ANNUAL REPORT of the RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION SHROPSHIRE AREA for the YEAR 2019-20 Website: www.shropshireramblers.org.uk “The Ramblers’ Protects rights of way Protects the Countryside Promotes Walking And Educates in matters pertaining to the Countryside” Registered Charity Number 1093577 Ramblers Association Shropshire Area Officers for the Year 2019-20 Chair: Will Tandy Vice Chair Anne Suffolk Secretary: Gill steed e-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: Jeff VauGhan Area Footpath Secretary: Phil Barnes WalkinG Environment Officer: Trevor Allison Lost Ways Officer: Trevor Allison Webmaster: Phil Barnes Publicity Officer: Sarah Riley Ramblers AONB Representative - Charles Edwards* Membership Administration - Heather Morris* *Not formally Officers 2 Area Chair Report – Will Tandy As I write this report, it has been nearly a year since I was elected into the role of Shropshire Area Chair, and what a year it has been! Back in January 2020 myself, or indeed anyone else could not have predicted what was about to unfold over the coming months and the difficulties that this would present. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone in different ways, either directly or indirectly and continues to do so. Things which we took for granted, such as casually meeting up with friends and family, walking in our respective groups and socialising in general had to change as lockdown restrictions took hold of our everyday lives. The Ramblers has faced many challenges, however through a lot of blood, sweat and tears has managed to find a pathway through all of this by working closely with the Areas. Of course, many walks and other events were unable to go ahead as planned and we have all had to adopt to new technologies, for example holding meetings online (which has taken some getting used to!). However, despite it all I have been amazed by the resilience and optimism of our Area and group volunteers, keeping in touch with members and organising online events and catch-ups to help boost morale. Following the latest government and Ramblers guidance, groups have successfully managed to relaunch a number of their activities and commence some walks again. Whilst this has had to be done in a socially distanced way with reduced numbers and booking systems in place, it has allowed for a level of normality to renter people’s lives, improving the general mental wellbeing of many new and existing members. There have been a number of fantastic projects taking place across the Area. In September the Shropshire Way sculpture was unveiled; a spectacular galvanised and sandstone creation, marking the start and end points of the trail by Kingsland Bridge. Well done to everyone at the Shropshire Way Association for making this possible. Alongside that, there has been a lot of hard work regarding our Rights of Way (ROW). Lockdown forced us all to walk more local, which has provided a good opportunity to get out and explore paths that we may not have walked before, as well as revisiting those that we have. A number of overgrown and obstructed ROW have been identified and reported by our members, which is vitally important if we are to keep these open and accessible for all. There have been small-scale maintenance projects and P3 work to replace or repair footpath furniture, such as stiles, bridges and gates or simply cutting back vegetation. This has all helped feed into the Don’t Lose Your Way initiative; recording those ROW that are missing from the definitive map and identifying how we can save them for future generations. In addition, on a wider scale, planning applications are continued to be reviewed and acted upon where possible. A big thank you to all volunteers and members at an Area and Group level for everything you have done and continue to do to support the work of the Ramblers. Going forward I hope that as restrictions ease, we will be able to meet face to face more and return to a more normal programme of walks and events. We will continue to promote the good work ongoing in the Area both at a local level via the Area newsletter and Facebook page, and to the wider Ramblers and general public. If I can take away a positive from lockdown, it is the increased awareness that people now have of their surroundings and the benefit that exploring it on foot brings; both 3 physically and mentally. This will hopefully stand the Ramblers in good stead over the next year as more members join and support us. Here is to a great 2021, whatever it may bring! Treasurer’s Report- Jeff Vaughan Again, our Budget Request was approved in full and all Groups elected to take the Basic Allocation. Unfortunately, little progress has been made in reducing Reserves. This has been worsened by the lack of activity this year, particularly with the limited number of Walking Programmes produced. Some Groups have been unable to complete projects for which they had designated funds which also contributes to the increase in Reserves. I would like to thank all Group Treasurers for their hard work and support. 4 5 6 SHROPSHIRE AREA & GROUP ACCOUNTING DATA FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR TO 30/09/2020 Telford & East Shrops Market Drayton Oswestry South Shropshire Shrewsbury Shrops. Young Rblrs. Shropshire Area Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Income From CO (funding) 3250.00 From CO (other) From Area (funding) 352.56 236.40 188.67 256.60 476.80 162.68 From Area (other) 34.40 86.61 Deposit Interest Transfer from self funded Donations 120.00 40.00 20.00 120.00 650.00 Publications/good sales 88.00 1738.98 Grants 200.00 100.00 1200.00 Advert sales 150.00 Other 400.00 Total Income 0.00 622.56 200.00 276.40 100.00 296.67 0.00 411.00 1200.00 2952.39 0.00 162.68 3650.00 Expenditure To Groups (funding) 1736.60 To Groups (other) Walks Programme 98.00 31.94 79.75 162.91 468.36 Walk related Walks leader training 49.00 Newsletter/publicity 256.17 1086.61 7 Publication/goods costs 7.32 2210.00 Campaign/casework Practical Work Fundraising costs Meetings (incl AGM) 123.48 91.17 140.94 99.45 197.21 96.00 1115.66 Admin 35.59 30.30 29.38 7.32 Other/General 0.00 53.95 12.60 600.85 2.30 33.28 Total Expenditure 0.00 513.24 0.00 153.41 53.95 269.99 0.00 262.36 600.85 4020.80 0.00 96.00 2885.54 Surplus or Deficit 0.00 109.32 200.00 122.99 46.05 26.68 0.00 148.64 599.15 -1068.41 0.00 66.68 625.05 764.46 Funds at 30th Sept 2019 418.80 319.66 301.57 450.87 1061.33 331.39 762.92 4368.57 601.29 625.05 1316.78 Funds at 30th Sept 2020 0.00 528.12 519.66 424.56 496.92 1088.01 0.00 480.03 1362.07 3300.16 0.00 667.97 2081.24 Designated Funds 800.00 2000.00 Assets/Stock 1083.00 2015.20 Assets(shares) 105.00 100.00 Self Funded surplus or deficit -41.00 Main non-designated funds 528.12 424.56 496.92 393.01 439.03 1400.16 667.97 2081.24 Percentage Reserve 102.90 276.75 145.56 167.34 34.82 695.80 181.14 Footpath Report – Phil Barnes 2020 has been a strange year, a long period with little happening with potential footpath diversions and being unable to travel to look at issues. Worryingly there have been landowners attempting to close or discourage use of rights of way ‘due to COVID’. Fortunately, the council have been very proactive in dealing with these. In terms of proposed changes to rights of way there has not been anything controversial so far, hence comments have been limited to things like ensuring a minimum path width and adequate way marking. It would be useful to have contacts on the ground who can consult on applications, and maybe survey and take photos. The area covered can be as small as a single parish. If you are interested please contact me. Walking Environment Report - Trevor Allison This is my third report in this position, and should be short as COVID ‘19 has affected much of what other people can do. Nevertheless, the number of Planning Applications I have dealt with this last year has been about the same as in the previous one. Moreover, I continue to get some Planning Applications where questions about Rights-of-Way have been incorrectly answered, or where the Applicant/Planning Consultant has used an inappropriate map to show the location of a proposed development. Nevertheless, after just a couple of years ‘at the job’ I have got relatively skilled at deciding within a couple of minutes whether I will need to comment on, or even object to, a particular Planning Application. Just a very few have even required a site visit. What will continue to take up my time, and sometimes involve an actual site visit or visits, are the Major Developments in the offing around Shropshire; i.e. The North-West Relief Road, where I have hopefully persuaded the Planners that a section of Shrewsbury footpath 96 cannot be extinguished, and that other diversions must be as convenient for walkers as possible; the ‘Ironbridge’ Power Station site, where, led by Anne Suffolk, we continue to press for official Rights-of-Way across the Development to make connections that have been unavailable since the development, not only of the Power Station, but of the railway network that preceded it; the possible re-use of Farley Quarry near Much Wenlock; the proposed (by the Bradford Estates) Junction 3 (M54) major development, where their proposals are very ‘green’ but the loss of Green Belt land is highly contested, as are the County Council’s proposals for major growth in the Shifnal area; various aspects of the Shrewsbury South urban expansion plans; and the south-eastern Oswestry expansion plans.