Chorley Rambler's Committee Meeting - Wednesday 7th June 2017 1. Present: Mike Wisdom (MW), Paula Armstrong (PA), Eileen Entwhisle (EE), Alan Blundell (AB), Marian Owen (MO), Walter McDermott (WMcD), Amanda French (AF) 2. Minutes of the last meeting: Agreed - the minutes of the meetings need to be put on the website 3. Finance: There is 1627.64 in the main account, 9000 in the Terry Lewis Legacy and 523.69 LCC money. 4. Coach Rambles: There is currently 1394 in the coach rambles account. The Wainwright Way has held it's own and there are walks in June and July (this being the final one). There was a discussion about whether there should be a winter break on the coach rambles, December, January and February - this needs to be discussed with Denny Robinson. 5. Chorley Circular Update: Birkacre information board - MW thinking A2 map with Chorley Ramblers logo on as the board isn't going to be as big as first thought. Martin Smalley is building a weather proof information board so it will be repairable. There have been some changes inside the cafe so we have lost some of the area to put up the programmes. The 2 wardens have a box of the Chorley Circular maps which they top up the display stand with. Chorley Circular walk - MO has some concerns about opening up the CC walk to the public incase numbers are large and we would then need marshals etc. EE said that they don't when there are 52 health walkers attend. MW will put it on Facebook and MW has received correspondence from someone who has a Saturday morning radio show so it could be publicised on there. MW has had some waymarkers made - they cost 1.80 each but he has now sourced some for 95p each. 6. Walk Programme: The Scramblers walk on the new programme - some of the wording is missing but it has been reprinted. Also, MW will put the new version on the website so if anyone prints it off the website the programme will be correct. AB handed round some examples of how the programme could be presented differently and these were discussed. The committee need to decide by when the next programme is due how this should be progressed. The position of publicity officer / distribution office needs to be filled to assist with the distribution of the programmes for display in all local centres / libraries / Parish notice boards etc. MO suggested sending out an email to all the membership to try to get the position of publicity officer filled. MO suggested doing another walk where the path is improved by waymarkers. 7. Footpaths including Closures, Diversions and Countryside: MO has emailed a report (see attached) - 4 issues, 2 signposts and 2 stiles. LCC haphazard about the times they send their updates, several have arrived on the 5th June. Signpost Survey - MO contacted David Goud - PROW manager. Chorley has been surveyed but action won't be taken yet. Plastic signposts will be used in the future. Checks on all footpaths once a year - MO will send out her advance notice reminding people that this needs to be done. MW suggested that footpath checkers could lead walks in their areas then they could kill 2 birds with one stone. 8. Closures, Diversions and Countryside:
Heapey - new application submitted - MO has to put comments in by 16/06/17. MO's objections will be regarding safety and ambience of walkers. Diversions - MO will work with John Mckenzie to provide a response to the Bamber Bridge diversion around the site where there is a possibility of a new Ikea store being built. MO will find out how the system should work as she doesn't receive notifications automatically. Out and About is done - MO wants to say thanks to contributors as there has been a great response particularly with photos. MO has sent April, May and June Scramblers walk to Local Life. 9. Membership: Up to 31/05/17-277 paid up and 8 pending - total 285 10. Website & Social Media: MW has updated the website, put children's stuff on and the PDF. Discussion about a recent walk where the leader had set off without a group of several people who had then got lost. 11. Scramblers: Pokémon walk may attract a few people - when update goes out by text to mention ringing the leader to try to gather some numbers. 12. Any Other Business: Area Meeting - MW attended. New Area Support Officer for Northern England, Diane Simcoe was there. AF will circulate the Scramblers programme to Homestart. There was a discussion about the possibility of changing the name to Family Walks. MO suggested that some of Terry's legacy money should be spent. Discussed the book of Chorley walks but someone would have to do the work to produce this. Also discussed a kissing gate - MO will look into where one may be needed around the Heath Charnock / Adlington / Duxbury area. AGM - date confirmed for 5th December - MW will look at a speaker, possibility of Sarah Leach from Brockholes. PA to contact the hot pot lady. 12. Next Meeting: Wednesday 2nd August 2017-7:15pm at Euxton Institute, 195 Wigan Road, Euxton, PR7 6JG
7 June 2017 - Marian Owen's Footpath Report for all Chorley Borough Parishes Obstructions Reported to LCC / Cleared by LCC During the period from 1 April 2017 to 31 May 2017, 4 issues were reported by Chorley Ramblers to LCC. During the 5 month period from 1 January to 31 May 2017 4 Obstructions Cleared have been received from LCC. Please note that all the LCC Reports were sent to us in one email on 5 June. The following table provides the split of issues reported and issues cleared by type of obstruction: Type of Obstruction 1/4/17 to 31/05/17 Issues Reported by Chorley Ramblers 1/1/17 31/5/17 LCC Obstructions Cleared Signpost 2 Waymarkers Path in poor, wet, or 1 dangerous condition Stile/Gate 2 3 Overgrown Obstruction Footbridge Other Wrightington TOTAL 4 4 Notes: 1) There are just 4 LCC clearances of obstructions in a 5 month period 2 reports on stiles which have been dismissed as (a) Stile passable in the open country; (b) No budget to put grip treads on stiles 2 reports where future repairs have been agreed but not actually auctioned: KG to be installed and Footpath surfacing and improvement 2) LCC PROW Section Signpost Survey I contacted David Goode, PROW Manager at LCC, to ask about the signpost survey of the Chorley District that was mentioned in response to PROW Request 73495 re: Coppull BW78. His answer was that signposting has been identified as something that can be handled more efficiently as dedicated district-by-district projects rather than re-actively as defects are reported. Defective Signposts are being replaced with plastic posts, which should not suffer so much from the problem of rotting, although will not be immune from accidental damage and vandalism.(n.b Wooden posts will continue to be used in the Forest of Bowland). Broken or missing signposts are being replaced but not necessarily all those with a slight lean or twist. Those showing the wrong status will also be rectified. Preston, South Ribble, Ribble Valley have been surveyed and work completed; Burnley, Lancaster and Hyndburn have been surveyed, materials purchased and contracts ready to go. Chorley and Fylde have been surveyed, that is just being finished off. When the contracts for these will be issued depends on many factors including resources, weather and other work demands. David thanked me for Chorley Ramblers offer of help but this has been completed but they will bear it in mind for the next round. Rossendale, West Lancashire, Pendle and Wyre still to be completed.
Annual Survey of Chorley PROWs I will email FP Checkers to give them plenty of advance notice to ask them to update us on paths checked and obstructions to enable annual report to be prepared for the AGM.. Planning Applications 17/00514/FULMAJ Land 100M East of Whelton House, Brinscall Mill Road, Wheelton. This is a revised planning application for 16/000926/FULMAJ which I reported as having been refused planning permission at the last meeting. The modifications to the planning application which Chorley Ramblers may wish to consider are the proposed: a) Pedestrian access into the site from junction of Brinscall Mill Road and Chapel Lane; b)vehicular access 130 metres North East of junction of Chapel Lane and Brinscall Mill Road; c) the increased volume of traffic along Chapel Lane and Tithe Barn Lane which pedestrians will sometimes have to use to access Heapey 17 and Wheelton 3. The issues we previously expressed regarding access to the site along PROW Wheelton 3, a narrow single track, with limited passing places and the loss of the rural ambience from PROWs Wheelton 3 and Heapey 17 remain a significant concern.. The following documents, which were indicated but not available on Chorley Planning Portal, may help us with this review: Heapey Location Plan pdf; Draft Green Travel Plan; J821 Heapey Village TS; J821 Access fig 1 Heapey Layout 1 (1); J821 Heapey IPP (2). Comments should be submitted by 16 June 2017. 17/00369/REMMAJ Reserved matters application pursuant to 14/00951/OUTMAJ planning application for Erection of 220 dwellings on land North of Lancaster Lane and bounded by Wigan Road and Shady Lane. Details of layout, appearance, landscaping and scale to be considered. I am responding on behalf of Chorley Ramblers (Ramblers Association) 7 June 2017 PROW Clayton-le-Woods 14 passes through this proposed development. PROW 14 allows the walking public to travel along a footpath through fields Eastwards from the A49 to Shady Lane, walk a short distance along Shady Lane, and then walk along another PROW to Sheep Hill Lane with easy access to Cuerdon Valley Park. There is also a convenient link using PROWs linking Leyland Eastwards to the A49 just North of PROW Clayton-le-Woods 14. This means that there is a system of PROWs that enables the walking public to walk from Leyland to Cuerdon Valley in a traffic free environment. It is most important that PROW Clayton-le-Woods 14 is protected as a traffic free route for the use of the walking public and is broad enough to allow for use by families and groups of walkers and the retention of a strip of countryside to maintain the ambience of a country walk. 17/00349/FULHH Benson s Farm near Fps. Withnell 38 & 34. April 2017 (Dealt with by Brian Allman) Some years ago Footpath Withnell 34 went nearer to Benson s Farm but not within the area outlined in the planning application. Following a diversion it is now further east. So no it is not affected by the proposal.
17/00324/LBC Railway Viaduct over Black Brook April 2017 (Dealt with by Brian Allman) This viaduct also crosses Hogg s Lane Fp. Chorley 46 (9-2-46). Hogg s Lane, Fp. Chorley 46 is not being closed. All the work will be done from the railway above. Diversions 1) CUERDEN FOOTPATH 12 (PART) PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER No. 3 The above order was made on 12 th May 2017 The effect of the order will be to divert the public footpath running from SD 5527 2499 generally east south east for 70 metres, east north east for 165 metres, then east south east for 65 metres to SD 5555 2504 at the western boundary of the adopted highway of the A6 South Ribble Way to a line running from the same point at SD 5527 2499, generally south for 360 metres to join Stoney Lane at SD 5522 2466 as shown on the order map. Representations or objection to the order must be made to South Ribble Borough Council by 12 June 2017. 2017 2) CUERDEN FOOTPATH 8 (PARTS) PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER No. 2 2017 The above order was made on 12 th May 2017 The effect of the order will be to divert the public footpath running from SD 5566 2471, north for 10 metres to SD 5566 2472 at the southern boundary of the M65 motorway to a line running from the same point at SD 5566 2471, generally east south east for 405 metres to join the A49 Wigan Road at SD 5605 2463 and divert the public footpath running from SD 5566 2471 south south west for 165 metres to SD 5560 2456 at its junction with Cuerden Bridleway 11 to a line running from the same point at SD 5566 2471, generally south west for 120 metres to SD 5558 2466, then east south east for 20 metres to SD 5560 2465 then generally south for 90 metres to join Cuerden Bridleway 11 at SD 5560 2456 as shown on the order map. Representations or objection to the order must be made to South Ribble Borough Council by 12 June 2017. Out and About The June 2017 O & A has been completed and the help of all contributors of photographs and stories has been much appreciated. Publicity The Scramblers events for April, May and June 7, 2017 have been publicized on the Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk.