Welcome to our current newsletter (dated: April 2026). This issue contains information on the 2024/25 AGM, recruitment of an area council secretary,  a round-up from around the groups and a footpath report from our footpath secretary. 

General News (AGM, Area Council Vacancy, Navigation Course) | Footpath News |  Group News |  Earlier Newletters

For pre-May 23 newsletter click HERE. See separate archive HERE for earlier style newsletters.

General News

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Area AGM 2024/25

The Area AGM for 2024/25 was held on Sunday, 1 February 2026 at Broughton Bowling Club. Thank you to everyone who attended and made it a success. Special thanks to Joy and Pauline for organizing accommodation, the speaker, and refreshments, and to the Preston group for leading the morning walk.

Thanks to Chorleys Angel for the First Aid course and John Lamb for his “Lancashire a Journey into the Wild” presentation, which was well received.

Finding Routes, Navigation and Map Reading Course

We have heard some members wishing to improve their skill in finding walks and navigating them, and these days keeping up with changes to OS Maps can be a constraint.

We are considering running a course offering some combination of finding routes, map reading, navigation and OS Maps use.

If this might interest you please reply, preferably via the form HERE, or by replying and mentioning which of those topics are of interest.

Timescale is probably late spring/ early summer. Central to our Area, probably full morning.

Volunteer Support for Area Council

Currently we are seeking to recruit for the volunteer role of Area Secretary to support the existing volunteers who along with their council roles also support their associated groups. If you wish to express an interest in this role and want to learn more, please contact me, Robb Radford, directly through Mid Lancs Web site https://www.lancashire-ramblers.org.uk/contacts/contacts.html

We welcome expressions of interest from members who would like to join the Area Council and take on either existing or new volunteer roles in support of the Ramblers' areas, groups, objectives, and aspirations.

Membership

All figures include members with payment pending, as reported on Insight Membership Database

Points to note:

• Jan-26 Area membership levels are on a par with the corresponding month in Jan-25, but slightly lower than year-end September-25
• Civil Service Motoring Organisation (CSMA) Plus members (with complimentary membership) account for 35 of these members
• There are currently 20 members with outstanding payments; a similar number to Jan-25 (23)
• Membership has shown a gradual increase since October-25.
• 56 members have been sent welcome emails from Area since the beginning of Oct-25 to end of Jan-26.

Walk Leading

Following the Ramblers Central Office request for volunteer walk leaders to undertake walk leader training or state their leading experience or other relevant training, Mid-Lancashire currently is listed as having 73 walk leaders. Well done to those volunteers who have completed the training are who now able to access walks Manager and add walks that they intend to lead to the Area walks programme. Please feel free to consult with other walks leaders in your group if you are having difficulty in accessing Walks Manager or require further assistance to lead a walk if you are a new walks leader, there is plenty help and experience within the Mid Lancashire Area.

We can never have too many walks’ leaders and if you would like to become a walk leader, discuss with members of your group committee, who will advise of the process of becoming a volunteer and to complete the online training. We are currently proposing to hold a

Navigation and Map reading course later this year as indicated earlier in this newsletter.

Walk Programme

All the groups within the Mid Lancashire Area continue to offer a range of walks throughout Lancashire and often beyond. Details available on the regularly updated Walk Programme on our website and on Ramblers Walk Finder

Area Website & IT

There has been little-to-no-need for webmaster support activity for a number of months on the sites.

That the underlying site software was recently updated for us with no apparent issues. This update means that it is now possible to display 25K and 50K style OS Explorer and Landranger style maps. This new option is called OS Explorer/Landranger (apparently). I do not know yet how that option is implemented; nor if we need to do so. I will find out if/as necessary.

Footpaths

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Update from Acting Area Footpath Secretary, David Kelly.

Access to Nature Bill - Matters Arising

After the previous meeting, an email was sent to CO concerning the anticipated Access to Nature Bill.

It became evident that many members were not well-informed about this legislation. In response, CO provided a web address for further information: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/what-we-care-about/outdoors-unlocked. Additionally, a PDF document was supplied, which appears to be formatted for printing on an A3 printer. This could present difficulties for many people, both in terms of printing and readability.

Farington FP 04

Farington FP 04 is located within an industrial estate near Centurion Way, Farington. Although units have been constructed in the area, none are situated directly on the course of this footpath. In 2022, a fence was erected, suggesting upcoming works; however, no proposals to divert the footpath had been received. Complaints were raised due to the absence of both works and diversion proposals, prompting further action. Eventually, proposals to divert the footpath were submitted and appeared sensible, though the delay remains unexplained. A notice has now been received confirming the diversion.

Skelmersdale and Holland FP 19

An email was received regarding a proposal to extinguish the western section of Skelmersdale and Holland FP 19. This footpath commences in Beacon Park, crosses the A577 (Stannanought Road), traverses green space, follows Eavesdale (an unadopted road), and ends at a fence near a children's centre. The final segment is unusual as it does not connect to any other route, and it is this portion that LCC proposes to delete. The situation prompts questions about its origins. Relevant papers have been forwarded to Roger and Geoff for review.

Halsall FP 28

Contact was made by Ken Sharpe from the OSS, highlighting that Halsall FP 28 terminates short of Plex Lane. According to MARIO, the footpath ends at Grid Reference SD36830856, approximately 60 metres from Plex Lane. Its southern end exits onto Rosemary Lane. This presents an evident anomaly, and the OSS has submitted an application to resolve it. It is anticipated that several months will pass before any update is received from LCC.

Footpath Forum Call with CO

On 28 January, a periodic conference call was held with CO. The main points discussed were as follows:

• Eugene Suggett retired at the end of December after more than thirty years with the RA. He will continue to serve as a consultant, including involvement in the Roxena (Cumbria) case.
• Janet Davis is set to return to the RA in a consultancy capacity.
• Aamir Khan has joined as a new staff member, working on Path Protection, which may become another tracker.
• An update was given on National River Walks. DEFRA plans to use its allocated parliamentary time for a bill addressing water industry reform, meaning no new legislation on riverside access is expected in the foreseeable future.
• Improvements to the Mersey Valley Walk were announced, covering 21km of existing access from Stockport to the Urmston locality. This is considered modest compared to the ambitions outlined in the Election Manifesto. A competition will be held to select eight other rivers for improvement.
• There is potential for the water industry bill to enhance rollback options when rivers change course. Examples of relevant issues were requested.
• The Coastal Path provision in England is nearing completion, and possible venues for a celebration marking this achievement were requested.
• Path Maintenance Activities were mentioned, which appeared to repeat previous information.
• A presentation was delivered about the Colchester Orbital Path, particularly focusing on Cymbeline Meadows, which centred on path maintenance and some improvements.

Post-Call Correspondence

Following the call, correspondence with CO covered several topics:

• Ulnes Walton FP 08: The River Lostock is moving southwards, and the farmer is being uncooperative in permitting the footpath to be realigned.
• Halton FP 24: At grid reference SD45906651 on the south bank of the River Lune, the river is gradually changing course. After a dispute with the Environment Agency, the farmer attempted to close the footpath, arguing it was now in the river's centre. Common sense ultimately prevailed, and walkers can now use the south bank.
• Coastal Path Celebrations: It was suggested that the celebration of the Coastal Path should highlight sections of the route that are tame and unadventurous. Additionally, it should be noted that landowners were allowed to make objections, whereas others could only submit representations, which is perceived as unfair.

Other Matters

The announcement regarding improvements to River Mersey access appears underwhelming, as no changes are planned west of Urmston.

Group News

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Chorley

Chorley provide day walks on the other Saturdays and afternoon walks on Sundays and Tuesdays. The afternoon walks are mainly in the local area and are often well attended with groups of between 20 and 30 people on each walk. These walks are led by our group of leaders, several leading many walks a month.

Preston

We are maintaining good numbers on the walks, they are still Wednesday, Sunday and once a month on a Friday. Membership is remaining steady.

Fylde

The Group are managing to put on 3 walks per month, but continue to be affected by the limited number of walk leaders

West Lancashire

We now have 18 members who have completed the training and who are therefore able to lead walks for the group. Since January we have been able to offer three walks each month. Normally one mid-week walk and two Sunday walks. However, when there is a Bank Holiday Monday in the month we organise a walk on that date. Our walks continue to attract members from other mid Lancashire groups. On recent walks we have also welcomed members from other areas including Merseyside and mid Cheshire.