West London Group – Spring 2008 - Newsletter Welcome to our Spring programme. Season of mists, icy patches, cold trains, and freezing platforms made worse by short days and frequent showers. Why do we go walking at this time when the comfy armchair, television, a warm fire, and a good book can keep us occupied for hours – in the dry! Well, after the exertions of Christmas – constant shopping, crowded streets, lots to eat and drink, too many visitors, we all need to unwind, refresh ourselves, get in touch with nature in the raw, find some real mud and wallow in it! It helps if the clouds are held in a blue sky with the wintry sun slanting down through the bare branched trees sparkling on the woodland floor. Another RA year has passed and the season of Group and Area AGM’s is upon us. The RA year runs from the 1st October to the 30th September each year and as it finishes your committee leaps into life preparing the end of year reports for our AGM. Alan’s role as Treasurer is especially important as people ask searching questions about the most trivial amounts – you probably spend more on your pub lunch than we have left over in our Group account! The other reports barely stir a murmur – members are too worried they might get asked to do something if they dare to question what the footpath secretary, rambles organiser, or holiday co-ordinator does! Little do they know what a great time the committee has deciding on the muddiest, thorniest, boggiest, most spider infested, paths to take members on in the next programme – just joking well, almost!!! Hounslow have appointed an officer who deals with rights of way – Anna Humphries email: anna.humphries@hounslow.gov.uk . Hounslow have consulted on their ‘Rights of Way Improvement Plan’. The consultants will present the findings of the study in January, to enable actions to be agreed and to discuss the Council taking ownership of the plan. Our thanks must go to those who have become involved with paths in Hounslow especially Patrick Hooper and Michael Hutchings. Ealing meanwhile appear to have done very little and we still await their public consultation. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, all highway authorities in England and Wales must prepare a Rights of Way Improvement Plan(ROWIP). The ROWIP is a substantial document, which will include a review of the suitability of rights of way networks for current and future needs, provide opportunities for exercise and other forms of redreation, and that is accessible to the mobility or visually impaired. IMPORTANT – if you live within the London Borough of Ealing you might care to contact your local councillor – contact details at local libraries or in ‘Around Ealing’ - and ask what has happened to Ealing’s ROWIP. Otherwise walkers in Ealing will lose out! Gating of urban paths for security reasons. There are still concerns about existing and future gating schemes in Ealing. If a path you use is blocked by a gate write to Legal Services, 5th Floor, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, London, W5 2HL and please send a copy to Tom Berry – address at front of programme.
Finally, a few reminders for 2008!
Perivale Wood Open Day Sunday 6th May 2008.
Members Concerns raised at our AGM. Please read carefully and if you have any views please speak to a member of the committee either directly or by email/letter. • Communication for Group members – comment and debate on the need to put in place a more regular means of passing on information. The RA is to update its membership system in 2008 and will hold details of email addresses. It was agreed that this matter be referred to the Group committee for further consideration plus members to be asked for their comments in the next Group newsletter. • Railway engineering works affecting group walks – members concerned that these can present problems on some walks leading to more than an hours delay in the walks starting in some instances. Different views were expressed and it was agreed to pass this to the Group committee to decide policy and to inform leaders and members. • Backmarkers/rearguards on walks – what is Group policy? Present situation is that walk leaders are not required to have a rearguard. Leaders are reminded of the responsibilities and all WLG leaders were sent a copy of the ‘Walk Leaders Checklist’. Leaders can ask another walker to act as rearguard and/or ensure that members on their walks are aware of any hazards. The RA has sent out a copy of the latest insurance policy as it affects groups and walks. These will be circulated to the committee for comment. • Other committee members – the Group always welcomes members interested in helping support the RA by joining the committee. Apart from specific jobs it is always good to have people on the committee who have a keen interest in the work of the RA. It is possible to co-opt members during the year. • Next years WLG AGM will be at the same place on Wed 17th December 2008 – details will appear nearer the time. Contact details for your local boroughs if you have a problem path. Brent (Outer London Borough) Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9EZ, tel 020 8937 1234 Ealing (Outer London Borough) 14-16 Uxbridge Road, London W5 2HL, tel 020 8825 5000 Parks and countryside service: tel 020 8825 6999 or contact Ian Kitson by email: ian.kitson@ealing.gov.uk Harrow (Outer London Borough) Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2XF, tel 020 8863 5611 www.harrow.gov.uk Hillingdon (Outer London Borough) Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW, tel 01895 250111 www.hillingdon.gov.uk Hounslow (Outer London Borough) Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 4DN, tel 020 8583 2000 www.hounslow.gov.uk I wish you luck! Please do have a go as all improvements can only help make going for a walk a better experience! Tom Berry
Oop’s! Nearly run out of space!
A Winter’s walk from Rayners Lane Station-Piccadilly/Metropolitan Lines and buses. Pleasant suburban stroll to Roxbourne Park – lovely trees, stream, wild birds, and, in spring and summer, lots of wild flowers. The park has a childrens play area and at one end a miniature railway. Yet it all makes for a nice short walk – only 3miles in all. Turn right out of the station as far as High Worple. Go right down this road ending at a small roundabout. Cross and go ahead down a short, wide path between houses to pass a scout hut and go through gates. Immediately, go left, down a short slope and along a stony path near the Yeading Brook. Follow the path to a grassy open space. Continue on soon turning right to cross the brook.(This area is known as Roxbourne Park) Then go left - at first high up above the brook - but look for a sloping path on the left to return to streamside. Keep along this path to nearly reach Field End Road – bus service. Just before go right to follow a wide roadway through a car park and round past the miniature railway. Continue on now with houses on your left to reach a concrete access road bordered by shrubs. A little way along turn left under trees and following the left hand hedge head for trees ahead. Look for a wooden gate in a post/rail fence. Go through – you are now in Roxbourne Rough nature reserve – and follow the path ahead towards the railway. Keep going until you arrive at a large signboard near steps. Go up, cross Cannon Lane and go left – over the railway- and down to traffic lights. Here, turn right along Village Way – bus service. Continue as far as the shops where turn right up Rayners Lane to reach the station. Please note: any good AtoZ will guide you on this walk. All the best for Spring and Summer and don’t forget your sun hat! Have a lovely Easter! Tom.
Tom Berry.Secretary.