One Coast For All
Our coastal campaign (previously known as "Coast for Most" and "Claim the Coast") has a new name and logo "One Coast For All Campaign for the English Coastal Path".
Recently, as part of the red tape challenge, the Government announced proposals that could dampen the dream of a route around England's coast. We have launched a petition to call on the Government to fulfil its duty to create a proper coastal path (with sea views and 'spreading room" in case of erosion) sooner rather than later. We are hoping to get 10,000 people to sign it, if you have not already, please sign the petition now.
Latest Planning News
During the last few months we have had to consider several planning applications. We were very disappointed by Swindon Council's decision to grant permission for an aerial activity trail in Lydiard Park with zip lines crossing The Avenue. We believe this will adversely affect views of Lydiard House and detract from many people's enjoyment of the park.
The clay pigeon shooting school at Brimslade Farm, between Savernake Forest and Wootton Rivers, are seeking a big increase in the number of days when shooting can take place. We have asked for the direction of shooting to be controlled by conditions to protect users of the nearby rights of way.
Swindon Council have submitted plans for bed-and-breakfast and bunkhouse accommodation near Barbury Castle. We believe this type of accommodation could benefit long-distance walkers on the Ridgeway but we are seeking to ensure that the building height and materials used will minimise the visual impact of any development in this sensitive landscape area.
Finally, we are keeping a close eye on the Council's decision to sell a large area of open space at Gorse Hill in Swindon for housing development. This has not yet reached planning application stage but the land forms part of an important "green corridor" which should not be lost.
Get Walking - Keep Walking Swindon
Get Walking Keep Walking Swindon is an online resource which provides walking routes across the town which have been developed by 13 local Ramblers volunteers. There are already plenty of routes available to download for free. As well as routes there will be information about walking in Swindon and details of upcoming walks and events in the area.
The new website is a partnership initiative between Swindon Borough Council's Leisure Services and the Ramblers and is part of the NHS-funded Walk Swindon project. Get Walking Keep Walking covers the borough of Swindon including picturesque country parks, nature reserves and villages surrounding the urban setting of central Swindon. The home page of the website is www.getwalking.org/swindon which gives a lot of walking information. The walking routes with detailed directions and maps van be found at www.getwalking.org/category/walking-routes/swindon-walking-routes
Finding Details of Walks on the Website
Have you discovered the hidden gems behind the basic information on the Group's walks? If you click on right hand side of the screen, then on Walking Programme, a basic programme will appear on the screen. Then if you click on the walk description you are interested in, more detail appears and you can scroll down to find maps showing the location of the walk. There is also a place on which you can click to get a weather forecast.
Sunday Buses - use them or lose them
Ramblers welcomes the announcement by Stagecoach at the beginning of June that, following the withdrawal of funding by Swindon Borough Council (see story below), they will continue to operate all existing Sunday services for as long as they can to see if they are commercially viable. The message here is clear. If you want buses to be available to help you go walking on Sunday, you need to use them!"
More Good Work by our Footpath Volunteers
Thanks go to our two groups of footpath volunteers who continue to work to keep paths in good condition on behalf of Wiltshire Council. During the Ramblers year ended 30 September 2011, they put in 414 hours of unpaid work; surveying and waymarking 47 km of rights of way, clearing vegetation from 12.33 km and building or repairing 33 stiles and 5 bridges.
