Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Yateley Common Management Committee Item 5

9 February 2005

Yateley Common Site Manager's Report - November 2004 to February 2005

Contact : Andy Davidson ( 01252 ) 874376

1. Introduction

1.1 The report outlines the work undertaken at Yateley Common in the period since the last meeting.

2. Fly-tipping

2.1 Several incidents of fly-tipping have occurred. There has been no particular pattern but has included a load of tyres on one occasion.

2.2 The area surrounding the Tin Church has been cleared of rubbish and Vicky Booth has finished the final clear up of the Vigo Lane gypsy invasion site.

3. The Tin Church

3.1 The Tin Church was purchased for the sum of £1 last year.

4. Flooding at the Pinch Point

4.1 The Highways Department has carried out work to clear a ditch running from the Pinch Point to Strood Pool.

5. Motorcycles

5.1 Whilst motorcycling is still a significant problem the greater level of communication with the local Police is showing benefits. The Police have responded to call outs and we are working to identify locals involved and identify vans which are being used to transport motorcycles to the site.

6. Dumped Cars

6.1 There have been several cars dumped on the common including one left in the Gas Main Pond. Entry has been gained several times by driving through the socket at the Heathlands Cemetery, tearing the socket out of the ground in the process. Work has been carried out to ensure that the socket will not be ripped out if driven at. This has been successful but the socket needs reinforcing to prevent further damage.

7. Byelaws and Signage

7.1 The new byelaws are still with the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Erection of the new signs will start during the spring of this year. This will include the current byelaws which will be replaced with the new when they come into force.

8. Rights-of-Way Review

8.1 The orders for the RoW review are currently with the Chief Executives Department. There is currently a backlog of such orders waiting to be made. It is hoped that these can be posted some time in the spring 2005.

9. Site Maintenance

9.1 Quotes have been received for re-grading several of the tracks on the common these will form the basis of a capital bid to carry out this work.

10. Felling License

10.1 We have been successful in gaining a felling licence as discussed at the last meeting and felling work on the West End this winter is nearing completion.

11. School Visits

11.1 A summary of use of the Common by schools and other organisations is displayed below.

11.2 In comparison with last year the figures of students using the site and its facilities has increased. These students are mainly from local schools; the figures last year included a significant number from schools outside of the Yateley Area.

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Schools	7	2	7	12	6
Other Organisations	1	1	2	8	7
Students Visiting Common	455	135	323	297	549
Students Attending Slide Talks/ School Visits	190	0	164	331	170
Total of students using facilities	645	135	487	628	719
Children Attending Summer Events	0	16	100	68	69

12. Volunteers

12.1 Volunteers have continued to be of great help to site staff. Yateley Society volunteers have carried out over 600 hours of voluntary time, helping to manage the site. Bracknell and Berkshire volunteers groups have been used on site and Camberley Rotaract held a scrub clearance day before Christmas. We are currently investigating the use of the Probation Service.

13. Archaeology on Yateley Common

13.1 Carol White, the archaeologist who conducted the successful work on Yateley Common, is seeking to carry out further work in 2005.

14. Walks

14.1 A program of walks is being scheduled on Yateley Common this year alongside of those scheduled for others sites which are managed by the Northern Area Team.

14.2 The site visit by this committee was unfortunately postponed last year due to inclement weather. We would like to invite the Committee to visit the site at a convenient time this spring.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. 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:

Published works.

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

4cR260105

Appendix

SPRING WORK PROGRAMME 2005

This programme is set out against the long term management objectives in the Yateley Common Country Park Executive Management Plan.

Encroachments

Opportunities to address encroachments will be taken as and when they arise.

Protect site from development pressures on adjacent land

Ongoing monitoring of planning applications and responding to the appropriate authorities when necessary

Minimise illegal activities

Signage to be erected including byelaws

Review Rights of Way Network

The process of resolving these issues is ongoing.

Manage paths

Work will be carried out to manage paths and bridleways

Provide education service

All requests for educational visits will be accommodated where staff time allows.

School packs to be revised and distributed to school. Summer activities will be planned.

Remove eyesores

Clearance will occur as and when needed.

Protect archaeological features

Liaise with County Archaeologist and Carol White in preparation for proposed investigation spring/summer 2005

Create/maintain populations of important species

No activities proposed in this period

Restore heathland from scrub and secondary woodland

THH work to be completed

Remove low quality woodland and scrub habitats on the west end of the Common

Approximately 5Ha of scrub and woodland cleared for heathland restoration or placed into scrub cycle.

Improve quality of heathland habitats

Removal of 1.2 Ha of gorse and scrub from adjacent to Heathlands Cemetery.

Improve quality of grassland habitats