The Battle for Broxhead Common
Gate on BW4 which seems to be permanently stuck in the sand, with part of the 80 acres beyond.
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 28
- It seems to me that during my long fight to restore the rights of common and access by the public to this open space, that I have inadvertently been led into a situation where the ‘said landowner’, English Nature and Hampshire County Council are not only unhelpful but hostile. Surely the last two of these are paid by the public to help and advise the taxpayers and certainly not to obstruct? However on:
- 7th February 2005 comes an objection letter from English Nature. They say: “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.”
2005 English Nature OBJECTION LETTER04022021 - We are now talking about the rest of the common land leased to Hampshire County Council, so it seemed to me that if this was the case, the designation of SSSI was completely out of step with the original registration as common land. So, in July 2005, I wrote to English Nature’s Chief Executive Dr Andy Brown.
- 18th August 2005, he replies saying he has been waiting to hear from Hampshire County Council, and: “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 - 9th November 2005 came a reply from an HCC Senior Solicitor confirming that Sec.15 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 applied and “for incidental use by the public for air and exercise’.
2005 EMAIL from HCC Senior Solicitor re terms of lease04022021_0001
Next time: The Regulatory Committee meets.