southcotswoldramblers.org.uk News Items From far and wide

Home Page Walks Photos Led Walks Programme Message Board About Led Walks Walks in the Area Holidays Photos > News Items < How to Join Contact Us Footpath Problems Local Links Walking Links Favourite Walks Books Footpath Protection is a huge part of our work both locally and nationally		UPDATED 28 September 2011 RAMBLERS CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEPS ON TO NEW CHALLENGE Tom Franklin, Ramblers Chief Executive, today (27 September 2011) announces that he is stepping on from the Ramblers to the next challenge that lies ahead. Tom Franklin will continue with Britain’s Walking Charity until the end of the year, before beginning a new role as Chief Executive of Think Global. READ MORE GLOUCESTERSHIRE VILLAGERS BUY TYNDALE MONUMENT LAND The villagers raised £45,000 to buy the 14 acres surrounding the Tyndale Monument in North Nibley that were for sale. READ MORE SLAD VALLEY DEVELOPMENT REJECTED The link below is a BBC news item about the proposed development of 48 properties at Wades Farm in the Slad Valley, Stroud. Would this be any interest to our members and if so could this be placed on the message board/news item section? Andrew Yes, thank you and here it is. Good news, although we have to wait for the appeal to be determined before we can be really sure. Mike http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-14458751 HELP SHROPSHIRE TO DEFEND THEIR PATHS If you have ever walked in the beautiful hills of Shropshire or plan to do so, please read and sign the petition - you don't have to live there! Shropshire Council have imposed a 40% cut in the ROW budget, merged departments so that a single dept covers PROW's, Parks, Play Areas and Open Spaces and will be implementing staff cuts. The budget left after staff costs is derisory when split across all the areas the new dept covers and as a result the maintenance of PROW's will be non existant except on what Shropshire Council designates as "Promoted" and "Priority" routes. Further cuts next year are promised. The Shropshire Area of the Ramblers has raised a petition to try to stop further cuts and to eventually reverse the cuts that have been imposed. Tom Franklin writes I'm shocked at the scale of cuts being imposed in Shropshire to footpath budgets. They are of the scale that many footpaths in Shropshire are going to become unusable. It's short-termist on the part of the council - because footpaths help to generate visitors to the countryside, which in turn supports local businesses. Shropshire Ramblers has set up an online petition, and they need YOUR help. Please add your name today: http://petitions.shropshire.gov.uk/petitions.ti/prow But don't just add your name. Ask your friends, neighbours, family, and local businesses to sign up as well. And it does make a difference - remember what happened as a result of the big online petitions over forests! The Ramblers aim is to get 1,000 signatures from Shropshire residents or people associated with Shropshire in some way. If we get the 1000 signatures then we have the right to present the petition at a full meeting of the council and speak to the petition for 5 minutes. The council then has to have a formal debate about the subject. On the assumption that we will get 1,000 signatures, we have set Thursday 24th November as the date to present the petition to the council. Rodney Whittaker, the Chairman of the Ramblers Trustees has agreed to come and present to the council, Rodney has connections with Shropshire in that he has relatives in Shrewsbury and went to school in Shrewsbury. Also on the 24th November we are organising a walk (to celebrate Shropshire's footpaths) to arrive at Shire Hall at approximately 12 noon, Kate Ashbrook (Ramblers trustee) has agreed to come on the walk and address the media. Tom Franklin Chief Executive The Big Volunteer Survey has now been run twice with the results being used to help us to better support volunteers at all levels of the Ramblers. This report is designed to show how volunteer attitudes and perceptions have changed over time. 999: It's an emergency Some ambulance trusts cannot understand Grid References! They ask for a postcode if you have an emergency on a walk. Ramblers are campaigning for action. Incidents reported in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire - see map and zoom in. What can you do to help? CLICK HERE WALK MAGAZINE latest issue LATEST NEWS FROM THE RAMBLERS Up to the minute news items. NEWS ARCHIVE from the Ramblers Press Office. Walking for health - There's no doubt about it, walking is good for you. It's good for your heart, it's good for your lungs, it's good for the muscle and bone growth of your children and it's good for your feeling of wellbeing! Strong scientific evidence now supports the many benefits to health of regular walking. Ramblers' Walking Information Service second to none - Whether you're an old hand or a complete beginner, we can help you get the best out of walking. Our information service draws on years of experiences as Britain's biggest walking organisation to provide you with the help and advice you need on walking anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. Follow the links on this page to access our unique and extensive online walking information. HISTORIC ITEMS RETAINED FOR INTEREST Safer Crossings and Protect the AONB demonstration on the A417 near the Air Balloon Inn, Crickley Hill on 22 March 2004. South Cotswold Ramblers involved. More details of the plans of a huge flyover - not carried out - yet! Letter to the editor New Country House in Cotswolds - Plan Defeated - The saga of this highly controversial plan. FARMERS face fines for littering countryside Farmers have been ordered to clean up the countryside and remove their rusty tractors, mounds of tyres, bale twine and oil drums. The spring clean is to ensure that farmers comply with tight waste controls set out in a European directive which the Government has ignored for more than ten years. (The Times)		Some of the things the Ramblers are doing nationally. See their website for the full picture. The Group Walks Finder contains over 2,000 walks Access to open country is here after nearly 70 years of campaigning Protection of the Countryside is so important to walkers