York RA Group Annual Report 2007-2008
Two coach rambles were run this year. In May we visited Baldersdale, and in September walked in the Buckden area of the Dales. Our annual Summer evening walks programme ran as usual, often in areas not usually walked otherwise. Although numbers were fairly small, they are appreciated by people unable to walk at other times.

Steve Hoather, together with volunteers from other groups, was able to coordinate a full programme of Wednesday walks. The Wednesday Ambles programme was coordinated by Jackie Glew and Margaret Green. These continue to be very popular, attracting walkers from all over the East Yorkshire & Derwent Area. We were saddened to hear of the death of Dennis Addison, a life member of the R.A. who helped to start the shorter Ambles programme.

The public transport walks programme continues to provide a wide variety of walks, coordinated by Malcolm Dixon, who provides useful and detailed leaflets. Details of our walks are also listed in Area News and on the Group’s website. The first two sections of the Wolds Way [PT] were walked in September.  The Foss Walk was completed in four stages, with approx 20 walkers each time. This included some members of the Foss Society on each occasion.

We attended the annual Rowntree Park Fair in July, making use of the Area display boards. Other Group publicity has been through the distribution of walks leaflets around local libraries and outdoor shops. Walks and other events are also listed on the Area Website and our own Group one at www.communigate.co.uk/york/yorkramblers2/index.phtml

The footpath sub-committee has continued to monitor paths etc in our area, and has tried to complete the grid squares left over at the end of the R.A. challenge. They are concerned about budget restraints, which mean that essential work, e.g. bridges, is being deferred more and more. These budget restraints have also affected staffing. In a number of cases footpath and environment concerns have overlapped, e.g. the new J. Rowntree school and a proposed marina at Bishopthorpe.

A new members’ evening was held in April, with an illustrated talk. This was enjoyed by all attending, and a similar event is planned for April this coming year.

Monica Nelson has represented our views at enquiries regarding developments at Germany Beck, Derwentthorpe, Hungate and the former Terry’s factory site, in hopes of restraining some of the excessive building plans. We appreciated the CPRE’s condemnation of the relaxation of Green belt policy to allow a large expansion of the University site.  Consultation on the City Centre Action Plan continues.  Tom Halstead has continued to monitor Access issues, with proposals regarding Coastal Access taking up much of his time. Apart from signage in the York area, most of his work is concerned with the wider EYD Area.

Current Group membership has decreased slightly to approx. 707

Vera Silberberg, Group Secretary     Return to York Group page