The Battle for Broxhead Common
One of the claimed paths
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 117
- My quote from Christopher Rodgers book, ‘Contested Common Lands’, in the last episode needs to be remembered to see how some of our laws and EU rules and regulations are either being ignored or misused.
As far as I am aware none of the Broxhead Commoners were engaged in farming so would not have applied for any grants under the EU CAP Scheme. The same could not be said for either Hampshire County Council or the Conservation Bodies who of course are not farmers. - The next objector to my claim for bridleways to replace the 23 tracks now long obstructed by the unlawful fencing, came from Natural England’s Hamshire and Isle of Wight Group.
- 7th Febraury 2005 the letter emphasises the importance of the SSSI and Wealden Heaths phase 2 Special Protection Area. The example of BW46 is ridiculous as the vegetation is growing across the path making it almost unusable rather than as stated. Also not declared is that horses do not impact the sandy surface but keep it friable for the ground nesting wasps and other small insects.
2005 English Nature OBJECTION LETTER04022021 - To jeopardise the safety of horse riders by refusing my claim for bridleways on Broxhead Common with such a statement as: “It is English Nature’s opinion that the proposed instatement of these bridleways is likely to cause significant harm at Broxhead and Kingsley Commons SSSI.
In the circumstances, if Hampshire County Council sought assent for the instatement of these public bridleways, English Nature would not be in a position to assent to the proposals” seemed to me to be a rather strong statement coming from an Assistant Conservation Officer from Natural England’s local office. - So, I penned a quick line to the Chief Executive of English Nature, Dr Andy Brown.
- 18th August 2005 his reply was very interesting because he says that HCC have told him that ‘the officer’s recommendation is to refuse on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence about use of the paths. We understand that the nature conservation issues are effectively irrelevant’!
EN Andy Brown
Another of the claimed paths
Next time: the third Objector.