London Ramblers get their way…
I’ve spent the morning saying sad farewells to most of the Ramblers Scotland office staff, a fantastically talented bunch of people who have built up a huge knowledge and experience of Scottish conservation politics over a long period of time. Now, on the whim of a London-centric board of The Ramblers, most of them are gone. What a waste of talent.
I’m relieved that the Director of Ramblers Scotland, Dave Morris, is still there for the moment. I’m also hopeful that one of the other staff members will apply for the other job, for the sake of continuity if nothing else. The plan is for both of these new officers to report to some Director of Campaigning in London who, you can be sure, will have little idea of Scots countryside and landscape legislation. Indeed, I’m tempted to ask what campaigning takes place from the London office of The Ramblers at all? Since the days of Alan Mattingly (ex-director) there has been an appreciable fall-off in the profile of the Ramblers, and even the redoubtable Kate Ashbrook (ex-chair) seems to do all her campaigning through the relatively obscure Open Spaces Society.
I wonder how much it cost the Charity to change it’s public profile recently - what was the charge for coming up with the revolutionary name change from the Ramblers Association to The Ramblers? How much did it cost The Ramblers to produce their recent book of British views? How much does it cost the charity to sell their members’ magazine WALK through the newsagents of Britain? And the biggest question of all - what is the bill for the Get Walking- Keep Walking urban walks programme? What’s the raison d’etre of that programme - surely it’s the job of the Government to fund and encourage inner-city exercise programmes, not the job of The Ramblers? While they’re spending their resources on that project there is a very important access appeal coming up shortly which could change the face of Scotland’s Land Reform Act; wind factories are being built on wild land throughout the country (you rarely hear a sniff of protest about windfarms from Ramblers London) and good ‘ole Donald Trump continues to try and keep people out of his golf club development in the north-east. The Ramblers need to be fighting all these issues, and they can’t be fought from London.
I’m meeting Ramblers boss Tom Franklin and the chairman of that London board, Rodney Whittaker, next week. I certainly won’t mince my words and I want to tell Franklin that he and his southern cohorts are in grave danger of bringing about the demise of the Ramblers as we have known it. The legacy of that once proud organisation has benefited all of us who go to the hills or walk in the countryside. The reputation of that once proud charity, which dates back to the Kinder Trespass, is now in tatters. Members groups from throughout England, Wales and Scotland are hugely concerned about the London-centric attitude of the Chief Executive and his southern board and I’m not sure the Ramblers can recover from this recent bout of mis-management.
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
This is very disappointing news. I have a feeling now that the best option might be a break-away group. Would a small new organisation be any worse than a neglected branch of the current body? The alternative for me will be to put all of my support with the MCofS.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I suspect there could be a call made by Ramblers Scotland members, at their Scottish Council meeting in March, to break away from the Ramblers GB. I think this would be the proper course of action. In a sense, Ramblers GB has virtually disowned Ramblers Scotland and Ramblers Cymru. I believe both Scotland and Wales should be entitled to a third each of the Ramblers GB assets. I think all of us who climb the hills of Scotland and enjoy the wild places should support both the Ramblers Scotland and the MCof S.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Cameron, this is sad news. I hope you make things very clear to Tom Franklin. As a Ramblers member I shall certainly support a breakaway Scottish Ramblers. I won’t be remaining a member of Ramblers SE England and I shall inform them of this decision. I encourage others to do the same.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Is there no possiblity that the Scottish Ramblers might start a group of their own? I’ve never been a member of the Ramblers, but I’d certainly join a Scottish group to show solidarity and support.
July 4th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Cameron. Are you meeting the Ramblers as Editor of TGO or in an independent capacity? Either way will you be able to publish your meeting in TGO an on here?
It would make facinating reading; how can they possibly justify cutting off the Countires where most walkers go to walk?
July 4th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I am neither a member of The Ramblers nor a Scot (or indeed Welsh) but I am shocked and horrified by this news. Like so much else if you don’t live and work inside the M25 you are seen as less important and marginalised. Stuff em I say. i would join a breakaway Scottish Ramblers just to “wet their fireworks”.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
This is madness. Cost cutting in these times could surely be made elsewhere, but surely not at the expense of Wales and Scotland’s Ramblers. We need eyes and ears on the ground all over the UK to continue the good work of the Ramblers. As an Englishman based in the south east, the decision that the Ramblers has taken just doesn’t make sense. Voice your opinion strongly next week Cameron.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I’ve written to the Ramblers already to let them know I won’t remain a member if the cuts go ahead. If more do the same maybe there is still a chance of a rethink.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
This action sounds drastic, not to mention devastating. Depending on what Tom Franklin has to say for himself, would it be worth getting the wheels going on breaking away (or even setting up a whole new organisation) far sooner than next March? Also, what can it mean for the £200,000 appeal launched by Denis Canavan? Dramatic outcomes like this always trigger more questions than answers at the outset but answering those questions will lead hopefully to a better outcome for all.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Lots of questions but few answers at the moment. However, from now on Ramblers Scotland and Ramblers Cymru will operate from two people working from home reporting to a London-based Director of Campaigning. I don’t find that acceptable, and neither does the Scottish Convener Dennis Canavan, the Scottish Chair Alison Mitchell or the Scottish President, Dick Balharry. As I mentioned earlier, we will be meeting with Franklin and the chair of GB Ramblers, Rodney Whittaker, next Wednesday. I’ll be attending that meeting as Vice President of Ramblers Scotland, and not as TGO editor, although I’ll certainly report on developments both here and in TGO.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Cameron, thanks for the update. You have reminded me I must write directly to the Ramblers stating my objections and be ready to cancel my direct debit accordingly.
July 15th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Well, let’s hope they change their minds about this short sighted decision before it’s too late. If they go ahead, I’ll return my membership card too, which will mean giving up leading walks and being actively involved with my local group too. I also plan to write to Camelford House and express my opinion.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Cheers, Gaz,
Thanks for that.
August 5th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I feel so stupid for taking it all for granted; the walks programme, “head office”, etc. And suddenly you realise its run by people with no commitment or understanding. And little management skill.
So many questions are not being answered. Why did no one see the crisis coming? (The first I heard about the crisis was in last month’s TGO!). Why waste all that money on the pointless name change etc. What the heck are the Trustees doing? Where’s the accountability? (It is OUR organisation). Where’s the concept of a national orgaisation reflecting the diversity of the whole country? And, lastly, if Wales and Scotlans set up their own organisations, can we do the same in England? That is set up a seperate walkers organisation and leave the C.E. to his urban walks programme.
August 5th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I think we all took it for granted Rab. Tom Franklin moved to Ramblers from an organisation called Living Streets and I suspect he’s simply brought that agenda to the Ramblers, with little understanding of the heritage of the RA.