An urgent letter to all FotO members
from the chairman, Alistair Lawson
Dear member,
This letter brings an urgent message about the future viability of our organisation, and I would urge you to let us know your views. Without them, the committee cannot make the necessary decisions regarding our future.
In the beginning...
- We set out to provide protection for the Ochils, by becoming a watchdog body, ready to speak out, ready to chivvy larger organisations, should threats to the hills arise. We anticipated filling a gap where there was no other similar representative body.
- We had a large and eager committee, peaking at 13 members, and we also had a large membership - approaching 300 in the early years and representing most of the communities around the Ochils fringe.
- We held a number of well attended field study days, focusing in particular on forestry and ancient buildings. Our members turned out, made themselves known and took an active interest in our objectives.
Our achievements...
- These have included sustaining a regular newsletter covering items of Ochils-related interest, setting up an Ochils award and an annual Ochils lecture and contributing to planning and consultation issues related to forestry developments. We also established an "eyes and ears" network around the hills, monitoring planning applications, responding to documents concerned with building, transport, waste management and wind power. And we have built up an internal set of interest-related subcommittees.
- More recently, we have established a slide lecture which has already been presented four times this winter (see Robin Kelsall's article). Our native woodlands project is on the brink of taking off (read David Gordon), and we are represented on the Stirling Access Forum, the Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust and the Kinross Rural Action Group. We also organised a well attended Ochils seminar in conjunction with our 1999 AGM.
Much of that listed above has, however, withered away...
- Membership has shrunk, with very few new joinings. The committee has likewise shrunk, and resignations recently intimated will leave just three committee members. Only two subcommittees are left, and our award has atrophied for lack of interest.
- Members have ceased to attend field days and we no long organise these. The spread of membership has changed, with only limited representation beyond Clackmannanshire. Members have not responded to the repeated pleas for extra involvement and many of our "eyes and ears" have ceased to report.
- No threats to the hills have arisen in the eight years of our existence - although that is not to say that some may not be just around the corner. Our scanning of the planning applications produces no grounds for complaint or action.
In the wider world...
- Other organisations - large, full-time bodies such as SNH, the RSPB and the new biodiversity officers - are nowadays caring for the countryside better than they were eight years ago when FotO came into being. New legislation will provide more secure recreational access to the countryside. Arguably, there is less need for our chivvying function than before.
To summarise...
- We have not totally run out of steam, but there is unquestionably less energy available to us than in the past. A committee of three - the survivors - cannot run the show.
- The context in which we operate has changed over the years, and it may be that the Ochils are adequately looked after by other, more capable organisations.
- On the other hand, new people, with new energy and a new vision, might identify a meaningful and continuing role for the organisation.
It is essential that the committee receives feedback from its members on these issues. Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think. The fuller your answers, the better. Thank you.
Alistair Lawson
| Is the work of the other countryside organisations a sufficient guarantee for the future of the Ochils? |
| Is there really a need for an Ochils watchdog body such as FotO? If so, how might we improve the way in which we operate? |
| The committee will soon become too small to operate. What will you do to help? |
| The committee recently talked of closing down FotO. What do you think? Would you lose any sleep if we weren't here? |
Please reply to the secretary, David Robertson, at 31 Upper Mill St, Tillicoultry, FK13 6AP. Or email FotO at Dave.Hewitt@dial.pipex.com
Newsletter 18 Index
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