We, the residents
of this retirement complex along with other homes in the area have for
the last few weeks been fighting against the local council building a
mountain bike park track in the conservation area that runs at the
bottom of the gardens of my flat.This is a beautiful wooded area that leads on down to the sea and up onto the hills and paths along the shore. It's very famous here in Hampshire and Dorset and is used for walkers, family biking, and the locals to walk their dogs.
Chewton Bunny - Site of Nature Conservation Interest
Chewton Bunny is an ancient wooded river valley which forms the county boundary between Dorset and Hampshire. The Walkford Brook flows through the site, entering a culvert and eventually flowing out to sea.
A bunny is a local name of unknown origin, for such a valley (equivalent to a Chine in Dorset or Glen in Scotland). The site is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and is rich in woodland wildlife, including a number of Ancient Natural Woodland Indicator species. The mill house in the centre of the site (now a private residence) previously used a waterwheel in the Brook to mill grain and the cover given by the site made it a convenient smuggling route for contraband in the past. At the north end of the site the Brook also passes under the first ever reinforced concrete bridge.
The council from the beginning were very crafty about getting this through without those of us that live here finding out about it until all the red tape had gone through and planning permission granted. Baring in mind it would have been the council giving council permission to build it.
By law they were required to notify all within a certain radius of the area which they didn't do, although when the news hit the papers due to us informing them, the council stated they had delivered leaflets to all homes. An absolute lie.
We all found out by accident when one of the residents spotted a notice posted by the council to a single tree inside the wooded area. On spotting this we only had a very short time by then to set up a protest. One lady got in touch with the local paper and I got in touch with the local radio. Others went around with a petition. Along with us all then sending in the official protest forms (which a resident had to go collect from the council) and separately written letters.
On the council receiving almost 200 protests they then did another crafty move. One of the younger councilors set up a facebook page to drum up letters and petitions of agreement to the Bike Park from anyone and everyone regardless of where in the 2 counties they lived, in the hopes that it would out weigh the protest letters.
By the beginning of this week over 700 letters of protest against the park had been received by the council and a meeting had been set up in the local church hall between us and the council for February 14th to discuss the matter. I was very doubtful though that our voices would actually stop this destruction of Chewton Bunny though.
However. Great news was received yesterday. It seems that it has been Hampshire County Council that have come to our rescue.
Before they moved the borders of the boundry between Hampshire and Dorset, the whole of this area came under Hampshire. Moving the borders took the border right through Chewton Bunny. Which means that much of the park would still be in Hampshire.
On Hampshire Council finding out about the Bike Park, they put their own block on the building of it. Even going so far as to threaten Dorset Council with a court order. The word is now that because of this the bike park has been put on hold indefinitely.
The damage that would have had to have been done to the area for the park doesn't bear thinking about. Not only the wooded area but also the cliff walks and hill would have been torn to pieces. All this in a small Village where over 80% of the population are retirees.
How it would have affected me personally: On looking out of my windows I actually look down into the wooded area of Chewton Bunny. The Bunny starts less than 30 yards away from my building. I would never have been able to open my windows without hearing mountain bikers war whooping it up and down. Because part of the plan was to also bring a path directly from the Bunny into the grounds of our complex, we would have the teens on their bikes racing through here as well. The whole reason for me moving to this particular village/town was for peace and quiet on retirement.
How on earth the council ever in their right minds dreamed that Chewton Bunny would be a suitable area for this bike park I simply don't know.
Last edited by: Zandranna 02/15/12 16:46:19.
Edited 2 times.
Comments
Posted: 02/13/12 21:28:37
Posted: 02/14/12 03:31:50
Posted: 02/15/12 16:44:56
Posted: 02/17/12 07:08:45
When you say "mountain bikes" -- are they with engines -- like motorcycles?
Posted: 02/18/12 06:01:53
Either way that particular area is a ridiculous choice for that sort of thing. One doesn't encourage noisy teenagers to come from far and wide to a village that is virtually all retired folk and on top of that totally ruin a conservation area just to do so.
The thing is, that the government have ordered Dorset to build somewhere for kids to play, 280 new homes, and also a gypsy caravan site.
Now I also know that they have chosen the spot of the gypsy site right in the centre of the biggest town here of Bournemouth. They are meant to be putting it somewhere rural where the gypsies would feel comfortable. But no. The idiots have chosen the town centre. Well, of course all the shops in that area are up in arms about it and are also fighting that. The main road for shop deliveries will be blocked with the comings and goings of the caravans, and I myself have had a great deal of experience with gypsies setting up near shops with their kids stealing.
The only reason I was able to stop them all from stealing from my cinema kiosk was to go over to them and tell them that I wasn't going to put up with it. They shook hands with me (after the ritual of spitting in the palm) and said that it wasn't their way to steal from one of their own, so they wouldn't come into the cinema anymore.
I have no idea where the council are planning to build the 280 homes though.
Posted: 03/11/12 11:41:54
Posted: 03/11/12 15:32:02