RESIDENTS are calling for a public inquiry into plans to graze cattle on Kingwood Common.
It follows the decision by the Commons Conservators to submit the proposal to the secretary of state for approval.
The group wants 25 hectares of land to be fenced so six cows can graze there for six to eight weeks from both March to May and September to November to encourage heathland. The fence would be more than 2km long with 14 gates.
The conservators, who are supported by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, have rejected a call for a poll of parishioners following residents’ criticism that the scheme would spoil the common for dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Terje Johnasen, of Colmore Lane, called for a public inquiry into the decision to seek approval for the plans, saying: “At no point did a consultative process take place. Alternative plans were never considered or presented to the users of the common as being viable.
“The 2006 Commons Act says the national authority should show regard for the interests of the neighbourhood and the public interest. I believe that this has not been done. There has not been due process.
“What the conservators should have done is conduct a comprehensive household survey in order to find out what we think about the present state of the common, how we use it and how often and how we would like it to look in the future.” Peppard parish councillor Tony Cotton said he was “extremely disappointed” the conservators had not understood a resolution passed by the parish council in October saying it supported the continued management of the common but asking them to seek alternatives to the fencing.
“They have not looked at any other alternative since 1999,” he said. “I thought they would understand the strength of opinion but they have just ignored it.”
In October, the conservators said that out of 59 people who attended public drop-in sessions in July, 27 people were in favour, 18 were against and 14 didn’t have a view. But they admitted the views of visitors were not recorded.
Nigel Wooding, a parish councillor and conservator, denied that opponents of the plans had been ignored.
He said: “We have taken on board the vote taken by the parish council and comments made by some residents that the area to be fenced is too large.
“We are now proposing a noticeable reduction in area as well as considering whether some lengths of fence might be removable when the cattle are not present.
“The fence line has been moved further into the common to reduce its impact. Simple ‘squeeze-points’ are also being considered to give access at less-used locations in response to the comments made about the cost of the number of gates.
“This is a hugely important conservation project to protect our precious common land and, in particular, the rare lowland heathland. The solution needs to be sustainable and the conservators believe the grazing project will deliver this with significantly reduced mechanical intervention.”
The draft application will be sent to the Planning Inspectorate, which will seek views from all interested parties before a final decision is made.
Published on 31 December 2009
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