Works Party

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AREA WORKING PARTY

Formed in 2004 the Working Party originally undertook large scale clearance work, removing and cutting back shrubs, bushes and vegetation obstructing footpaths and bridleways. But in that year the Working Party was asked if it would tackle the installation of a flight of steps up a bank at Hellidon and since then a small team has specialised in this type of work. The team has carried out 42 jobs at 38 parishes throughout the County and installed and refurbished a total of 506 steps.

Some of the most recent jobs can be seen here

Practical Path Work Seminar and Site Visits

On Thursday 25 August 2011 our Area played host to 45 Ramblers members who had travelled from around the country to attend this seminar.

Practical work undertaken on the rights of way network by Ramblers volunteers can take many forms, including clearance of trees and shrubs and the installation of path infrastructure such as stiles, gates and bridges.

The morning seminar was run by Ramblers Central Office staff and our local volunteer Working Party members and gave participants the opportunity to share ideas, discuss potential problems and identify best practices.

Participants inspect one of the newly constructed sets of steps either side of a minor road whilst others await their opportunity.

In Northants the work undertaken by the Working Party is carried out in liaison with the Local Authority’s service providers, the company MGWSP. Their Senior Rights of Way Officer led one of the sessions, explaining their overall role and how our Working Party fitted into their operations. He then went on to describe the health and safety measures taken to ensure the team was properly trained and kitted out, and that work sites were safe.

Two members of the Working Party in high viz. clothing keep an eye open for approaching traffic whilst participants cross and leave the road via the second set of steps.

Our Working Party specialises in the niche task of installing and refurbishing steps and in the afternoon participants travelled to Twywell to see examples of their work, a flight of 48 steps up the side of a former ironstone pit and two sets of steps either side of a minor road. This visit gave participants the opportunity to hear about the techniques and equipment used.

Feedback from the participants on the day has been very positive and Central Office intends to hold further similar events in the future.