A RALLYING call for Evesham residents to support the town’s bid to become the first in Worcestershire to earn ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status has been launched.
Evesham Rambling Club has vowed to work towards obtaining ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status for the town as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations.
Members have already earned the support of Evesham Town Council who provided funding to help with the application.
A steering group of interested parties from within the area has been set up and provisional membership to Walkers are Welcome is now in place. This national scheme exists to develop and promote walking in areas with something to offer, assisting with a community’s economic, physical, health and mental well-being through walking.
Sheila Talbot, chair of Winchcombe Welcomes Walkers, who was instrumental in gaining accreditation for Winchcombe, believes Evesham said: “I have mentored several towns in their bid to gain
Walkers are Welcome status and I am really impressed with the vision and enthusiasm of the Evesham team. I have no doubt accreditation will benefit the local economy by attracting more visiting walkers, I also believe it will benefit the community.
“In Winchcombe many more residents have taken up walking, leading to better health and well-being and a new sense of pride in the town. I wish Evesham every success and hope that we can work together in the future.”
The last hurdle in obtaining full membership for Evesham is to gain the support of five per cent of the local population.
Glyn Hayter, a member of the Evesham Walkers are Welcome Steering Group, said: “We are quite confident five of the six criteria have been met but in order to secure accreditation for Evesham we need to show we have the support of local residents, organisations and businesses.
“To do this we require 1,300 signatures from residents of the town and surrounding villages with a WR11 postcode, and also local businesses.”
Forms are available to sign in Evesham Library, the Almonry Museum, Evesham Leisure Centre and Imagine (in the Riverside Shopping Centre).
Visit www.eveshamramblingclub.org.uk/walkers-welcome for more.
