The Battle for Broxhead Common
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 32
- 9th August 2007, I email the Leader of Hampshire County Council asking him to restore the rights of ‘air and exercise’ to horse riders without delay. I am hoping that my recent election to the District Council for the Parish of Selborne, my position as the District Access Officer for The British Horse Society and a Trustee of same will count for something.
2007 MC to KT email 9.8.07 10022021 - 12th September 2007, is the date of his reply in which he says he thinks ‘that it would be the right time to review with the landowner the possibilities for allowing permissive access for riders.” !?
2007 KT to MC email 12.9.0710022021 - 17th September 2007. I reply asking for four points of clarification.
2007 MC to KT email 17.9.0710022021- ‘Air and exercise for horse riders already exists under the terms of the lease.
- The right to ride over the common land already exists
- The Planning Inspector has already stated that he “considers horse riders using the land in question would not necessarily constitute a nuisance, annoyance or damage to the landlord or his property.”
- DEFRA and Natural England say conservation is not an issue.
- 10th October 2007, the reply says that the Inspector’s view is not binding and again raises conservation matters!
2007 KT to MC email 10.10.0710022021 - 15th October 2007, the date of my reply, reminding them the original lease was drawn up between the County Council and the landowner, after local commoners won their case in the High Court for the removal of the fencing of 80 acres of ‘the most valuable and scarce wildlife habitat.’
2007 MC to KT email 15.10.0710022021 - 1st November 2007. The reply says my points ‘have been noted and will be taken into account.” This proved to be yet another unfulfilled promise. Nothing changed.
2007 KT to MC email 1.11.0710022021
Next time: My next and final claim for a bridleway between BW54 and Cradle Lane has been taken up for research.