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News & Events

18/03/11
Covert Dirt Club Open Morning

An open morning is being held on the 26th March at Hayshead Primary School, Arbroath, 10-12. The club is open to any Young people P5 through to S2. Any interested parties and young people, parents, guardians are free to attend to find out more.

More information on the open morning is available on the Covert Dirt website.

www.covertdirt.co.uk

18/03/11
Glenisla Steering Group

Formation of a Steering Group

Following the successful public meeting in February to outline the proposed Trail Centre this meeting was an opportunity for interested individuals to input views and ultimately for some to volunteer to help the proposal move forward by forming a steering group.

In order to help the steering group Eliot Palmer (Angus Council Community Learning and Development) spent some time discussing the communities that this proposed development might hold benefit for. He then asked those attending to identify the needs of the different communities and the type of people a steering group would need. Then four group discussions took place identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the proposal. These discussions were finished by the groups finishing the following sentence. This organisation wants to develop a Trail Centre which will…….

The total attendance for the meeting was 42.

The notes from the meeting can be downloaded in PDF format HERE.

23/02/11
Glenisla Meeting Update - New Meeting

Glenisla Village Hall, Glenisla, PH11 8QL
Tuesday March 8th, 7.30 p.m.

The meeting on Feb 15th started fifteen minutes late and with an audience of 85 people. The meeting started with a short introduction to AMBTA and an hour long presentation of the feasibility study, peppered with a few questions from the audience. Finally finishing with details of the next meeting, again at Glen Isla on the 8^th of March, which approximately two thirds of people indicating they would like to attend.

The general feeling in the meeting seemed very positive with plenty of people expressing support. There where some concerns from a neighbouring land owner about bikers causing a problem for shooting parties if they explored outside the trail centre. Others raised the possibility of the Forestry Commission selling off the forest leaving the trail centre in a difficult position. Both of these are issues that need to be addressed. However there was strong support from the members of the local community in attendance, indicating it was exactly the kind of initiative they felt Glen Isla would benefit from.

There is now a strong indication that moving forward towards the instigation of a ‘Development Trust’ that would carry the project forward is a well supported objective. There needs to be further and much more extensive community consultation and development of the ongoing relationship with the Forestry Commission. An excellent night for AMBTA.

The meeting to identify the direction a ‘development trust’ will move towards developing an initial vision of what the trust will do and how it will operate. This will be an open meeting where all who are interested in the project are welcome. 8^th March 7.30 pm Glen Isla Village Hall.

19/01/10
Proposed Glenisla Trail Centre Public Meeting

Glenisla Village Hall, Glenisla, PH11 8QL
Tuesday February 15, 7.30 p.m.

This is your opportunity to find out about the
proposed development of a
Mountain Bike Trail Centre and other tourist facilities in the Glenisla Area.
There will be a presentation of the recently completed Feasibility Study
followed by a question and answer session.
All interested parties are welcome to attend.

19/01/10
Glen Isla Trail Centre Feasibility Reports Now Available to Download

The Reports from Tourism Rescources Company and Cycle Therapy are now available to Download in PDF format from the below links. These make fascinating reading!

TRC Executive Summary (277kb)

Feasibility Study (3.5mb)

05/01/11
Angus Mountain Bike Trail Association Annual General Meeting - Wednesday 19th January 2011 7pm to 9pm
Angus House, Orchardbank, Forfar, DD8 1AX

All members, supporters and interested parties are invited to attend the AMBTA Annual General Meeting at Angus House, Orchardbank, Forfar, DD8 1AX
on Wednesday 19th January 2011 7pm to 9pm

This will give the committee an opportunity to update on the progress made over the past year. Most importantly an opportunity to share the findings of the feasibility study that was commission on the Forestry Commission site in Glen Isla

The Agenda will be as follows:

• Opening remarks/Welcome
• Apologies
• Minutes of previous AGM
• Matters arising from the Minutes
• Presentation of Annual Report
• Adoption of Annual Report
• Presentation of Accounts (Treasurer)
• Adoption of Accounts
• Election of Management Committee/Office Bearers
• Any Other Competent Business
• Overview of feasibility study
• Closing remarks

Nomination for the Chair, Vice Chair, Tresurar, Secretary and Committee member should be made to info@ambta.info before the 10th of January. Each nomination requires listed as AMBTA members to propose and second it.

Motions to be debated at the AGM can be proposed. Proposals should be made to info@ambta.info before the 10th of January. Each nomination requires listed as AMBTA members to propose and second it.

28/08/10
Feasibility Inception Meeting

An inception meeting is being arranged for the 8th of September, this will involve David Bullogh from TRC and Paul Masson from Cycle Therapy, AMBTA committee members and key stake holders. During the study the consultants will contact the wider group of stakeholders. If you would like to be part of this please email AMBTA with any queries or issues you may have. The study should be completed by early to mid November. Open meetings will be scheduled for early to mid November in Glen Isla and also in Forfar.

25/08/10
Feasibility Consultants Chosen!

Angus Mountain Bike Trails Association (AMBTA), is pleased to announce that after much due dilliberation by the committee; Tourism Rescources Company and acclaimed trail builder Paul Masson (responsible for Laggan WolfTrax) have been chosen to lead the study into the proposed trail centre in the Glen Isla area. An inception meeting is being scheduled for the start of September.

16/06/10
Feasibility Study Update!

Angus Mountain Bike Trails Association (AMBTA), has successfully secured funding to the sum of £12,000 for the first stage of development of dedicated mountain biking facilities for the area. £9500 is being part-financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community Rural Tayside LEADER Fund and a further £2500 was secured through the Angus Council Community Grant Scheme. The funding will be used in the undertaking of a Feasibility Study which will look into the possibility of developing a trail centre in the Glen Isla area. The study will look into all aspects of how the trail centre might be built, the impact on the local communities and how such a facility might increase tourism and economic growth.

AMBTA is now prepairing the neccessary documentation for the Tender process to find a suitable partner to undertake the Feasibility Study.

The suitable partner will look into and have to adhere to the following:

Operational structure for managing the trail and facilities taking into account different models including a partnership between AMBTA and the landowner, private sector operator, public sector operator and community operator, including proposals on income generation to meet maintenance costs.
Relevant experience and expertise in this area of work and a track record of delivering to time;
Evidence of a clear understanding of AMBTA’s requirements for this project;
The consultant’s methodology for how the commission is to be approached
Assess the demand and provide an estimate of potential visitor numbers for an Angus mountain bike centre, based on a centre with provision initially for a car park, and approximately 10km – 12km of trail.
Assess the impact on demand that the provision of a café and toilets would have to this centre.
Provide construction and annual maintenance costs for the identified site, to include (separately) costs for a café and toilet.
Provide costs for an exit strategy.
Consultation processes required with landowners and community groups
Planning processes
Assess the economic impact of a family focussed mountain bike centre based in Glen Isla.
Provide an estimate of the potential number of jobs created by such a centre in Angus.

26/03/10
Funding Success!

AMBTA have recently been successful in securing funding for a feasibility study from LEADER to the tune of £9500! More info soon!

02/11/09
Your chance to influence the future of forestry in Angus!

Rural Development Initiatives, on behalf of Angus Council and Forestry Commission Scotland, invite you to express your views on the future of woodlands and forestry in Angus by completing a short on-line questionnaire.

We would like to hear the views from those living, working or visiting Angus on what the woodlands in Angus should look like over the next 50 years and how we should make the most of them so that they contribute to our local economy, to the environment and to the quality of life or our communities and residents. These views will then be used to develop an Angus Woodland and Forestry Framework which will help identify projects which could deliver community and sustainable economic development, biodiverstiy and climare change objectives within Angus.

The on-line questionnaire is now available for you to complete as a first step in the consultation process and from the responses received, representatives will be invited to attend a consultation meeting where priority areas will be identified and options discussed. We will also be contacting some individuals/groups to take part in a smaller series of meetings.

A public meeting will then be held towards the end of the year at which a draft Angus Woodland and Forestry Framework will be presented for comment and review.

To begin thequestionnaire please click HERE and follow the on-screen instructions.

More information about this work can be found by:

Phoning: Claire Glaister or Emily Maclean on 0845 226 2890

Emailing: Anguswoods@ruraldevelopment.org.uk

15/10/09
Fundraising Update

Behind the scenes AMBTA has secured funding from a number of sources to help towards the cost of the Feasibility study for the trail centre, which is estimating to cost around £15,000.

Angus Council Community Grants Scheme
Kindly donated £500 towards the cost of the AMBTA website and associated web marketing costs

National Lottery Funding
We are currently awaiting the results for the National Lottery Grant and should have news at our AGM.

Aberdeen Leader
We have received a £3000 grant from Aberdeen Leader conditional on the success of our National Lottery Award.

Tayside Leader
We have received a further £3000 grant from Tayside Leader conditional on the success of our National Lottery Award.

Invitation To Tender Update

We’re fine tuning this document at the moment after feedback from the Forestry Commission. They have been very useful in their feedback and offered the opportunity to meet with Alan Stevenson the head of their Leisure Department..

14/10/09
Annual General Meeting and Cinema Screening, 28th Oct, 7pm-9pm, Orchard Bank, Angus House, Forfar

Put this date in your diary now! The meeting is free to attend, get all the latest news on how things have been progressing with our mission to open a trail centre in Angus. Have a chinwag with fellow riders and some coffee and cake.

Plus theres the opportunity to watch Mark Husskisons heralded Scottish MTB movie "Home" on the big screen. We also have exclusive, never seen before preview footage of "HOME2" which is due to be released later in the year. For more information about Marks films visit www.resetfilms.co.uk. What more excuse do you need. Invite your friends and come along!

CLICK FOR LOACATION MAP

10/02/09
Trail Centre News

Drumtochty or Glen Isla, well everyone has their own opinion and both areas have significant advantages. Glen Isla has a strong community and a number of existing businesses that would easily add value to any centre, where Drumtochty is as close to Dundee and even closer to Aberdeen.

The committee are going to sort this through a two stage feasibility study. Stage one looks at both sites weighing up economic feasibility as well as build cost, finishing with a recommendation from the consultant on which site to progress. At this stage we’d put this information out to everyone including forestry before moving onto stage two which would be a detailed study of the chosen site, economic feasibility, management structure, build cost and funding package. These are the arguments that will convince the Forestry to allow us to move on from here and begin to put together funding to build.

The feasibility study is going to cost in the region of £15000. We’re hoping to get the money for this together from the National Lottery’s awards for all programme and a Scottish government funding programme called LEADER. If we get moving we may even hear about this funding in early April, we do though have forms to get in by 17th of Feb then!

10/02/09
Drumtochty Challenge

For those of you who don’t know Brian (Mclaughlin) is the Vice Chair of AMBTA and a man who doesn’t know how to say no to anything. So whilst not helping with AMBTA he’s up to allsorts of other stuff including a bit of work somewhere in the North Sea.

The date for this year is the 10th of May and entry forms will be available in the very near future. Stewart will update the website to reflect this and let you know of any other changes. http://www.drumtochtychallenge.co.uk/main/index.php

There will be a slight increase in the price this year, however this will be offset by the entry fee including the supply of an A3 size map of the event area. This map will not be pre-marked so you will still have to do that yourself (this removes the need to buy an OS landranger at £7). You will be pleased to hear we have a new electronic scoring system which should make the results and prize giving a much smoother affair.

In the mean time if you are looking for something to get you out training then please check out my other website www.whitecaterthunrace.org.uk
Myself and my two oldest sons are running in the London marathon this year and to raise funds we have organised a half marathon and 5K fun run in Brechin on the 22nd of March. All proceeds from this event will go to the Guide Dog charity.
Entries for the races are being handled through www.born2run.co.uk just click on the link and scroll down to the White Caterthun Half marathon on the 22nd of March. In addition to the races there will be guide dog demonstrations and puppies under training for the non-runners and the event will be run in the same friendly atmosphere as the challenge.

10/02/09
AMBTA Social Rides 2009

We had a couple of organised rides that were published through the Forum over Christmas, on night ride around Templeton, Clatto and Backmuir was excellent fun for the two that could drag themselves away from the sales. However we did have a much stronger ride before New Year around Cortachy with a nice mix of single track with twelve of us out there.

We’re hoping to make these a more regular thing longer rides on a Sunday and evenings on a Tuesday. At the moment on Sunday a month and a couple of Tuesdays until more folk begin to lead them then who knows.

The leaders are insured through our affiliation to CTC but we need to ensure we’re doing everything properly to that end could people do the following.

1) Ensure you’re a signed up member
2) Programme your phone with a ‘In Case of Emergency’ (ICE) number and bring it with you. This will most likely be your wife, partner or parents so if you do have a bad crash we can get in touch with someone
3) Read the following CTC rules for ride participants. http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Go_Biking_with_CTC/Guidetocyclingwithagroup.pdf

So to the dates

March 1st Drumtochty Ride.
This will give us the chance to visit the site Brian has been talking to the Forestry about and see for our selves. We’ll do about 20km riding. Meeting at the play area in Auchenblae NO 725 788 at 10 am for a 10.15 am start. I guess we’ll be riding for around three hours with stops for snacks finish by 2pm
March 10th Night biking at Glamis. Approx an 1.5 hours riding starting at the council car park in Glamis NO 384 465 Start 6.30 pm finish 8pm

March 22nd Glen Isla ride
This will give us the chance to visit the site Greg has been talking to the Forestry about and see for our selves. We’ll do about 20km riding. Meeting at the Forestry parking just before Kirkton of Glen Isla NO 224 608 at 10 am for a 10.15 am start. I guess we’ll be riding for around three hours with stops for snacks finish by 2pm.

Some of the ride will be in the Forestry but there isn’t yet any single track there so we’ll go round Loch Auchintaple as well

March 31st Night biking at Balmashanner and Forfar.
Approx an 1.5 hours riding starting at Angus House in Forfar NO 434 494 Start 6.30 pm finish 8pm

April 21st Night biking at Alyth Den and Alyth Hill.
Approx an 1.5 hours riding starting at Alyth Den car park 235 487 Start 6.30 pm finish 8pm

May 3rd, Pitmedden
A chance to explore the local singletrack and there is plenty of it, technical, rootty and at times fast. There is parking in Abernethy Glen at the very edge of the forest NO 188 139 10 am for a 10.15 am start. I guess we’ll be riding for around three hours with stops for snacks finish by 2pm.

Hope that tickles a few tastbuds. Look forward to seeing you out on the trails. If we use the forum to answer any questions about the rides that would be great or email EDNangustrails@angus.gov.uk

12/02/09
Trail Centre News

Ok its not going to be the 17th. After the initial thoughts we clearly can't turn things around in time to meet that deadline. We'll get the Leader forms completed as quickly as possible but it looks like mid June is more realistic in terms of when we might have the money for the fesability study.

2/04/09
Date Change for Pitmedden Ride

The ride will now go on the 24th of May instead of the 3rd of May. Various problems with my diary but this one should stay the same. All other details are as before.

14/10/09
AGM & Film Screening 28th Oct, 7-9pm, Angus House, Orchard Bank, Forfar

Angus Mountain Bike Trails Association (AMBTA) are holding their Annual General Meeting on Wed 28th Oct, 7-9pm at Angus House, Orchard Bank, Forfar. As well as being able to find out about the work AMBTA is doing in and around Angus to promote mountain biking, it will give the public the opportunity to watch Mark Huskissons heralded Scottish MTB movie "Home" on the big screen. We also have exclusive, never seen before preview footage of "HOME2" which is due to be released later in the year. For more information about Marks films visit www.resetfilms.co.uk. Get all the latest news on how things have been progressing with our mission to open a trail centre in Angus. Have a chinwag with fellow riders and some coffee and cake.