CTC North Yorkshire Annual Reports

CTC North Yorkshire

Forty Seventh Annual Report

47th Annual General Meeting AGM held on Sunday 15th May 2022 at 1200 noon:

The Galtres Centre,

Market Place, Easingwold,

YO61 3AD

 

Secretary Brian Davis:

Welcome everybody to the 47th CTC North Yorkshire AGM:

I joined the committee as Secretary in 2020 upon the retirement of Nick Folkard who has been most helpful in making sure I don’t make too many mistakes; I’m fairly new to the CTC in comparison to so many long term stalwarts so I’m still getting up to speed with the way things are done and the various traditions.

All I can say is thanks to all the other members of the committee – Ann Benton our president who took over from long-term bastion of the CTC Mike Haseltine. Andrew Richardson who has been tireless in his efforts to organise and support the events whilst covering publicity in the absence of a publicity officer. Keith Benton who has looked after the accounts and filled me in with many of the details of the CTC traditions and David Nunns who covers cyclists rights and planning – a seemingly big job indeed. Other members that I must thank include Jacqueline Mountford-Green who looks after the Thirsk Ladies Group, Peter Holyoake who has supported the CTC over so many years. Malcolm Pexton for being the webmaster, Jim Benbow, Nick Folkard and Robert Worrall all who continue to contribute to the CTC in many ways.

Events Secretary’s Report 2021-2

For simplicity, this report covers the calendar year of 2021. The awards lunch in February had to be cancelled because of the pandemic, but we were able to hold most of our other events although 2 of our early Audax rides were postponed until June, and the GHS Memorial Ride was cancelled. A new pair of Audax rides were organised by Andrew Richardson, starting and finishing in Stamford Bridge. The Wolds 100 (100km) and the Over the Wolds to Flamborough Head (150km) were both well attended and are planned again in 2022.

2021 is the 42nd year of the awards scheme (I have not counted 2020). We had a total of 134 different riders taking part in our events, completing a total of 208 rides. Although 14 events were organised, 1 shorter ride organised alongside another 100k event had no riders. The most popular day was for the Stamford Bridge rides on 14th August, with a total of 53 completing the rides. The biggest number on any one event was 31 on a 100km Audax ride on 12th June from Wigginton.

Although the total number of riders was lower than recent years, we had nineteen people who completed 3 or more events, earning them an award. This is the highest number since 2015. Twelve of them earned a medal for the first time, which is the highest number since 2011. The Peter Rowntree Trophy was won by Keith Benton, with 8 qualifying rides. Keith Robinson also completed 8 rides, with a higher mileage, but he is not a North Yorkshire member. He was awarded a small trophy instead.

After poor attendances in recent years two of the rides in the east of the county were dropped from the programme. However, the Thornton le Dale 50 in 5 ride had its best attendance for many years, with new organiser Don Low getting lots of support from the Ryedale group.

The scheme can only operate through the efforts of the Audax and Standard Rides organisers, and thanks are due to Keith Benton, Nick Folkard, Don Low, Paul Marr, Bryan Stanton and Andrew Richardson.

The other events, which ran during the year, include the Annual Coxwold service, again capably organised by Judy Webb. Again, this had to be postponed until September. This has now been running continuously for 95 years, and includes a great spread of food, provided by the local villagers. This is widely supported by cyclists from East and West Yorkshire and Teesside as well as North Yorkshire. Judy was grateful for help received from Teesside members in 2021, and hopefully this cooperation will continue in future years. Please do come along in 2022. This is one of only 2 remaining cyclists services to commemorate those cyclists who have contributed to the efforts in two world wars, and other conflicts.

We also held the Celebration of Christmas at Tockwith, organised by Keith Benton. The local under 5s parents put on a lovely spread for us for lunch in the village hall, followed by the service in the church. Thanks to all those involved in organising the event, and to the choir and organist, Peter Main. There was a good turnout of cyclists from North Yorkshire and from other CTC groups and affiliated clubs.

We organised a social ride in the summer to Easingwold and Boroughbridge, but this was poorly supported. Eamon Prendergast has organised a 100km Tour de York, a circular route round York, which people can complete at any time. A sticker is available from Eamon when you have completed the ride.

Thank you to all of the riders who have participated in events during 2020/2021. I look forward to seeing even more in 2022.

Andrew Richardson

Events Secretary

Cyclists Rights and Planning Report - March 2022

At a National level CTC is a Statutory Consultee for changes to Public Rights Of Way.

Consultations sent to Headquarters are not generally sent out to local Membership Groups.

Our Area is the whole of North Yorkshire Council Area. It is an impossible task to keep abreast of all proposed changes to PROW, the Road Network and planning proposals.

We become aware of some issues and try to take some appropriate action, sometimes involving contact with other Member Groups and similar Groups.

North Yorkshire's 6 monthly Rights Of Way User Group Meetings are in abeyance at present.

We have had further discussions with York Highways on some design improvements on the proposals to dual York's Outer Ring Road, for cyclists crossing the Ring Road and cycle tracks parallel to the Ring Road - we await sight of the revised plans.

The amended York Central highways proposals now incorporate design improvements for cyclists compared to their earlier plans, apart from the contentious closure of Leeman Road by the National Railway Museum and lack of improvements to the Riverside Route.

I represented the Ramblers & Cycling at the Inquiry in to the NRM's proposal to close part of Leeman Road.

The Inspector approved the closure, but said the Walkway Agreement through the NRM presented at the Inquiry was not fit for purpose. He did look closely as to whether it could stay open for cyclists, buggies, wheelchairs & disability scooters, but amending it was outside his powers.

The NRM have revised plans for the closure, retaining more of the current road, but we have not seen the details of an amended Walkway Agreement.

The Inspector also agreed that the improvements we sought for the Riverside Route to improve flood resilience were desirable, but outside his powers. The Council has recently taken these improvements on board, with suggested improved lighting & widening as well.  They have purchased some land at a high price and looking to fund the works in various ways.

There is to be a Cycle Path through the NRM South Yard (open 24/7) which will connect with the proposed new Station Entrance & also provide a link to Marble Arch (albeit longer).

There has been no further progress on the various proposals on possible dueling of the A64 between Barton Hill & the Hopgrove roundabout - no money was allocated in the Government's recent Highway improvement package.

Repair work on the Trans Pennine Trail Selby Link has been delayed, but work has now started with the removal of some trees and resurfacing.

A report in The York Press considered Stockton Lane as the worst road in York for cyclists. An alternate route is the continuation of Bad Bargain Lane, which is passable for off-road bikes. We will try and obtain some money from the cycling budget to improve a small part of it to make it easier for road bikes, as there is no money in the Public Rights Of Way budget to improve this Bridleway for cyclists.

I thought I was going to be a young 80 year-old this year, but a recent mini stroke puts that in doubt. We really need more members to help with this work, perhaps with Local Member Groups looking out for relevant consultations in their Areas.

Whilst North Yorkshire will become a Unitary Authority next year they are proposing to work with Area Committees based on Parliamentary Boundaries.

David Nunns

CTC NY Rights and Planning Officer

CTC Thirsk Ladies; Report to CTCNY AGM 2021/22

The 5th January saw the country in lockdown again but we kept in touch via messaging, emails and video calls and later, cycling in pairs. This meant that we maintained some of our fitness and by August we had our first Tuesday rides organised and other Tuesdays soon followed.

In the autumn we noticed that many of our cafes had closed, or were not opening on Tuesday’s so we started meeting in Bliss Cafe Thirsk prior to the ride. This meant that ladies who were not riding that week could still meet up.

We had an overnight at Osmotherley YH to check out camping gear and two group tours. The first was a three-day tour in beautiful weather, for the Dales: the second was four days in typical NY Moorland weather. We used YHA and bunk barns. Both tours were very successful.

In December we had two Christmas meals, one in the evening at Bianco in Thirsk and a ride out lunch at The Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk. On the day of the ride out lunch Storm Barry appeared so some walked or drove and we still had a wonderful time.

We now have 14 members; nine are regular riders, two are buddy riding, one rides alone. Two have pressing commitments and have joined us for coffee at some point in the year. One is training to become a ride leader.

This year we reviewed our philosophy and began work on our website. We are also planning another training session on basic mechanics. Having found two volunteers to take the course we are now looking for a venue, preferably free, and hope to run it over the winter quarter.

Report prepared by Jacqueline Mountford-Green