IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM ALAN SLEDMORE: We are still having trouble with the Lancaster City Council regarding cross bay walks. They are now threatening prosecution over health and safety issues, after two people who remain anonymous complained about safety on our St John’s Hospice walk on August 3rd. Strange as I thought it was the best walk we ever did. We have an excellent safety record with no reported incidents this year and only two in all the years of operation. We are a team of volunteers who put on walks for the love of the bay and to give others the opportunity of seeing the bay at its best. This year the bay has been at its very best with excellent weather, views and channels well placed and therefore the walks have become very popular, too popular for some to bear. We have decided the hassle is too much and will not be conducting any further baywalk activities. Therefore the planned programme of events for 2014 has been cancelled. I would like to acknowledge the help of all guides past and present for all their assistance over the years especially Jack Woodcock, who has been leading the walks for the past few years. I know he will miss the events probably more than anyone. To Your Guide to the Lake District and Morecambe Tourist information for promoting our walks, John Leach our local reporter and the local press and radio stations. To the Slyne with Hest parish council for providing facilities for the start of the walks from Hest Bank and the local cafes. Thanks also to the farmers around the bay who have provided facilities and Alan Archer at Red Bank farm who have provided free parking for the half marathon. A very special thank you to James and Amy Burrows and steward at Gibraltar Farm Caravan Park for letting us use their facilities at Silverdale for the start of the walks, and sometimes end of walks with free parking and toilet facilities. To Harry Wilson at Wyke Farm Flookburgh for allowing us to use his land to park and pick up walkers and to Greg Wilks at the Humphrey Head centre for providing shelter, toilet facilities and drinks at the end of our walks to Flookburgh. Also thanks to Bay View garden centre for providing our markers and flags out on the bay and to Ayrton ATV for providing and maintaining our escorting quad bikes. To all the walkers who come back time after time and the charities, especially Cancercare, and Derek Hartley, who have had walks with us annually since 1995. To the true professionals on the bay, the Flookburgh fishermen in the early days, Jack Manning, and for the last 18 years John and Michael Wilson, with Steve Manning on the rare times they were not available. No matter what people might think these are the ones who know the bay better than anyone and we are indeed indebted to them. We also acknowledge the local transport companies who have provided return transport in the early days and Stagecoach Kirkby Lonsdale coaches providing transport on the Cancercare half marathon and St John’s Hospice walks. A very big debt of gratitude to Travellers Choice, who have supplied return transport and put up with walkers with muddy boots and dogs on the coaches, and provided us with free printing facilities for certificates. To my wife Chris for the neglect over the years in the summer months when my commitment has been total to the bay, for answering the endless telephone calls taking bookings and giving advice. And to the participants who I hope have enjoyed the events as much as I have enjoyed providing them. I only hope that my fear does not come true that people will start making their own way across the bay, with no walks taking place, which will end in tragedy. ALAN SLEDMORE
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 07:46:13 +0000
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