The Battle for Broxhead Common
One of the claimed paths
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 118
- The third objector was of course Hampshire County Council in the form of its Regulatory Committee. However, when they made the decision to refuse my claim for bridleways on Broxhead Common, they had agreed that efforts would be made to increase permissive use of the common and in particular the claimed routes. This decision would be referred to the Chair of HCC.
- However, despite the re-assurance nothing happened. So, on 3rd August 2006, I emailed my County Councillor, copying in the Leader of Hampshire County Council to ask if he could help.
2006 email to County Cllr. re signs on common17022021 - 12th August 2006 the British Horse Society’s County Chair wrote to Hampshire County Council’s Chief Executives Office explaining the situation and asking for an explanation regarding the appearance of the ‘No horse-riding signs.’
2006 August Brenda King letter to Chief Executives08122020 - 2nd October 2006 his reply was placatory but far from comforting. He says “the Regulatory Committee’s decision is being acted upon, but the Council does need to know the views of the owner and understand the terms of the lease. The new signs are not in response to this issue but in the interests of safeguarding areas of high nature conservation value across the common.”
So, we were back to the landowner and the conservationists again.
2006 letter KT to MC 1 - 5th October 2006 I wrote again. After thanking him for HCC’s initiative for instigating the Rights of Way Improvement Plans, I tried to clear up some facts regarding Broxhead Common of which he may still be ignorant. Councillors are very dependent on the professional advice of the Officers of the Council because of the variety of departments which cover multiple interests. However, at the same time the situation on the ground is not always understood.
2006 letter MC to KT - 28th November 2006 is the date of the next letter from the Leader.
He says, “a permissive route may not find favour while there is a possibility that a statutory route may be granted.” I note also the rather whitewashed version about the matter of the ‘no horse riding’ signs. However, I am pleased to see that BW46 will be cleared; it would be the first time since 1992 after the Public Inquiry made it one of the conditions for granting the bridleway diversion. Assuming it would be done as predicted, it would not be cleared again until 2022.
2006 Nov letter KT to MC
Next time: to be continued.