Mid Lancashire Area Ramblers

See separate archive HERE for earlier newsletters (2015-Feb 2021)

10th April 2023  Frank Pearson
With regret we announce the passing of Fran Pearson, a long time member who was treasurer of Garstang, walk leader for Garstang, Fylde, Preston and Clitheroe over many years.
Frank also took groups on walking holidays and helped recce walks.
Frank is remembered well by many members who may also like to join in a memorial walk being arranged by Fylde on 

- Sunday 7th May, 10.15 am from Beacon Fell information car park.  8 miles.
See the Area walk programme for Fylde on that day.

10th January 2023   Member's Day Reminder.
Final  confirmation of details for Member's Day

Location:  Lancaster Way Community Centre PR7 7LJ
///peach.rifled.comic.

CAUTION:
There are two community centres in Buckshaw,
Google may select the other unless you say Lancaster Way.

9.30am  -12.30pm   First Aid Workshop.  YOU MUST BOOK FOR THIS   HERE
        Recovery Position,   CPR,    Use of a Defibrillator,    Heart Attacks,      Fractures,     Sprains/Strains,   Asthma

10.30 - 12.30 pm   Local Walk.  Easy/Moderate  c5Mile  Leader Lillian & Dennis  07881 665414

1pm     Buffet Lunch

1.45pm   AGM

Approx 2.30pm  Trustee Mark Chung

Approx  2.45pm Air Ambulance talk.

FInished by 4pm.

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18th December 22   Member's Day Reminder

5th November 22         Autumn Newsletter and AGM call.

(Click topic to jump to it:          Area News,  Group News,  Ranger Service in Lancashire)

Member’s Day Sunday 22nd January 23

The Area organises an annual Member’s Day as an opportunity for members from all the groups to mix and enjoy walks or a workshop, some lunch and relevant talks as well as the (short) AGM.
The workshops need booking through the Area website

Location: Lancaster Way Community Centre Buckshaw PR7 7LJ
9.30 Workshop First Aid (may also run a Mobile App workshop) Needs Booking see below
10.30 Local Walk c. 5 miles.
1pm Buffet Lunch
1.45pm Area AGM
Approx 2.30pm Mark Chung Trustee
Approx 2.45pm Air Ambulance speaker.

To book attendance at the First Aid Workshop  or/and to indicate preferences for a possible additional workshop, click  HERE

Final details can be found on the Area website www.lancashire-rmblers.org.uk
Or contact Eric 07740470728

Area News.
There are lots of Rambler developments happening and you will know of many through the Member’s newsletter emails.
If you are involved with putting walks up onto the Rambler site, you will be aware that the new Walk Manager is being tested and should be released more widely once niggles are ironed out.
This is expected to provide a simpler means of loading walks onto the websites enabling more leaders to directly load walks.
Discussions are in hand to add a new walking group in the Isle of Man.

At the time of writing, the Area is in urgent need of a new secretary and preferably a Chairperson. These are unique positions which offer a much wider awareness and influence on Rambler and Area activities than any other role. Contact us if interested.
We also have openings for independent members to attend the 3 monthly Area Council offering the ability to contribute to Area wide matters.

Group News
Chorley runs a coach trip each month and in the summer this is tackling the coast to coast path. During the winter it is covering part of the Cheshire circular. Multiple walks are normally offered. Any Rambler member is welcome to join these trips. See the Area website (above) or contact Martin 07808 899420
The Group was 49 years old in October, first walk was Sunday 6th October 1973.
Chorley continues to run a good footpath checking organisation.

Fylde provides mainly Wednesday and Sunday walks of a good length and often energetic walks. The group actively promotes marketing such as: -
• Live interview on Radio Lancashire on Rambler benefits during 9 mile walk.
• Working with Ramblers Press Officer for use in Rambler facebook adverts in the May-June promotion.
• Mid Summer meet up encouraging multiple groups involvement. To be an annual event.
• Previous material used in the Ramblers Digital walking for health scheme.

Preston continues to offer quite energetic walks on a regular basis sustained by a limited number of leaders. There are changes with the committee and a need for new volunteers.

West Lancs has often used Merseyrail to access walks in Wirral. For example:-
-In June we led a 6 mile linear walk from Hoylake Station to Thurstaston Common returning from West Kirby.
-August Bank Holiday weekend we took the train to New Brighton then walked 6 miles along the Mersey promenade, with its spectacular views across the river to Liverpool, to Birkenhead Priory, returning from Conway Park
-The Wirral Way is a 13 mile linear path from Hooton Station to West Kirby and gives access to walks around Willaston and to the old port of Neston.
Members from other Mid Lancashire groups are most welcome to join us on our next ramble ‘across the water’

Ribble has maintained its regular moderate Thursday walks with variable number of walkers. We’re fortunate to have a number of regular leaders though have appreciated the help of some previous leaders. We would welcome new leaders from any group.

Hol as the somewhat younger member group, the walks regularly offered vary from easy to hard and of good length. On occasion social events are organised.

LWW normally works on short timescales using What’s App and Facebook to offer a range of walks dependent on availability of leaders. Contact the group if you want to be aware of their walks.

Ranger Service in Lancashire

Prior to 1969 Lancashire did not have a Ranger Service. In 1969 Lancashire County Council (LCC) entered into an agreement with two landowners (The Abbeystead Estate and the Bleasdale Estate) to allow access to some of the moors in Bowland, which allowed for access to Wards Stone and to Fairsnape Fell. These were the first access agreements in Lancashire.' The landowners had stipulated as part of the Access Agreement that a Ranger Service was to be created in Bowland.

It was headed by a professional head ranger who was assisted by several volunteer rangers, which was based at Carwags – to the east of Beacon Fell.

As the years progressed the Ranger Service was expanded to cover many other parts of the County. By 2010 the number of professional rangers was around 14. If anyone can supply details of a precise figure then I will be glad to receive it.

The financial crisis started in 2008 with the collapse of an American Bank -Lehman Brothers. Local government was to escape the effects of this crisis until 2010, when a prolonged period of austerity started. Then it became a case that if somebody in the Ranger Service resigned or transferred to a different job then it was a case of a post being lapsed. In 2010 the expectation was that the period of austerity would probably last for about three years, but we are still living with this period of austerity.

In 2016 as the period of austerity was getting worse LCC decided that all services that were not a legal requirement were to be ceased. Unfortunately, the various pieces of legislation about the countryside does not mention a ‘ranger service’, so LCC decided to try to abolish its Ranger Service.

LCC hoped that various charitable organisations would offer their services to run a ranger type service. Letters were sent to many organisations but LCC were disappointed with the poor response. One of stipulations was that access on foot was to remain free, but that they could charge for car parking and other activities. I am aware of only one organisation that talked to LCC about this, but they came away empty handed. LCC owns various bits of land in a few places in the County e.g. Beacon Fell, so LCC was effectively forced to keep a bare minimum of a Ranger Service, so at the end of the following year LCC was left with two professional rangers.

If LCC did not own the land then the ranger service ended at that point. It was at that time most of the volunteer rangers ceased to carry out their duties.

In 2000 the Government passed the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW), which allowed for access to moorland and commons. The right of access did not start in Lancashire until Sept 2004.

Places like Winter Hill have had open access for many decades by tradition. So CROW only confirmed what had already existed in this locality. It was at this time that the Ranger Service arranged for new stiles to be provided and also for footbridges and board walks to be made. The ranger that covered Winter Hill was based at Turton Tower. Turton Tower which is owned by Blackburn District Council, but this ranger used LCC headed letter paper. This ranger along with many other rangers saw their jobs disappear around 2016.

Items that are made of wood will eventually go rotten, and at that point they ought to be replaced. Earlier this year a footbridge over a ditch on the NW side of Winter Hill was reported to LCC as being in need of attention. The question was asked who should do this sort of work ? It was a case of many people saying ‘not me’. United Utilities who own the land state that this footbridge is not for their benefit, but for the benefit of the public who walk, thus the local authority should pay the cost of the repair. The correspondence with LCC continues. An update will be in included in a future Area News.

On Winter Hill there are also a few erosion scars that would benefit from some attention. The question again is who will arrange, and then pay for such a job?.

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17th October 22        Workshop Choices & Area Opportunities

30 August 2022   *Leader Hi VIs Waistcoat* *Vacancies* *Workshops* *Risk Assessmnets*

*Leader Hi VIs Waistcoat*
Partly because of the early covid situations, we obtained, and suggested leaders wear, a Hi Vis waistcoat to make it clear that we were an organised group, and there are advantages of continuing with that practice.
We have a number of these waistcoats still available, so if you would like one, and these sizes fit you, please just reply with your address and size wanted. (You don't have to be a leader!)
Sizes available:
Large (42-44") 2off
Medium (38-40") 2off
Small (36-38") 2off

*Vacancies*
I'm pleased to note that Kitty Smith will take over as treasurer at the end of the financial year.
Thanks to Paul for standing in temporarily until we found a new treasurer.

We do have two vacancies coming up in the next few months, namely the Area Secretary and Chair, and it is Essential that at least one of them is filled soon.
Both of these positions represent the key interfaces between the Central Office (CO) and the Area and Groups.
To some extent they back each other up, most CO emails going to both positions.
In either case you can do the minimum required or get more involved in whatever aspects have your interest.
In either position you can have a significant impact on the future of the Area.
Both positions will have advance notice of any coming changes and activities in the Ramblers.
There are opportunities to join a range of restricted zoom sessions on a wide range of topics.
As a minimum the Chair needs to be
- the Main contact for CO,
- Chair the 3-monthly Council meetings. (which represents groups and independent members)
- Chair the AGM
The Secretary main roles includes,
- monitoring CO emails and forwarding any relevant to groups.
- organising the Council meetings
- taking minutes (can be delegated)
In both cases the formal definitions of the roles include other optional aspects.
Apart from the meetings, most activities can be handled as time permits.
A very few hours a month thinly spread.

If you would like to know more, do get in touch.

PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING ON ONE OF THESE ROLES, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT AT LEAST ONE IS FILLED.

*Council Member*
Area is managed by some officers and a "Council" which consists of representatives of groups and also some independent members.
We have openings for more Independent members to join the council.
There is no commitment other than generally attending the 3 month meetings.
PLEASE just reply here if you are interested.

*Workshops*
We occasionally run workshops, and normally include one on the Member's day in January.
It is uncertain what will be possible in the near future, but if any of these topics are of interest, or you wish to mention another topic, please just reply to this email with your opinion/wish.
- FIrst Aid
- OutdoorActive
- All Trails
- Something else?

*Risk Assessments*
More leaders are taking advantage of our electronic options to register risk assessments.
You can fill in our risk assessment form HERE and receive a copy for yourself and have one stored on our system.
Or store your own electronic version HERE so you have your own record in your sent files and formally on our system.

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29th July 2022   **The Newsletters are Changing**   

Previously the newsletter referred to various Area activities and a lot about our footpath activities. Ongoing they will contain items from the Area and Groups, different things they’re doing, achievements, special events.
As some members may be unfamiliar with the other activities in the Area, this first Newsletter is painting a picture of the Groups and the Area activities and you may find some that you were unaware of but are of interest to you.

**Area Activities**     (Website, Facebook)
There is something like 50 Areas in the Rambler UK and each Area oversees a number of groups, in our case 8 groups.
Some Areas organise most activities, and groups are essentially social entities.
In Mid Lancs, groups are more self-contained and active while Area provides various administrative and central activities. Other Areas have a mixture. 
Mid Lancs currently has 1161 paid up members, from 30ish to long retired though perhaps 6 of the groups might be classed as “Mature”!

Finances
All the financial aspects flow through from HQ through Area to Groups. Most groups have their own bank account and treasurer but get their funds through Area and Report back through Area which has an overseeing responsibility. 
This is the one mandatory and common function across Areas.
I’m please to announce that Kitty Smith will take over the treasurer role in October.

Services
There are activities best done centrally, with a website and this newsletter being an obvious focus to provide easy access to the activities across the Area.
Another central service is our annual Member’s day in January. It’s a means of meeting others from the Area, having a walk or a workshop and some relevant presentation/speech. 
Typically 40+ people attend though covid impacted the last Member’s day.
Not all groups manage their own funds, some smaller groups funds are managed by Area, and their websites may also be managed by Area.

Footpath Activity
While some of the groups do local monitoring of footpaths, Area funds activities at various county footpath committees, seeking support from local councillors for footpath resources, and one route to register a footpath issue.

Walk Programme
Due to covid, our 4 month paper programme was discontinued and groups switched to a shorter period. Websites and emails are now used but a paper programme is sent monthly to anyone who has no viable internet access.

**Group Activities**
The groups are listed here just in the order that they are identified in Rambler structures rather than any other context. All the group’s memberships and leader availability have been hit to one extent or another by covid factors.

Chorley  (Website, Facebook, Instagram)
Currently our biggest group which has increased to 363 members over the last 5 years or so. Provides walks mainly on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday covering shorter easier walks, more significant walks and some challenge walks.   A monthly coach trip usually covering part of a long-distance path and also some social events. Chorley is the one group with a well organised footpath checking structure.

Fylde  (Website)
The group provides walks most Sundays (moderate/strenuous) and alternate Wednesdays (moderate). A long-standing group but no longer the biggest group. More substantial walks that some other groups and a significant social aspect.

Garstang (Website)
This group has stalled as its membership and leaders were impacted badly by Covid. There are no current activities though still has a membership. It is hoped that it can be revitalised sometime in the future.

Preston   (Website, Meet Up Site)
The group has had moderate growth over recent years. Currently depending on just a couple of leaders who are providing a variety of Sunday, Wednesday and Friday walks of 4-8 miles, easy-moderate. Groups does some work on footpaths mainly re new developments. Maintains a Meet Up site to attract a wider range of walkers.

South Ribble (Website, Facebook)
For a lot of years this group has had a consistent membership and can claim to have provided a walk every Thursday for years, except for Xmas & New Years.

4-8miles, leisurely or moderate. The group is funded direct from Area so has no committee as such. The group had started exploring Monday and Friday walks but availability of leaders prevents that continuing at the moment.

West Lancs
Another group which has grown over recent years. Provides walks mainly in the West Lancs area. 3-6 miles, Easy to Moderate on various Sundays, Wednesdays and some other days. Has an active interest in footpath monitoring.    See a particular interest at the bottom of the newsletter HERE

Hike on Lancashire (HOL) (website,  Meet Up Site)
We offer walks across Lancashire and beyond. Our walks vary in length and difficulty from short relaxing social walks to more challenging hill walking. We aim to offer walks to suit everyone whatever your fitness level. Our weekends away allow us to explore interesting places further afield.

The Group ethos has always been aimed at attracting younger people into walking. The majority of our members range from age 30 to 50's. We always try to end our walks at a pub which is a great opportunity to get to know fellow members. Our social programme includes meals out, cinema and theatre nights.
The group maintains a MeetUp site to attract new members.

Lancashire Weekend Walkers (Facebook)
Somewhat ad hoc walk announced at shortish notice and availing themselves of good conditions. Generally, a working age group so walks can be more substantial or sometimes easier. Communications mainly by email and facebook.

Non Group Members
A member is automatically a member of Area, but does Not have to be a member of a group. 30-50 members in that “group”.

**Groups and Area Management**
Most of the Groups and Area have a committee of usually at least a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. They may also have further roles to do with footpaths, membership, publicity and more.
Most Groups these days don’t always find it easy to recruit new committee members, but without them the groups can’t exist. Most committees are quite informal and it is a good way for you to both contribute to you group and perhaps get involved in more than walking.
“Area” has a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Footpath Secretary and there is an Area Council in which groups or individuals have representatives.

**Leaders**
Clearly the walk programmes depend critically on walk leaders. Availability of leaders has been hit hard by covid and also HQ changes made to walk leader requirements which some previous leaders decline. Any group will welcome new leaders and provide guidance and support. There is also an online training course available.  Many leaders lead for a number of groups.

**The Henry Alty Way**      (A special interest article from West Lancs)
FP5(Tarleton) runs from Tarleton Lock along the bank of the River Douglas to Hesketh Bank boatyard. In winter months the path has been very muddy in parts due to damage by cattle making it very difficult and unpleasant to walk.

All that has now changed. FP5 is now surfaced, the cattle are fenced out, access to the path is easy from the River View estate and soon from Hesketh Bank village centre and there are no stiles or gates. There are information boards and seats. How has this change come about?

In 1879 Henry Alty (then aged 21) purchased the brickworks in Hesketh Bank. Clay was extracted on site and used to make common bricks and field drain tiles. Making bricks finished in 1970 when the site became a horticultural supplier. When this closed the site was sold to Persimmon Homes for housing.

As part of the sale Henry Alty Ltd donated the strip of land by the river and along which FP5 runs, to Hesketh Bank Parish Council. The Council decided to use all of the Community Infrastructure Levy monies from Persimmon Homes to improve the path and make it more accessible. They named the path The Henry Alty Way

The path now allows both local people and visitors to enjoy a pleasant stroll alone the bank of the Douglas and many are taking advantage of this opportunity.

A way to walk the Henry Alty Way is from Tarleton. From the village centre walk down Plox Brow to the canal then turn left to walk through Tarleton Boatyard to join FP5 by the lock. Continue to walk with the river on your right to join the Henry Alty Way. It will soon be possible to leave the path to walk into Hesketh Bank village and enjoy refreshments at Booths cafe. Return by retracing your route or walking along Hesketh Lane and back to Tarleton.    Geoff Wright  West Lancashire Group

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20th May 22  **Website** **Treasurer** **Leaders**
**Website**
You may have noticed that all our Rambler linked websites have been updated to reflect the recent branding changes.

24 April 2022
TEXT Service.   Since we have switched from 4 months programmes this has not been used much and due to a technical issue, the service is currently unavailable.
However, a large number of members have regisitered for it so consideration is being given to a replacement.

30 March 2022

**Member’s Day  8th May 22**      (full details HERE)
Have you put your Member’s day in your diary?  Please do.
-Morning walk
-Or Workshop (OS Maps – must register  - HERE)
-Buffet Lunch    (if thinking of coming please indicate HERE
-Q&A with our NW Trustee and possibly HQ staff
-Speaker – Blood Bikes (urgent transport of blood supplies)
If there is sufficient interest: -
-Making full use of Mid Lancs Website. Please show interest HERE

**What Has Ramblers Done for Footpaths Here**
For a great many years David Kelly has provided a rolling update on significant developments with our footpaths.
David has resigned most of his roles and may not be continuing with these newsletters so David has offered a potted history of footpath developments over the years.
If you are a new member, this is interesting background reading.
Read it HERE

Walk Programme & Leaders
Most groups are now running walk programmes.
However, there is a need for more walk leaders.
Whether you are experienced or just interested, please do be in touch with your group about leading some walks.

If you are a leader please note that our website provides two means of easily handling any risk assessments you choose to offer.
See HERE for a form OR HERE to upload your own.

Website
In the near future we will be updating our website to match the new brand image.
Note that if you would like to make fuller use of the website, there will be a session on this at the end of the Member’s day.
Show your interest HERE

==========================
11 January 2022
Please note that the Member's Day has been deferred and the AGM will be a zoom meeting.
Details can be found HERE

21 December 2021

Despite the covid status, I do hope that you can all manage to have a great Xmas and New Year break.

 

3rd November 2021

Member’s Day
Assuming the Covid situation is similar to now or better, we will return to running a Member’s Day, this time on a Sunday 23^rd January 22.
If the Member’s Day becomes impossible because of Covid, the AGM and hopefully the speaker will happen at:-
7pm Wednesday 19^th January 22 and will use Zoom.

Please monitor the website www.lancashire-ramblers.org.uk for confirmation and details. We will also keep members advised by email.
If you do not have web access, please see “Posting Register” below and we can advise by post.

Provisional Schedule
 - 9am (May be 10am) Workshop on OS Maps (you must register)
-10am A local walk, about 5 miles, due back by-
-1pm Buffet Lunch.
-1.45pm  AGM
- Approx. 2.45 Mark Chung local Trustee
- Approx. 3pm Then Speaker -  to be confirmed
- Finish and clear hall by 4.30pm
Location: Astley Village Community Centre, Hallgate, PR7 1XA

Workshop     You Must register for the workshop
This will be an updated version of a previous OS Maps.
Expect to one/two 5-10min walks outside the hall as part of the workshop.
The workshop will cover:-.
-the main features of the App                 -knowing where you are
-following a route                                  -finding routes
-using the computer based website
Register via this website  HERE,  or email to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(As the App and Website require an email address, you need an email address to register for the workshop)
A small donation will be appreciated.

AGM
The AGM and speaker elements of Member’s Day will be a Hybrid event. This means that it will be accessible by Zoom. The Zoom details will be sent by email, or can be requested via the Posting Register.

At the AGM the Area Chair will be standing down. 
It is imperative that we have a new Chair. 
It is a role that be treated as either just an organisational Chair, or if you have particular interest in higher level activities in the Ramblers, then this is an excellent opportunity to contribute.
Please let us know if you are interested.

Posting Register
When we stopped sending out 4 monthly paper programmes, we set up a system to send postal information, monthly, to anyone without viable web access.  You can register for that service whether you want the programme or to receive newsletters or AGM notices or register for the workshop.

To register either: -
* Leave a voice message on 01942 671311 (it’s an answerphone.
* Or TEXT (please don’t call) your details to 07740 470728
In both cases include your name and enough address for us to identify you and which item(s) you are interested in (Programme, AGM).

Walk Programme & Leaders
Most groups are now running walk programmes.
However, there is a need for more walk leaders. Whether you are experienced or just interested, please do be in touch with your group about leading some walks.

Pathwatch
We are keen that you should keep using Pathwatch to report any footpath issue. In the near future there will also be a list of previously reported issues that we would like members to check the current state.
There will be an email explaining this fully in the near future.

Website
Since the last newsletter the main addition to the website has been maps/tables showing all the footpath issues reported by Pathwatch over the last 7 years.
The “News Items” on the right of the Home page shows the latest changes to the site.

England’s Coastal Path

Regular readers of these notes may remember that I have written previously about delays in providing the new Coastal Path. This time I will give an update on the section from Silverdale to Cleveleys.

Work started in Feb 2016 on the section from Silverdale to Cleveleys, which will be about 82km long. It assumes that the Knott End to Fleetwood Ferry will continue to operate. The publication of the report about the proposed route was originally expected in 2017, but was achieved on the 8th Jan 2020, with the deadline for making comments being 4th March 20. Part of the reason for the delay in publication was the need to change the way the environmental assessments were made following a successful appeal by protestors against a planned wind farm in Ireland to the European Courts.

Originally when reports were published about the intended route for a section of the Coastal Way the route was written up as a long narrative. In 2019 Natural England changed their policy so that a section would be split into a small number of chapters, with each chapter effectively being a subsection. The Silverdale to Cleveleys section contained six chapters. Earlier this year Secretary of State approval was given to three chapters, with the Planning Inspectorate now considering the other three chapters. So the situation now is –

• Silverdale to Bolton le Sands with Planning Inspectorate
• Bolton le Sands to Heysham Approved
• Heysham to Lancaster with Planning Inspectorate
• Lancaster to Glasson Dock Approved
• Glasson Dock to Fluke Hall with Planning Inspectorate
• Fluke Hall to Cleveleys Approved

As can probably be guessed the parts approved are bits that had little in the way of potentially controversial items. As to how long the Planning Inspectorate will take to consider the parts with them is a big unknown.

Let us consider the proposed route from Cleveleys to Lancaster –

Starting at Cleveleys going to Fluke Hall (Chapter 6) what it is proposed to do is to spend £11,401 on signage, with no other works being required. The public already has access to the coast on this subsection, so if this subsection is declared to be open for use by the public, then the public will not have gained any new access,

For the Glasson to Fluke Hall subsection (Chapter 5) that includes Pilling Embankment, if Natural England's proposals gain Secretary of State approval as they have proposed it, then the expected implementation costs will be £282,758, which will be an improvement on what now exists, but I do not see this happening until at least 2024. This large sum of money includes provision for a lot of new fencing, much of which we think is unnecessary. Our argument at the expected public inquiry is that further improvements to the proposed route can be made. It is likely that landowning and maybe also shooting interests are likely to argue that the Natural England’s proposals are already too generous. Pilling Embankment involves four landowners, of which three are considered to be hostile to public access.

To the east of Pilling Embankment is the subsection from Glasson to Lancaster (Chapter 4), where it is proposed to spend £9,194 on signage plus £5,108 on steps, boundary crossings and surfacing. For £5,108 you are not going to see much in the way of works. The public may possibly not notice the changes, apart from the fact that some of the woodwork is likely to look new, and it may possibly make the coastal way slightly easier to use at a couple of locations.

Lancashire is not going to see any noticeable improvement to access to the coast for some time. However some other counties have already seen improvements to their coastal access.

Looking at the Coastal Way in England it consists of 67 sections of which only 15 sections are presently open for use by the walking public. So far this calendar year only two sections have been opened for use by the public.

In Dec 2016 the Secretary of State gave approval to section of the route between Ramsgate and Whitstable which is expected to be 40km long, and now nearly five years later the section is still not officially open to the public. This being the section with the oldest approval which is not yet open.

In the North West the only sections that are officially open for use by the public are from Allonby to Whitehaven, Whitehaven to Silecroft and around Walney Island.   

Any articles for the next Area News need to be with the Area Secretary by the end of Feb 22.

You’re receiving this communication because we believe that it would be of interest to you as a member. If you’d rather not receive similar information in future, please let us know. You can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., change your preferences online at ramblers.org.uk/myaccount or call (0)20 3961 3300.

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28th July 2021
As you will know, the rules around Covid changed 10 days ago as most restrictions were removed.

As the infection levels are still very high, the government is urging that you use caution and act in a manner that reduces the risk of infection to yourself or others.
Ramblers is also cautious and require us to continue to make walks "covid-safe", although specifics are rather few.

Walk Programme
Pretty well all the groups are now running a walk programme, though perhaps not back to non covid levels.
- Leaders may still be imposing limits to numbers.
- Some walks may still need to be booked. 
- A register is needed of walkers   (appears to still be a legal requirement)

We would ASK that you:-
- maintain some social distancing, particularly where someone is choosing to keep a distance.
- avoid unnecessary physical contact or bunching up at stiles etc
- use sanitiser after handling gates etc and before eating.
- if car sharing or using coaches, please use a mask during the trip.
- while there is a lot of contention around the relevance of being "Pinged", if you are, it would be appreciated if you do not attend a walk until you have isolated or you at least get a clear PCR test.

Hopefully we will never need a vaccine passport for a walk!  
But by now all our members should have been able to be doubly vaccinated so we anticipate that most people on a walk will have been vaccinated.

AGM's and Committee meetings.
Ramblers is currently recommending that meetings are outdoors or online due to the high level of infections.
As AGM's are a few months away a number of groups and areas have made it clear they intend to run physical AGM's as online ones were not always a success.

While committees can make their own decisions about that, the relevance to YOU is that, from October groups will be having their AGM's and will need to decide if they will be physical, online or hybrid meetings.

( A hybrid meeting has people in a physical meeting but also allows members to attend "online". 
Not all groups may have the technology for that)

Assuming no further lockdown, the primary issues are key officers being "Pinged", hence unable to attend physically, and members being uncomfortable with physical meetings.
Please feel free to pass on any views on that to your Group officers.

At the moment, the Mid Lancs Area AGM will be part of a Members Day on Sat 22 Jan and the AGM part is planned to be a hybrid event.
It is intended that there will be a walk and workshop in the morning, buffer lunch, AGM and a speaker.

In the event of increased restrictions a backup online AGM will be arranged on Wed 19th Jan in the evening.
If you have views on that feel free to reply here with them.

 

14th June 2021

**COVID**
At the time of writing the delay to the end of restrictions has just been announced. The only impact on our walks is that we continue with the existing rules, i.e. with social distancing, limits on café/pub visits and requiring registers with the walks. It’s likely that leaders will continue to limit walk numbers.

**Paper Programmes**
We mentioned in the last letter that we would no longer be sending out four-month paper programmes. We have set up a system to send paper programmes once a month to the very limited number of people who cannot access walks via the website.
We have also provided easier ways to print a programme from the website, or to view it on a smart phone. (See under Guided Walks)
If you need to be added to those who want a paper programme, just contact us via the website or contact Eric on 0774 0470728.
Some groups will only be sending out a newsletter once a year (Nov/Dec?) ahead of the Area AGM (January).

**Volunteering**
Sadly Group and Area activities do not occur by magic!
In reality they depend on two types of members.
About 10% of our members are active volunteers, though this is mainly walk leaders.
We have been particularly fortunate that a smallish number of these leaders have continued to lead, when possible, during covid.

However, there is about 1% core of members who are involved with Group and Area “organisation”.
Without this core of volunteers, everything else would fail - quite literally.

While we need more of our leaders to return to leading or for new leaders to emerge, we have a more critical need for help on the organisation side.

May I ask you to consider offering some of your time.

Almost all such help can be “out of work hours”, “done from home”, “at your own choice of time”, “fitted to whatever time you can offer”.
It is Not necessary to take on substantial roles or heavy commitments. “Many hands……” and tasks can be split over volunteers.

Talk to your group leaders or myself to see how you can help.
“Area” urgently needs secretarial (i.e. organising) support, Chorley has urgent needs as well, and other groups would welcome more help..

**Walk Programme**
At the time of writing, three groups are offering almost normal programmes, and two others are offering a reduced version. By the time you receive this a fourth group will be starting to offer walks and others may be increasing their offerings.
However, even when all restrictions are removed, leaders will still be free to limit numbers to their comfort level.
A number of Special Walks are being added to the programme.

**Walk Descriptions**
If you have used any of the walk descriptions from the website, please let us know any issues with the descriptions. Once verified they may be added as Rambler Routes.

**Footpath Issues**
You will be aware that LCC limitations are having a very adverse effect on the state of paths. We are reviewing how we handle these issues and considering how we might help focus attention on priority problems. We hope to provide some means to let members more easily report issues and use the information in a constructive manner.

**Website**
There has been some change to the home page to help direct you to items of news. For the moment, Chorley walks are being transferred to the website intermittently.

Footpaths in Lancs Update
In the period from the early nineties up to 2010 the public footpaths in Lancashire and in most other places in England were slowly improving. This being the result of many years of campaigning about problems on rights of way,

Whilst the financial crisis hit in 2008, local government for the most part avoided any effects until 2010. In 2010 as the period of prolonged austerity started the Lancashire Public Rights of Way network had fewer than a thousand live faults on it. At this point the Public Rights of Way section had 17 staff in it. In the years that followed the number of outstanding faults slowly increased which by Jan 18 had increased to over 5,000, at which point Lancs County Council (LCC) stopped providing the statistics because of concerns about possible duplicates and also about clearance reports not having been entered into the system. The Public Rights of Way section has been slowly reduced during the past decade to 11 staff.

A recent Freedom of Information request about faults on the Public Rights of Way network in Lancashire received the reply that they now had 10,555 outstanding reports. Our thoughts are that many of these reports will have been made in the past year as a result of people spending more time at home, and for many people it is now a case of exercising at home and of walking local footpaths plus visits to the local park. It is evident that many footpaths near urban localities have seen an increased usage during recent the past year.

In private discussion with staff at LCC they speak about it being busy since Covid-19 struck, but no figures have been quoted, though it is probable that most of the increase in the number of reports occurred after Mar 20.

Footpath issues can be reported in a number of ways, which include –
a) Using Pathwatch, which can be for any place in England, but in order to use this your email address needs to be known to the Ramblers.
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/get-involved/big-pathwatch.aspx
b) Using LCC’s website which includes an option to Report it:
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/report-it/
c) By email to LCC, quoting the grid ref, parish, description of location and details of the fault, and ideally attaching a digital photograph.
prow reports <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Staff at LCC prefer that faults are reported using this method, for a good photograph can save an initial site visit.

You may also wish to report the issue to the RA group whose territory it is in. If the fault is not cleared within a reasonable time period (some people would say six months, but others have suggested a longer time period) then report it to us including the history of the location.

We are in the process of contacting new and existing Councillors to encourage an interest in giving some priority to path improvement.

Going for a walk either in a park or in the countryside ought to provide benefits for health, for both mental and physical health. Keeping the footpath network and the parks (both town and country parks) in good condition is thus highly beneficial. However, it will not be cheap, but we consider that it will be money well spent, compared with health costs.

Outstanding Fault Reports on Public Rights of Way in Lancs

  

Which seems incompatible with group walks activities as few of our walks could be deemed local in themselves apart from getting there. 

Any articles for the next Area News need to be with David Kelly by the end of Aug.
You’re receiving this communication because we believe that it would be of interest to you as a member. If you’d rather not receive similar information in future, please let us know. You can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., change your preferences online at ramblers.org.uk/myaccount or call (0)20 3961 3300.
The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity ( England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: Soho Wharf, 1 Clink St, London, SE1 9DG

26th March 2021

**Walks Start**
You will be aware that the lockdown rules change on the 29th March.
Contrary to a previous email, the Ramblers have determined that "organised Group Walks" can start on the 29th March with no limit on numbers.

However, it is likely that all groups, and or leaders, will place a limit of around 10-15 people on a walk for the time being.
It is also unlikely that many groups will provide walks before the 12th April as that was the previous planning information. (There are some walks loaded, also some dummy walks used in testing)
Walks still need to be "socially distanced" and leaders need to be aware of the Rambler guidelines for risk assessment.
There are some issues about where walks can happen, See notes below.

All groups other than Chorley will be adding their walks to the Rambler site and hence will appear on our local websites, smartphone lines and Ramblers apps. 

The relevant phrase from the Government rules is:-
                        "will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports."         (see HERE)
And see the notes below on where walks can be.

**Private Walks**
You will now be able to walk with 5 others, or with a group involving only two households.
Please note that you cannot claim to be an "organised" walk (under the Ramblers).
To be a Rambler walk, it must be published in a Rambler context, authorised by your group and comply with some other constraints.
There are a lot of Walk descriptions on our website under  Self-Guided Walks.
And some nearby Routes on the Rambler site.

**Local? **
There is a lot of ambiguity about travel rules.
The only relevant statement in the Government guidance at themoment (HERE) is:-
     "The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March but many restrictions will remain in place.
       People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible,
       avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes."
However that sentence seems to relate mainly to travel to work.

The recent Ramblers statement says
     "For now, you must continue to stay local and avoid non-essential travel.You must not travel to Scotland or Wales."

Hopefully the Ramblers will clarify soon but leaders are invited to email  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - and ask for an opinion.
Best to ask some days before the walk.

The 12th April rules does not explicitly change this restraint but we are allowed to travel to zoos etc.

Various news media are reporting that the guidance is "stay local" and minimise travel.
We are also allowed to travel for many other things, e.g. holidays, weddings etc.  

No doubt this will be clarified in due course.
It may be prudent for groups/leaders to be conservative about the distance to a walk.
You may also find groups being a bit cautious in walk lengths as members may not be as fit as they were.

**Smartphones**
As we are ceasing issuing paper programmes we have added facilities to our web to produce:-
- a more compact print format for those who like a paper programme.   See HERE.
   (it can produce the next 5 weeks of walks, or all logged walks)
- a format that suits smartphones.
   If you have a smartphone you may find this particularly convenient.   
   On your phone (or computer) click  HERE   and bookmark the page, perhaps add it to your Home screen.   
   Or enter     www.lancashire-ramblers.org.uk/smart   into a browser on your phone.
Unfortunately these only show walks that are on the Ramblers site, not Chorley's.

**Leaders**
A number of groups are encouraging leaders to add their walks directly via the Rambler system to simplify the work of walk co-ordinators.
If you are comfortable with completing forms online (which if you buy things online, you will be) do ask your group if they would welcome this.
We can run a demonstration zoom if there is some interest.
Let us know by replying here.

There is a significant Rambler online leader training course on Assemble.There is an introduction HERE.
If you want to look at the course you need to be registered as a volunteer (i.e. leader etc), click on the circle with your initials (top right), click on "view profile details", click on the "training" tab and you will see training courses available to you.

We hope you are ready and keen to get walking and are feeling more secure with vaccinations.No passport needed!!

================================

Tue 9th March 2021

Dear Mid Lancs member.
Hope you are well and benefiting from vaccines.

**Covid & Walks**
You will be aware that the change of covid rules yesterday had no effect on our freedom to walk, either independently or with others. 

It does give permission to meet for socialising, rather than just exercise, with one person and to sit with a coffee.

Last year whenever the "Rule of 6" came into play, we were permitted group walks.
That is Not quite the case this time.
On 29th March the "Rule of 6" comes in, so you can start walking with a few friends, but we will not be free to start group walks.

However, it is anticipated, but not certain, that group walks can start on the 12th April.
As with last year it is probable that numbers will be limited to 30 with most leaders/groups limiting to around 12.
Hopefully that will improve in May or June.

Now that many of our members and leaders will have been vaccinated, I hope that more will feel able to lead and join walks again.
We were heavily dependent on a very limited number of leaders last year, and that would be difficult to sustain.

I anticipate that groups will start planning at least provisional walks for after 12th April.

**Paper Programmes"*
As indicated in the Feb newsletter, we have decided to stop sending out paper programmes to members with no email.
As requested, a number of members have indicated that they do not have viable web access and still need paper programmes.
We have set up a small group who will send out paper programmes monthly to this very small number of people who have requested it.

We hope groups will normally tend to have the next 5 weeks programme sorted just before the start of that month, so hopefully the programme that is sent out will be essentially correct for the next 5 week programme, though some short notice walks may be missed.

As many members like to have a paper programme, although they have viable web access, we have updated the website to make it easy for you to print or download a printable copy of the programme.
Should anyone have a problem with this change, do let us know and we will try and resolve it.

**Web Update**
The main Area website has been re-organised a bit to make it cleaner.
More importantly, the facilities under "Guided Walks" have changed.

- The sub-menu Guided walks brings up a table with three different (printable) programme formats plus an interactive map.   Click  HERE to have a look.

- The sub-menu Print Programme brings up a programme format that can be printed in a more compact form than the other options.    Click  HERE to have a look. 
  At the moment this displays/prints all the walks ahead.
  There will shortly be an option of just printing the next 5 weeks.  
  Typically that will be 3 pages for a full 5 week programme.

  We are still experimenting with this format to make it readable but compact so it will evolve.

You can also access these walks via the Rambler app which is worth exploring.   See HERE

At the moment Chorley walks are not being added to the Rambler system and so will not be accessible on the mid lancs site or the Ramblers App or paper programmes.Hopefully this will change.

The Home page has also been altered to show current news in a more convenient arrangement in a side panel rather than confusing the main page.
Stay well and keep fit.

Prior newletters are in an archive see top of page.