The Battle for Broxhead Common
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 11
- It should be remembered that the unauthorised fencing obstructed some 23 tracks used by horse riders over Broxhead Common, as noted by Cllr. John Ellis to the 1965 Public Inquiry about Rights of Way.
Broxhead Correspondence 1980-90_0023
- We were advised by HCC, that if we were seen to be reasonable and not object to the Order, then there was a good chance of obtaining the missing link from the C102 to BW46, by upgrading FP54 to bridleway. This advice had been tested before during the 1970’s, when the landowner had applied and succeeded in getting the bridleway diverted because he could just about see it from his house! The advice had not worked then and would probably not work now, but we did not wish to be seen to be unreasonable. So, ignoring the continuing discontent from Headley Parish Council, in:
- 1987 another Order is made by Hampshire County Council to divert BW4 and BW46.
- Sadly, it did not include our missing link!
- Gillian Potter, BHS County Chair, wrote to Mr David Pryke, HCC Rights of Way Officer, pointing out that her predecessors Brigadier Eggar and Col. Archer-Shea had also been concerned about the need to rationalise the bridleways system in the area.
Gillian Potter to Pryke
- 7th February 1989, a reply came from Assistant county secretary, Edward Mason, sending her a copy of the Court of Appeal Order, and telling her the 80 acres is not common land!!?? This is misleading and false information.
Mason to Potter 1989
- 23rd March 1988, I wrote to Bill Bide explaining why I thought the missing link should be included.
HCC letter from me 198806092020
NEXT TIME: The report of the Principal Rights of Way Officer for HCC to the Public Inquiry which followed makes interesting reading.