Hampshire County Council

Yateley Management Committee Item 3

14 October, 2003

Yateley Common Country Park - Site Manager's Report July to September, 2003

Contact: Andy Davison. (01252) 870425

1 Introduction

The report outline the work undertaken in the period since the last meeting.

2 Conservation

2.1 The felling for final year of the current Countryside Stewardship agreement which was started in March was completed by the end of September.

3 Byelaws

3.1 Signs of the current Byelaws are on order with the County Sign Shop and will be posted as soon as possible.

3.2 Yateley Common is being used as a pilot for a review of byelaws on HCC Countryside land holdings. A meeting was held with the Chief Executive to select the relevant new byelaws. A draft of the new byelaws will be put forward to the Secretary of State for the Environment. As this is an new process for us a definite time scale cannot be given for completion.

4 Review of Rights of Way

4.1 The review of the Rights of Way on part of Yateley Common is progressing and comments have been received after the review maps were posted on site. Sally Plummer the officer dealing with the review is going on secondment and the file is being passed onto her line manager, Alex Lewis. It is hoped that it will be considered by the Regulatory Committee in November, otherwise at its next meeting on January 7^th 2004.

5 Illegal Occupation of the Common

5.1 The major incident to happen since the last meeting is the invasion by gypsies. The initial part of six vans entered the West End from the A30. These were given a Seven Day Notice and left the site. The second group of travellers cut through the bank north of Vigo Lane. This group has not complied with the Notice and they have stated they intend to sit it out until the courts evict them.

5.2 The County Council are seeking to place an order on the whole of Yateley Common prohibiting their return. The length of time this takes is dependant on the availability of court dates. A similar recent case where a court date was requested at the end of July has been given a court date in October.

5.3 It is difficult to describe the amount of rubbish left of the West End, and it looks like the area between Vigo Lane and Cricket Hill is receiving the same treatment. Site staff have started the cleanup of the West End, having already spent over 30 hours in the process.

5.4 This clean up will take up considerable time and resources. The huge amount of cut brush left on the West End will be burnt on site once there has been a significant rainfall in order to reduce the risk of fire to the heath.

6 Other Items

6.1 A meeting was held with Inspector Weston at Yateley Police Station in July concerning motorbikes on Yateley Common. Whilst sympathetic, Inspector Weston stated that they are severely under-resourced. He did however offer the services of special constables to patrol with the site staff, should we chose to operate a blitz on a specific date. We will also endeavour to work more closely in our approach to motorbikes.

6.2 A fire was started here and at another site south of Heathlands Cemetery in September. The Yateley Fire crew were called out on two other occasions to damp down smouldering leaf-litter at these sites. A further 6 fires were started along this same section of path in the following two weeks.

6.3 Several incidents of fly-tipping have occurred including a load of car bumpers, some of which were removed by local car owners for use on their own cars.

6.4 A self-guided heathland trail is being trialled with a view to developing this with an information leaflet. An artist is to be commissioned to start work on the map for the new map-board for Yateley Common.

6.5 Carol White, the archaeologist investigating features on Yateley Common, has had some success. Carol found worked flints from the middle stone age north of the Ely public house and east of Wyndhams Pool. She has also investigated a mound south of the Heathlands Cemetery. Whilst she is unable to definitely identify it she believes it to be an ancient feature. She intends to carry out further work here.

6.6 The summer children's events were held again this summer and whilst they again proved popular, numbers were slightly down on last year.

6.7 Thirty railway sleepers were ordered and delivered for use in work on Strood Pool, our pond dipping area. After these were delivered the use of creosote was banned and we have been given advice that these sleepers, which are treated with creosote, cannot be used in water. We can use these in other areas, such as footbridges, but we have to use other timber which has delayed this project somewhat.

6.8 The Floating Pennywort which has infested Wyndham's Pool has regrown. This was due to be treated this autumn but other pressures has meant that this work has been put back. It may not be possible to get this treated before the frosts kill it off for the winter.

6.9 The old brick sub-station building by the Old Ely has proved to be a problem, being used for rough sleeping and with associated rubbish. Whilst considering how to get rid of this structure it occurred to us that it could possible be converted for use as a bat roost. Paul Hope, who is a bat specialist, works as a ranger on the Basingstoke Canal. He has been contacted to see if this is feasible.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report be noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclosure exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

4cR501003