Friends of Wharfedale Greenway Celebrates a Successful AGM.
On November 12th, 2024, the Friends of Wharfedale Greenway held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Burley-in-Wharfedale Library. The event was a resounding success, with a great turnout and some exciting new faces joining the community.
The AGM kicked off at 8 PM, and the atmosphere was buzzing with enthusiasm and positivity. Seasoned supporters and newcomers alike came together to discuss the progress and future plans for the Wharfedale Greenway project and select a new committee for the year. The Greenway aims to create a beautiful walking, cycling, and horse-riding route along the Wharfe Valley, connecting communities and promoting sustainable transportation.
One of the highlights of the evening was the meeting of several fresh faces who attended the meeting. Their energy and fresh perspectives are sure to bring new ideas and momentum to the project. The Friends of Wharfedale Greenway is thrilled to welcome these new friends and looks forward to their contributions.
The meeting covered various topics, including updates on the Greenway’s development, fundraising efforts, and plans for the following year.
The Chairman, Colm McCann, updated us on the latest news from the Steering Committee and working groups hoping to turn the Greenway into a reality.
We then heard from our Secretary, Neil Shearer, about how the group has boosted our online and social media presence by enhancing content. This significant progress was made possible with substantial help from our content creator, Laura White, facilitating the dissemination of more of our messages and requests to our followers.
Following on came the updates from our Treasurer, Ronan Carnally, explaining our finances for the year. Details of which you can see below.
Report on the accounts October 2023 to September 2024
The above period covers our third full year with a business bank account.
FOWG has received a number of grants and donations over the year which have paid for all of our expenditure. These include a £500 grant from Ilkley Town Council in October 2023 for roller banners and a flag, a £300 corporate donation from Bingley Physiotherapy in February 2024, and a £150 corporate donation from Martin Higgitt Associates in April 2024. There were also regular membership payments of smaller amounts.
Expenditure has been up in 2023/4 compared to the previous year, in large part due to the launch event for the results of our large scale survey, held in March 2024. This included venue hire and printing. We also spent on our new feather flag, a set of business cards, and to attend some local community events, alongside the usual website and insurance running costs.
| Opening Balance | £735.92 |
| Closing Balance | £840.56 |
| Net Surplus | £104.64 |
We then dissolved the current Committee allowing people to nominate themselves for the Committee roles we have. You can see who holds the roles for the incoming year.
Committee Roles
| Chair | Colm McCann |
| Vice Chair | vacant |
| Secretary | Neil Shearer |
| Treasurer | Ronan Carnally |
| Social Media / Content Creator | Laura White |
| Events Coordinator | Randal Metzger |
| Design & Planning support | Martin Higgitt |
| Practical Volunteering | vacant |
Town/Village Reps
| Pool-in-Wharfedale | vacant |
| Otley | Randal Metzger |
| Menston | Tommy Knowland |
| Burley in Wharfedale | Emily Corbett |
| Ben Rhydding/Ilkley | Colm McCann |
| Addingham | Colin Waterman |
If you feel you would like to support with any of the roles or take on one of the vacant ones please contact us.
The community’s support and involvement are crucial to the success of this project, and the AGM was a great opportunity for everyone to come together and share their thoughts and ideas.
As the evening came to a close, there was a sense of optimism and excitement about the future of the Wharfedale Greenway. The Friends of Wharfedale Greenway are more motivated than ever to continue their efforts and make the Greenway a reality for the benefit of the entire community.
We look forward to continue working towards the creation of a fantastic Wharfedale Greenway.