Says Mike Coates, RSPB Farnham Heath Project Manager

The RSPB has purchased the formerly Timpany owned land at Hazeley Heath.

I noted that on “Horseytalk” there was some concern as to how this would impact the bridleway dedication package that had been agreed between the Timpanys and Hampshire County Council.

The short answer is – it won’t.

The access package was discussed with both the Timpanys and HCC during the purchase negotiations, and we were happy to purchase the site on the understanding that the package would go ahead. I hope this will help to reassure riders in the Hazeley area.

Please feel free to get in touch if I can be of any further help.

Maureen Comber replies to Mike Coates

"I am afraid I and other horse riders need to understand and know much more about the situation than we presently do before we can be assured of anything."

Says Maureen Comber

I think the problem may be that as you say an agreement has been reached between Timpanys and HCC. Just what that agreement is or how it came to be reached is information to which I am not privy, so perhaps you can enlighten me as the BHS Hants County Bridleways Access Officer.

The problem from the horse riders point of view is that the character of the land is significantly altered by fencing which is totally against HLF guidance. The nature of this change is detrimental to horse riders in that they are obstructed from entering the common at any point. Also they would in future have to negotiate gates which are often a difficulty from horseback especially for disabled or elderly riders.

Are local horseriders happy with a dedicated bridleway and will it inhibit their right of access to the whole of the common?

Have the commoners been consulted initially and given their approval for any proposed management schemes?

I think you can see that there is a shortage of communication here which is not helpful to anyone. Common land by its very nature has been accessible to horse riders since time immemorial and these days is more important than ever before, in providing 'air and exercise' away from the dangers experienced on our very busy roads.

In addition £90+ million pounds was spent on 'Open Access' under CROW and millions more on promoting cycling and the provision of cycle paths, while at the same time, despite continual representation of the needs for the safety and enjoyment of horse riders, precisely nothing has been done to join up the very fragmented bridleway network or increase access to the countryside, in order to meet those needs.

I am afraid I and other horse riders need to understand and know much more about the situation than we presently do before we can be assured of anything.

I hope you will be able to inform me especially if any future management plans include the displacement of any rights of access normally expected by horse riders.

Tony Barnett writes to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which provided the finance to enable the RSPB to purchase Hazeley Common.......

"AS HAZELEY COMMON IS NOT OF FREEHOLD OR COPYHOLD STATUS, AND THEREFORE CONVEYANCE, GRANTS OF EASEMENT OR DEEDS OF GRANT CAN BE MADE, WHAT WAS DISCLOSED TO YOURSELVES, WHICH CAUSED YOU TO MAKE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE?."

Says Tony Barnett

A STATEMENT FROM THE RSPB IS THAT £859,900 WAS OBTAINED FROM HLF.

STATEMENTS CIRCULATING FROM WITHIN THAT ORGANISATION IS THAT A PURCHASE HAS BEEN EFFECTED, THE STATEMENT FROM YOURSELVES IS THAT THE FUNDING WAS FOR "ACQUISITION" AND THAT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN "TIMPANY" AND HCC AND THE RSPB TOOK PLACE.

AS HAZELEY COMMON IS NOT OF FREEHOLD OR COPYHOLD STATUS, AND THEREFORE CONVEYANCE, GRANTS OF EASEMENT OR DEEDS OF GRANT CAN BE MADE, WHAT WAS DISCLOSED TO YOURSELVES, WHICH CAUSED YOU TO MAKE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE?.

AS OF YET NO APPLICATION HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE IN PURSUANCE OF CONSENT TO CARRY OUT THE AGENDA-S TO WHICH THE FUNDING WAS APPLIED FOR, AND WITH OUT LAWFUL CONSENT, THE WORKS/AGENDAS WILL NOT AND CANNOT TAKE PLACE.

HCC HAVE STATED THAT NO OWNERSHIP OF ANY PART OF THE COMMON LAND IS OWNED BY THEM WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE STATEMENT FROM RSPB.

Steve Yandall comments on the HLF and the purchase of Hazeley Common by the RSPB

"HLF in the past, has dropped contractual clauses that as a consequence removed the obligation to seek public approval and make allowances for the disabled"

Says Steve Yandall

HLF is actively involved in supporting the 'false' nature promoted by NE and its fellow travellers with an inordinate amount of funding being given to natural suspension(thus demanding the ongoing control of nature) with little or nothing going to natural succession.The former contributes to global degradation and is unsustainable.The latter reinstates natural balance and is truly sustainable but removes 'industrial conservation'-one of the World's fastest growing industries.

In my knowledge HLF,in the past,has dropped contractual clauses that as a consequence removed the obligation to seek public approval and make allowances for the disabled(source VERITA).

It is a funding protocol to deny funds for unlawful use.Despite NE being unlawful on multiple occasions in W.Penwith HLF would not honour that protocol thus Disability Discrimination was supported with HLF funds!!!Thus HLF funds supported covering up the fraud that was ESA without ensuring that a repeat of ESA was avoided!!!Thus HLF deny our greatest heritage---the law.

Tony Barnett writes to the RSPB

I REQUIRE COPIES OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, COPY OF THE TITLE DEEDS AND CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT TO GETHER WITH THE LAND REGISTRY TITLE

Says Tony Barnett

I REQUIRE COPIES OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, COPY OF THE TITLE DEEDS AND CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT TO GETHER WITH THE LAND REGISTRY TITLE TO SHOW LAWFUL OWNERSHIP OF HAZELEY COMMON IS HELD BY YOUR ORGANISATION.THE RSPB.