Jim Scott (myself) and Cynthia Whyte (representing Dorset Area) and Brian Panton and Jan Wardell as guests. This was my first visit to General Council and my first impression on arrival was how much College Accommodation has improved since I was there a long time ago. The organisation was excellent and we started with a walk around Winchester seeing the significant historical landmarks. This included King Arthur’s Round Table, which was unfortunately hidden by scaffolding, and the remnants of the roman city walls. During informal discussions I was very impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of the other delegates and Central Office staff. Area Secretary In addition to the normal activities we have completely revised the Area Constitution. This required a lot of work by a small sub-committee. First let me make it clear that there is no hidden agenda nor things hidden within it. The main reason we have done this is that the Board of Trustees have brought out a new Model Constitution replacing the 2003 version which no longer accurately represented the way Area’s operate within the Ramblers’ Association. It also included technical changes to budgeting and financial control. Since we needed to incorporate these changes it was considered that rather than make changes to the existing constitution we should, in effect, start from scratch combining the wording required by Central Office with the intent from the existing constitution to produce a coherent and clear document for your approval. This new constitution is available on the website for download but can also be obtained from myself by post.

The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Page 1 of 6 Support your Area Council We really do need your support and you will see from the last newsletter that we are badly in need of volunteers to help us either as Individual Members or Officers. The most critical posts are Newsletter Editor and Publicity Officer as these roles are most important in promoting the Ramblers’ Association in Dorset generally and to our membership in particular. We would sincerely request that any persons who feel they have the time and expertise to assist contact myself or one of the other officers. Treasurer Finances in the Dorset Area remain healthy even though the Area’s main bank account is showing a loss of nearly £2000. This is in keeping with the policy that Areas and Groups with high cash reserves should contribute to budget funding by Central Office rather than claim the full amount estimated for the following year. The Jubilee Trail Book Fund also shows a deficit of over £1600, this is continuing the Area’s policy of reducing the balance in this fund by between £1000 and £1500 each year in making payments to Dorset County Council (DCC) on a matched funding basis to effect improvements to the surface and furniture on the Jubilee Trial. This year £1500 was again paid to DCC for improvements. It was pleasing to note that the Area was able to finance the reprinting of the Jubilee Trail Guide during the year and sales of the new guide are reported as going well. It was thought at the beginning of the year that grants to Groups in Dorset, which had not increased for some 7 years, were too low. Whilst most Groups had been able to exist within the level of grants paid out in previous years, it was decided to increase all grants in this financial year by 25% (as mentioned in last year’s report). However, the East Dorset Group (the largest in the Dorset Area), whose funds were still at a low level at the end of the 2006/7 financial year, was again awarded an extra £200. During the year the South Dorset Group was helped with a similar amount to help fund their opposition to the proposed Weymouth Relief Road. The Area has again made a contribution to the budget in the coming financial year and the special fund, initially set at £1000, to enable Groups to develop their own websites or additional pages within the Area website will still be available in the coming year – the funding for this coming from Area reserves. Membership Secretary The total membership at the end of the year was some 18 members less that at the start of the year. In the past it was possible to measure any decline or increase with any national trend, as we were in receipt of Area wide statistics. With advent of the new CRM system introduced at Ramblers’ HQ this is no longer possible, for the moment we are told? So the normally interesting statistics that make up part of the annual report, such as retention rates, membership level per 100,000 of population etc is absent. One must be concerned by the problems on introducing the new membership software in that for a period of three months this year we were unable to get any figures or details of new members. Even now, when we have been informed that many of the problems have be resolved, the integrity of the data must be brought into question. Members are marked as overdue, even though they have indicated they have paid or have standing orders or direct debits setup. This whole episode has been marked by the lack of communication from HQ and to get explanations for the errors that are reported to them. One can only hope that over the coming months things improved and we can begin to trust the information the system is producing. Editor – Dorset Footnotes As usual three issues of Dorset Footnotes has been published during the year although it is disappointing that reports from some groups have been sparse, however, articles from individual members have been plentiful and all received have been printed. From time to time the need for a newsletter such as Dorset Footnotes has been questioned, mainly on the grounds that printing and distribution costs could be saved if it was discontinued. I Page 2 of 6 have from time to time posed these questions to members and whilst replies have been low, the general consensus is that the newsletter is read and valued by some members. As an experiment, the last issue of Dorset Footnotes was printed on white paper and includes colour on the front and back covers advertising the new Jubilee Trail guide and the members discount at Cotswold Outdoor in Bournemouth. I think it is an improvement, perhaps members would like to comment at the AGM. It will give the new Editor something to build on, and improve. Area Footpath Secretary Although the number of applications, orders and notices was down a little on the previous year it has, as always, been a busy year for the Area FP Committee. The number of orders processed by Dorset County Council has been the main reason for the reduction. This has been due to staff shortages. The new “fast-track procedure” agreed more than a year ago seems to have floundered. In last year’s report we mentioned the consultation on DEFRA proposals under the CRoW Act 2000 on the right of certain landowners to apply for extinguishment and diversion orders. These proposals were considered by the RA to be a totally unnecessary, costly and bureaucratic procedure. It is pleasing to report that this idea is not going to be pursued by the government. It is disappointing to have to report that the Dorset Rights of Way Improvement Plan has still not been published, a year after the government’s deadline. The considerable work on this document and submissions by stakeholders seems to have stalled because of internal politics at County Hall. On a brighter note the Poole and Bournemouth RoWIP has reached its final stage and may even be published by the date of this meeting. In the summer we saw the publication by the RADA of the third and improved edition of the guidebook to the Jubilee Trail. This edition includes a new style of mapping that was produced in consultation with Dorset County Council’s (DCC) mapping section. This has saved us having to pay the astronomical increase in copyright license fees now demanded by the Ordnance Survey. Our thanks go to Rosemary Bramah, the RA Jubilee Trail Co-ordinator for her work not only on the guidebook but for the work on the trail. Improvement works continue to be carried out on the route with new gates, waymark posts and signposts, jointly funded by the RADA (from the proceeds of the guidebooks) and Dorset County Council who also carry out the installation works. Unfortunately we are unable to report any real progress with the Wessex Ridgeway, the other route with which the RADA is involved. It is clear that work is needed on this route particularly with regard to waymarking. A job for 2009? The major diversion of the South West Coast Path between Lyme Regis and Charmouth still remains in place, together with the more minor diversion at Seatown. In 2006 a new section of the route east of Charmouth towards Cain’ s Folly was reopened after a long period of closure. Such is the movement in the geology of West Dorset that the corridor of land reserved for the Coast Path (that was expected to last for 25 years) did not last for two. The long and unsatisfactory diversion via Stonebarrow Lane is unfortunately again in force. The resolution of these sections has now stalled, as there is unlikely to be any funding from Natural England (NE) in advance of the legislation on Coastal Access. Indeed there is currently a review of National Trails and recreational routes that could see NE funding of National Trails reduced or withdrawn. There is better news from Portland where Portland Gas plc has agreed to re-instate a closed section of the Coast Path above Castletown. Last year we reported that the work of the Archive Research Unit (contractors for the then Countryside Agency) on the Lost Ways Project had stopped. In view of the report on this matter in the Autumn/Winter edition of Dorset Footnotes it is not repeated in this report. However we repeat the plea for you to let your Group Footpath Secretary know of any unrecorded routes that you are aware of in Dorset (including Poole and Bournemouth). Access Co-ordinator and LAF Report On the access front the main activity in the past year has been supporting and giving input on the proposals for improved coastal access being promoted by Natural England. The necessary legislation will be in the Marine bill which is currently going through parliament. One major issue

Page 3 of 6 as far as Dorset is concerned is the status of Poole Harbour – would there be access all round it or only at the Sandbanks Ferry? The County Council is gradually signing and providing access to access land but with uncertainty about grants from Natural England it will be a long process! We should try to include access land in our walks programmes. The Dorset Local Access Forum (of which I am Vice Chair) has been involved in the above issues and also trying to put pressure on to get Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIPs) from Dorset and Bournemouth/Poole. The latter has been issued but we still await the former. Other issues have been gating orders, AONB management plans, the demise of the Lost Ways project, and promoting the recruitment of a Volunteer co-ordinator by the Council. Webmaster January 2008 saw the busiest month site traffic for several years and possibly ever with a 13,000 hit count according to the statistics package operating then. A significant part of the increase was caused by visitors to the pages and entry form download added in January for the Purbeck Plod challenge walk revival the East Dorset Group organised. The other contenders to try to take the top spot for traffic in the same month also had an East Dorset source as they were the first version of the East Dorset Web site. The East Dorset site was also added in January as a sub site of the area one. Recollection is that the February and March statistics showed Purbeck Plod and East Dorset pages getting close to but not ousting the try a walk page the long time top page. One of them may have done it in April or May but it is unlikely we will find out because of a “that’s bad news no that’s good news series of events”. The company that provides the hosting had determined it was time to replace the server with a better model. Unfortunately the somewhere in the process of setting up a means for webmasters to try out their sites on the new sever while keeping the working version on the old server access to traffic statistics got lost. After some confusion and tribulation the Dorset area site and East Dorset sub site when live on the new server in August. The new server has a choice of 2 statistics tools and from the one chosen it looks like from the September results the sites as a pair are back to the typical traffic levels of the past i.e. 7,000 hits a month. The new facility can reveal some information that the old one did not e.g. it appears somebody based in Indonesia visited in September and a Estonian one in October. For the benefit of newcomers and those who missed the report a while back in Footnotes the webmaster e-mail address at www.dorset-ramblers.co.uk was turned into an auto response that says see our contact page some time (years ago) as part of a scheme to foil spammers. If you access the contact page or the East Dorset pages and JavaScript is enabled in the web browser you are using the contact e-mail addresses will be created as the browser processes the page for display. Group Reports East Dorset The membership of the group has fallen slightly again as is happening nationally for the RA. However, we have recently seen plenty of new walkers joining us for their trial walks, many of whom have found out about the walks from the RA web site’s Group Walks Finder pages and we hope that some of them will join the RA and continue to walk with us. We have also had a number of enquiries coming in through the Dorset Area site and our own East Dorset web site, which we started in January this year. We have continued to provide around 60 walks involving around 30 leaders per programme, together with a trek in Somerset and another in Cornwall. We continue to send out path-clearing parties and our countryside secretaries keep a constant eye on changes to the footpaths in our area. At the last AGM, Andy Hopkinson stepped down as Chairman of the Group and Robert Powell took on the position. A new Social Secretary started to work for the Group in February and we have so far enjoyed a summer evening stroll and a skittles evening with a map reading course, our annual lunch and an expedition to Herm to come. This year we revived the Purbeck Plod, a 25-mile challenge walk that used to be run by a Swanage charity, and hope to keep it running annually. After months spent organising everything from the hire of a hall to a supply of biscuits, our first attempt on 15 th June, aided by reasonable weather on the day, went extremely well thanks to the many volunteers who came forward to help. We decided to open the event to runners and included a shorter 16 mile walk to give even Page 4 of 6 more people the chance of entering and 149 people turned up for the start at Swanage Pier of whom 111 finished. Next year’s event will be held on Sunday 28 th June 2009. North Dorset Attendance at walks has been consistent throughout the year, though the weather in July somewhat dampened support for that part of the current programme. Sunday walks of about 10 miles averaged 16 walkers, and the mid-week walks, once a cause of concern, attracted about 14. Some new leaders are emerging: and a few more would help to ensure a full programme. The Group has kept a watchful eye on its 25 mile section of the Jubilee Trail providing feed-back where necessary. Peter Mabbutt has walked it three to four times a year, and considers it to be overall in good condition. Our clearance party joined in with a large number of local volunteers to hack a way through an overgrown cutting, thus helping to extend the Trailway. Anne Adkins keeps us in contact through her membership of the Trailway Network Committee. In an attempt to bolster attendance, the Group changed the format and timing of its 2007 AGM. A medium length walk, followed by a carvery lunch, preceded the meeting and it was generally agreed that the changes were successful. Drawing on our contacts with local Walking for Health groups, we planned a joint walk, focusing on the section of the Avon Valley Path between Ringwood and Christchurch. Favourable weather ensured that 48 walkers from both the group and health walkers tackled three walks, ranging from 4 to 10 miles. It is hoped to continue this initiative next year, covering another segment of the path. The Group has committed itself to establishing a link with the Web, and has been working on the technicalities. South Dorset We have continued to publicise the Group and the RA via the local media, through exhibitions in Dorchester and Weymouth libraries, and at the Kingston Maurward Open Day. All this, and more, was organised by our enthusiastic and hard working Publicity Officer, Ron Davis. Sadly, Ron passed away in September. He will be missed, not just for the work he did, but for the sort of person he was. Our Group website, which we were just starting to develop last year, has improved by leaps and bounds, and attracted much favourable comment. We continued our opposition to the Weymouth Relief Road. The main event in 2007/8 was a public inquiry into the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders. This gave the opportunity for non - landowners to question the need for the road, as non - statutory objectors. Accordingly, we prepared a proof of evidence and spoke at the Inquiry, along with other environmental organisations. In September, the Inspector released his Report, which recommended that the road go ahead. He concluded that the damage to the AONB, SSI and Ancient Woodland was a price worth paying for the perceived benefits of the road; likewise the increase in exposure to pollutants. It should perhaps be noted that the road is not designed to permit free flow conditions at all times, and that it is acknowledged that its construction will generate additional traffic. Our core activity of walking has not been neglected. Our walks included one for the Festival of Winter Walks, and one in conjunction with the local Cheshire Homes, Our leaders have also contributed to the Wessex Wanderer Railway Walks. We ventured abroad for our Group Break, enjoying a very successful week in Ladis, Austria. Our attempt to provide short walks of 2/3 miles has met with mixed response, only those with easily accessible start points providing a modicum of success. Taking note of this, we have decided to try regular short walks of 4/5 miles from fixed venues in Weymouth and Dorchester, accessible by public transport. As well as providing a facility for existing members, it is hoped that this might be a source of recruitment.

Page 5 of 6 We have had our problems throughout the year, but having survived them, we look forward to the coming year with optimism. West Dorset The group continues to flourish. The actual number of members participating in the programme of walks this year has grown, with overall membership remaining at just under two hundred. As usual, we have enjoyed a full programme with an average of two walks a week being offered. These walks continue to be of varying lengths and include areas of Somerset and Devon which border West Dorset. New leaders have come forward and we hope to recruit even more as the number of walkers grows. Leadership remains at a high standard. The Liberty Trail from Ham Hill in Somerset to Lyme Regis in Dorset was successfully walked in three sections within our March to June programme and was skilfully planned and led by two of our leaders. Many of us look forward to a group holiday in the Elan Valley in October. All group events are very popular and well supported. The Wayfarer magazine, which goes out to members with the programme, continues to inform and entertain. The group looks forward to the changes and challenges of another year walking together in our beautiful countryside. Young Walkers Group In another successful year, the membership of Dorset Young Walkers has risen to 51(ish). We've maintained a lively programme of walks and socials, though as ever we are constantly seeking new leaders and event organisers. Regular events have continued to expand, with the Festival of Winter Walks attracting a high turnout. The annual picnic was, we feel, affected by the weather this year but we still managed a food-filled couple of hours on the beach at Durdle Door. Two cottage-based weekends away and several camping trips have been arranged and generally well-attended, with a few hardy souls even staying on through the flooding of their tents. Highlights of the social calendar included a party to mark 5 years of the Dorset Young Walkers in April and a comedy night in Bournemouth. As ever the summer evening outdoor events, including an open air play and concert, were also popular. The Group AGM in April was our most successful ever, with 18 attendees and 12 volunteers for the committee. This gave us an almost-full committee for the first time in the Group's history, including our first Footpaths and Countryside Officers. The only post currently vacant is Membership Secretary. The next event on the calendar is the Group Christmas Party, being held in Weymouth this year for the first time. As ever, many thanks to all the regular volunteers and attendees that keep the Group going.

Compiled by Jim Scott Area Secretary

Page 6 of 6