RAMBLERS AND PARLIAMENT How to win friends and influence people
Dec 14, 2015
Why?
• Rights of walkers = parliamentary acts– Enclosure Acts– Prescription Act 1832 – Railway Clauses and Consolation Act
1845
=
National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
• National Parks• Long Distance Paths• Definitive Maps• Penalties for displaying illegal signs• Created what is now Natural England
Importance of walking
•Economic value of walkers•Enjoyment•Health benefits of walking•Anything else?
The Ramblers
• 120,000 members – X number in MP’s constituency
• Key Achievements – right to roam, national parks, Welsh Coast Path, Land Reform Act Scotland etc...
• Local achievements (e.g. Pathwork teams, fp openings etc...)
• Walking for Health, Let‘s Walk Cymru and Take 30
Issues affecting walkers
• State of footpaths and their budgets• National Trails• Protecting the countryside• Opening up more of the countryside• Local campaigns
What we need you to do
1. Prepare1. Find out the parliamentary boundaries
You can use: www.election-maps.co.uk. You may want to work with neighbouring Groups if it’s a large rural constituency
2. Find out more information about your MPYou can use www.theyworkforyou.com
3. Speak to staff and other groups who have made good contact
What not to do
• Leave it too late
• Let one person harass the MP
• Organise a hustings
• Send candidates a questionnaire close to an election