metMar04
MEETING of hfcyclists
TUESDAY 9 March 2004, 7.30pm in the info centre
Present: John Griffiths, Gwen Cook, Bill Ogden, James Joughin, Chris Tranchell.
Apologies: Mark Alderton, Rick Boardman, Alex Forrest, Simon Franklin, Chris Bainbridge, Paul Alexander, Cllr Charlie Boyle, Alan Rowden, Louanne Tranchell,
THE LBHF BUG
Gwen Cook came along and told us about the BUG, the bike users group, at the Council. One of the things that will happen is that Barry Ayton will be doing a Dr Bike on the Town Hall forecourt on Thursday 1 April between 12noon and 2pm. This is at the same time as the Farmers Market.
Gwen is presently working for the Council and is looking at Green Travel plans, especially for primary schools. The object is to get kids out of cars, and probably towards walking rather than cycling.
WEST LONDON GREEN FESTIVAL
A group has been put together by hfcyclists to organise and promote the festival. At the moment this includes John Griffiths [hfcyclists], David Lomas [Ealing cyclists], Susie Morrow [Wandsworth Cyclists], Matt Dunkley [hfLA21], Betina Goldman, James Joughin [hfcyclists], Rebecca Winter [hfFoE], Alex Forrest [LBHF].
The planning is going well and hopefully funding is falling into place. We hope to have interesting groups along. James suggested having interesting food as at Womad.
However in the last week a problem has arisen concerning whether John Ryan of Cycick has a right to be involved with the Festival.
Gwen assumed that anyone would have the right to have a stall there as she assumed it was an LBHF event. We corrected this impression. She thought John Ryan was helpful and good with children
The Festival was organised for the first time last year by hfcyclists, with a grant from TfL via the London Cycling Campaign. hfcyclists obtained permission to use the park. Suitable groups were invited by a committee put together by hfcyclists.
This year the organising structure is the same, although there is no funding available directly from TfL.
A meeting took place with John Griffiths, Chris Bainbridge, Stephen McAndrews and Alex Forest on 4th February 2004 to see if LBHF would put money into it. They were in favour of the Festival and thought that it would be effective for promoting some Council aspirations. They would be helpful. They suggested Alex Forrest be on the planning group, which we welcomed.
They suggested they would be able to put £2K, or perhaps more, into the funding if HFLA21 put some money in. HFLA21 have indicated that they will, so all should be OK.
However at a planning meeting on Thursday 4 March 2004 Alex Forrest insisted that John Ryan should take part in the Festival with a rickshaw and doing Dr Bike.
This may not be what the planning group wants.
John G has sent an email to Chris Bainbridge asking for an assurance that John Ryan will not be invited to participate without the express invitation of the organising group.
Although Chris Bainbridge is considering this, so far such an assurance has not been forthcoming.
ETHICAL CONCERNS
From the notes of our November 2003 AGM meeting
"CYCICK - John Ryan talked about his project on cycle maintenance that meets Wednesday evenings. See www.cycick.org.uk for details. John R later clarified that Cycick is NOT a registered charity, as there appears to be some confusion over this."
HOWEVER some confusion may still be being generated. The Cycick website states [http://www.cycick.org.uk/poolbikes.html on 10 march 2004]
"The bicycles were donated by Cycick, a local bicycle recycling charity which is part of a Hammersmith and Fulham Borough partnership set up through the North Fulham New Deal for Communities Initiative."
A search of charities and companies under Cycick and John Paul Ryan reveals his interests, but does not show Cycick as a registered charity.
The planning committee should not be forced into a position where they have to accept and promote a group at the festival where there is a possibility that the public may be misled into believing that that group is a charity.
RIDES
We have rides as part of the LBHF festival.
On Sunday 4 April we have a ride leaving Furnival Gardens at 10am going to the car boot sale in Chiswick, followed perhaps a ride back along the river and via pub.
On Sunday 18 April we have a ride leaving Furnival Gardens at 1pm going to Richmond park for a picnic.
BOAT RACE DAY OUTING
John G is having a picnic / perhaps barbecue on Sunday 28 March. Time 4pm at the milepost. This monument is about one third of the way along the towpath going from Hammersmith Bridge towards Putney bridge. The race itself is at 6pm. All welcome.
CHINA
James rounded off a very pleasant evening with tales from China.
EXPENSES
John G had expenses of £14.29 for tonight's refreshments, some wine and juice being available for the next meeting.
NEXT MEETING
As it will be around Easter we will fix the date a little nearer the time.
John Griffiths [co-ordinator]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
john@truefeelings.com
our website www.hfcyclists.org.uk