Aims
1. To seek an increase of £500,000 for Somerset and £150,000
for North Somerset in revenue funding for rights of way in the
2007/8 budget.
2. To seek a long-term capital programme (C. 5 years) to invest
£1.5 million in Somerset and £500,000 in North Somerset.
3. To seek the development and implementation of robust policies
and systems on problem resolution and enforcement by 2007/8.
Research
1. Details of long-standing problems, with detailed histories
and full case studies.
2. Evidence of successful investment and enforcement elsewhere.
3. Analysis of current budget compared with other focal authorities.
4. Various types of path survey — detailed, quick and
easy, walks leaders.
5. Photographs and examples across the county.
Communication
1. News releases and photo opportunities to media — local
press, radio, television.
2. Web sites — Area, Groups, www.ramblers.org.uk.
3. Letters to newspapers at key times.
4. Joint working — approach CPRE & FoE, wildlife trust,
woodland trust, RSPB, BHS, CTC.
5. Special walks to show problems (and in Mendip, what RA has
done).
6. Use of the Use Your Paths Challenge, and Use Your Paths Week
(24 June - 2July)
Lobbying
Who?
1. Councillors.
2. Portfolio holders (Hazel Prior-Sankey in Somerset), Executive
Boards, group leaders, senior officers.
3. District and parish councillors.
4. Local MPs.
How?
1. Meetings with council members and officers.
2. Budget making time and elections are key.
3. Develop relationship with sympathetic councillors.
4. Invite councillors on a walk.
5. Lobby on the basis of benefits and opportunities being missed
by Somerset.
6. Generate interest among voters in key county divisions and
wards in North Somerset.
|
CAMPAIGNING
WORKS
The Ramblers’
Association has a long history of campaigning on behalf of walkers
and similar succesful campaigns have used the same Ramblers' Association
methodology . In recent years, campaigns targeted at highway authorities
have achieved results: 1.
Cornwall Area secured £2.01 million for a three year programme
of work
2. Shropshire Area won a massive injection of funds for paths:
£1.5 million over five years
Kent Area secured £600,000 for missing bridges
3. Suffolk Area got £500,000 to deal with a 200-year backlog
of path claims
4. Lincolnshire Area won a doubling of the rights of way budget
5. Staffordshire Area got the county to take a tougher line on
ploughing and cropping.
Useful
contacts:
Adrian
Morris
Head of Footpath Campaigns
RA central office
2nd Floor, Camelford House
89 Albert Embankment
LONDON SE1 71W |
 |
tel: 020 7339
8524
fax: 020 7339 8501 |
E-mail:
adrianm@london.ramblers.org.uk |
|
