The Battle for Broxhead Common
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 16
- Until the year 2000, Hampshire County Council had an arrangement that made East Hampshire District Council responsible for Rights of Way in the District. So, I wrote to the Leader of the District Council Barry Hopcroft. His reply came on:
- 2nd May 1990. In which he says, ‘bridleways on the common have been something of a problem since the landowner fenced parts of it.’
1990 Hopcroft Leader EHDC letter to MC23082020
- 24th May 1990, I wrote to Sir James Scott, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, again asking how we could maintain our rights in law when the Authority who should enforce it refuses to do so?
MC to Sir James Scott May 1990
- This of course was the nub of the problem. In not abiding by the Schedule to the dismissal of the case from the Court of appeal Hampshire County Council were not only in contempt of court but promoting misleading and false information. When a significant County Council such as Hampshire make a mistake and keep repeating it, other government bodies will tend to accept it, especially when the waters have been so cleverly muddied.
- 7th November 1990, the incoming County Bridleways Access Officer for the BHS, Mrs Grace Ritchie wrote to HCC’s David Pryke
Grace Ritchie to David Pryke
Next time: HCC had ignored and broken the law in more ways than one and have incriminated themselves yet again.