Doncaster Ramblers

Ramblers Association Doncaster Group

Minutes of Committee meeting held on 15th July 2019 at the Three Horse Shoes

 

Committee Members Present: David Gadd , Dave Binnington, David Horne, Sue Robertson, Steve Robertson, Peter Gavestock, Peter Rowsell, Tony Liversidge, Jim Elvidge, Norman Lewis, Tony Marsh, Dennis Neal, and Martin Wyman.

Also attended: Lee Welsh and Cynthia Elvidge. MW said he had talked to Marion Thompson on a walk and she had not renewed her Ramblers membership; DG will email her to thank her for her contribution to Doncaster Ramblers.

 

  1. Apologies.

Apologies received from: Stephen Saddington and Bob Carlisle.

  1. Minutes of previous meeting 20th May.

Minutes confirmed as accurate. DN/DG.

  1. Matters arising from those minutes.

None.

  1. Financial Report.

DH covered the Financial Report. There had been a contribution from Area of £230 that arrived this month and was not included.

  1. Publicity Officer.

PR

Coverage in the DFP has been a bit hit and miss, with only four entries since May. Ellen Beardmore did remark “we have enough on file to keep us going” suggesting perhaps we are sending her too many press releases. Bearing in mind I sometime sent three entries a week she has a point.

Possibly more significant is the introduction of other interest groups taking space in the DFP, where we once had centre stage.

The “Special” on Betty will hopefully be revived this or next week. Watch this space

There has been little coverage in the “Monthly” magazines - Arrow Press, Thorne Times and Conisbrough in Focus, nor the fortnightly Doncaster Gazette. Today still features us occasionally.

Facebook continues to provide promotional opportunity. In the last 28 days:

  • We reached 22.3K individuals
  • 5660 individual “engagement” with our FB page (liking an item, sending comments)
  • 74 page “Likes” – basically a measure of “popularity”

However there have been fewer people leaving messages.

With reference to photos I have been asked (rather publicly) not to take photos of members eating and drinking during the coffee and lunch break. In response (during a later Tuesday walk) I reminded members that when I point the camera at them I am not pointing at them as individuals, but as a group enjoying what they do i.e. out walking and all that is associated with it. I am not out to embarrass or humiliate. Our photos and stories are what keeps our Group alive.

PG added that if someone says no to having their photo taken that must be respected. DG agreed that we must be sensitive to individuals who have objected.

  1. Walks Programme.

DB said all the Tuesday walks for the Winter programme were in. DG confirmed the same for the Saturday walks.

DG asked whether we should continue the Thursday walks in the Winter programme. LW thought that inclement weather would reduce attendance, and DB wondered if we were in danger of ‘flogging local walks to death’. TM added that the Thursday walks made it harder to obtain leaders for GDM.

DG thought they should continue, but suggestions were made to reduce the number to two walks a month in the Winter programme. DG proposed that we provide walks on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. Seconded TM. All agreed.

LW thought we should drop that we should drop the 7/8 mile Thursday walks for the next Summer programme as these caused confusion. However, DB did not support this as he believed they were a valued offering for those no longer able to do the longer walks and were well attended. Discussions will continue, an immediate decision is not required.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  1. Additional walk commitments.

- Get Doncaster Moving. TM said we had submitted three walks in August, September and October. TM and PR were concerned by the lack of publicity from DMBC.

- Carers walks.  DG said dates for the Carers walks have now been confirmed as Wednesday 31st July, Friday 6th September and Wednesday 2nd October. At the moment there are only two definite volunteers for the 31st July walk at Cusworth Hall, so a couple more would be very welcome. We may get some volunteers via Hannah Wild. Sue R volunteered to be involved. One of the other walks will be to Wentworth House at the request of the carers.

Based on his experience at YWP DB questioned whether people actually wanted to walk rather than just view the attractions, but volunteered to do a repeat.

- Festival 2020? DG asked if we should put on a Festival in 2020. DB thought a reduced programme that included the established Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday walks could be considered, with the possibility of adding more walks and planning walks on themes. We will look at possible dates.

  1. Rights of Way Report.

MW

Square walkers have walked 110 paths so far this year.

Network Rail have finally pursued the closure of Penny’s crossing south of Rossington. Orders have been issued to extinguish Rossington 10 at the crossing, and divert path by the creation of new path Rossington 17 north to a footbridge and Rossington 18 south to rejoin Rossington 10. Doncaster Ramblers have not objected to this diversion.

Ramblers are piloting another new app called Assemble, starting with Footpath Secretaries and Path Orders. Ramblers receive the Orders centrally and these were assigned to me for action. I was required to fill in details of my actions and indicate progress.

Central Office have ramped up their use of technology recently. We already have the Insight hub and the Ramblers app for mobile phones, to say nothing of Ramblers Routes, Pathwatch and the main Ramblers website. I have several different logins - a single login for all apps has been mentioned but I don’t think it’s been implemented.

I reported at the last meeting that a contract for the demolition of the bridge on Sprotbrough 5 has been awarded. Whilst walking into town last Monday I noticed a sign at the New Bridge end of the path saying the bridge was demolished in June.

TM reported the following:

The volunteer's work party has met twice since the last committee meeting in May.

Wednesday 5th June

8 volunteers carried out work in three locations:-

1)  Existing stile at Kings Wood on Bawtry Road was replaced with a gate, improving the safety on exiting from the wood onto the road. Adjacent fencing made good.

2)  Tree roots were causing concern on a sloping path on Auckley Footpath No.2. A new post and 5 metres of handrail was added to improve safety, particularly in Winter.

3)  A new waymark post was added on Auckley Footpath No. 7 and anti-slip strips added to the nearby footbridge.

Wednesday 3rd July

5 volunteers carried out work in two locations:-

1)  Existing broken stile at Pit Bridge Lane in Thorpe in Balne replaced entirely and existing fence made good.

2)  Modification made to a previously repaired stile in Moss, to provide easier access for dogs after a request from a local resident. Not a dog!

PS   Please note that the next work party will meet on Wednesday 14th August and NOT as shown in the Walks Programme on 31st July.

  1. Social Report.

DN said he had recently visited his proposed venue for the Tuesday Christmas 2019 dinner, and was expecting to confirm the Brewers Arms in Snaith this week. There was no information on the Saturday walk/dinner.

The coach trip to Pateley Bridge had been very successful. In particular the three walks provided were all considered the right pace for those who did them. Also it was important to choose a venue that provided points of interest at the end of walks.

  1. Membership Report.

Sue R distributed a sheet listing new members, reinstated members and members leaving since the May Committee meeting. The number of Group members stands at 234.

  1. AOB.

JE informed the meeting that Jubilee Bridge between Thorne and Fishlake is closed for 14 weeks and there is little warning on the approach. (Due to reopen October 9th according to the Thorne Times.)

Meeting closed 20:27