AN OSWESTRY-BASED group of volunteers has posted a sparkling half century.
The Parish Paths Partnership, based in the Oswestry town and rural parishes, has passed the landmark of 50 gate installations since it was formed in the early months of 2015.
The group was trained and equipped by Shropshire Council after cuts in the outdoor activities budget left the council looking for an innovative solution to the funding crisis.
Apart from the gate installations they also invested hundreds of additional hours in mending and installing stiles, and clearing excess vegetation and debris blocking some of Oswestry’s 98 miles of miles of rights of way.
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Shropshire Council paid tribute to Oswestry P3’s achievement.
A spokesperson said: “The Parish Paths Partnership (P3) scheme is an initiative which aims to give local people within their community the resources and skills to maintain and improve their local public rights of way network through practical works such as vegetation clearance and furniture installation.
“The scheme strives to promote community involvement, local awareness and usage of the network allowing all to benefit from having open and available access to the countryside.
“Recognition should also be made to all the landowners who have willingly accepted the help of the group in improving routes across their land
“We have worked alongside the Oswestry group on many occasions, in good and bad weather, overcoming unforeseen problems together and we can honestly say it has always been a pleasure and we look forward to many more workdays with them in the future.”
The group of around half a dozen members is still working its way through the vast number of improvements and repairs required.
In the meantime, Shropshire Council has been gaining the necessary permission from landowners to replace stiles with gates which are much easier for people with mobility problems to negotiate.
Under the co-ordination of Peter Carr, the group has contributed 1,645 voluntary hours, undertaking 37 stile repairs/replacements, 25 signposts, five bridges, 547 hours of vegetation clearance, and this year they have installed their 50th gate replacing a stile.
In financial terms this work equates to approximately £16,000 of contractor equivalent work.
The first gate was installed near Morton and it was fitting that the 50th new installation this spring was in the same area.
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Mr Carr said: “We, the volunteers gain a real sense of achievement in turning a difficult path into one that can be accessed easily.
“As a group we gain from the friendships we form and from being out in the fresh air and wonderful countryside around Oswestry.”
For more information about Parish Paths Partnerships visit www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/volunteering-outdoors/parish-paths-partnership-and-wardens or contact Helen Beresford on helen.beresford@shropshire.gov.uk
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