Annual Reports from active initiatives driven by very dedicated volunteers and highly competent steering groups.
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The various project groups of the VGS were able to showcase what they’ve been up to over the last year at the VGS AGM Wednesday 20th November – and some pretty impressive headway has been made, even if there is frustration at wanting to take things further.
The Friends of Glen Goyle project is the oldest, founded in 2021 when ideas from both the SVA’s history group and the just-established SVBG inspired this site-specific group. One its earliest protagonists and active members is John McGregor – and he presented FOGG’s 2024 report at the AGM. Here’s the generous closing remark:
“All in all, a year in which we have continued to make progress, but not without its frustrations. The volunteers would like to thank Vision Group of Sidmouth for supporting us with a wonderful website, insurance, and project liaison. Thank you!”
The Sidmouth Cycling Campaign was formed after happy encounters at the VGS stall at the SeaFest in 2022 – although ‘sustainable transport solutions’ have been of interest to the VGS since its own inception. The SCC’s 2024 report was given by the group’s secretary Roy Russell, who is very active with regular correspondence to the powers that be, with the introduction from his text here:
“The Sidmouth Cycling Campaign was formed 2 years ago, building on the work of the Sidmouth Cycling Action Group, which had been a VGS project since 2008. During the past year we have continued to engage with decision makers, raising awareness of opportunities for encouraging cycling in the Sid Valley, as summarised below.”
The youngest project is the Cherishing Sidmouth Cemeteries group, started in January this year – and yet it has made significant progress despite scepticism at the beginning, as noted by VGS representative Cllr Kevin Walker at the AGM. Tess Bisson read out CSC’s 2024 report, compiled by fellow members of the very active volunteer working party. Here’s their conclusion:
“The District Council need to recognise that the most important outcome for the volunteers, council and the town is a cemetery that is ‘cherished’.
Finally we are a friendly group and we would love more volunteers to join us so the improvements can continue.”
Do follow them at the Cherishing Sidmouth’s Cemeteries Facebook page – and all the groups on their own and the VGS’s main websites.
More on the VGS 2024 AGM to follow…
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