Hampshire County Council

Yateley Common Management Committee Item 4

13 February, 2007

Yateley Common Site Management Report - November, 2006 - January, 2007

Contact: Nicki Paton - 01252 870425

1. Introduction

1.1 This report outlines the work undertaken at Yateley Common since the last meeting.

2. Fly Tipping

2.1 Fly tipping is continuing on the Common. There has been a mixed assortment including large amounts of builder's soil and rubble, bags of garden waste and numerous tyres. During December fly tipping at the Gravel Pit car park revealed an office clearance from Romans Estate Agents in Camberley. The sub contractor who was given the clearance job has been tracked down and asked to pay the costs of clearing the rubbish.

3. Dumped vehicles

3.1 There were three abandoned vehicles between October and February; a stolen BMW, a motorbike and a caravan. The Police were not interested in pursuing the owners of the vehicles.

4. Motorbikes

4.1 Motorbike activity has remained constant over the last few months, although much quieter during December and January. The West End of the Common by the airfield is still proving to be the `hotspot'.

5. Byelaws and Signage

5.1 More D-boards have been installed around the Common with just three more to install. The leaflet has been progressed and should be completed before the summer months. An outside company `3 Men and a Suit' have been commissioned to produce all site leaflets for the Countryside Service. The site map boards have been progressed and we are hoping to have the artwork completed by the end of March. Again, the map boards should be in place before the summer.

6. Rights of Way

6.1 Bridleway 28 across the East End has now been cleared right through. Part of Bridleway 30 behind Strood Pool has also been cut through. Both these paths were done with the help of volunteers. As the work to implement this Rights of Way (RoW) review is nearing completion, preliminary work is being carried out to review the RoW on the remainder of the Country Park.

7. Site Maintenance

7.1 The focus of scrub clearance has been Brandy Bottom. This has predominantly been carried out by Mick Young, local volunteer, Yateley Society volunteers and Community Service. Scrub and trees have also been removed from the West End. Gill & Punter Racing Supplies have cleared a great deal of birch scrub from the central Common and West End.

7.2 Various areas have been extensively litter picked including the `Tin Church' area by Darby Green Lane and the large den by the Blackbushe Business Park.

7.3 Dragons' teeth have been installed alongside the bank at the Inner Gravel Pit car park and more have been added to the green in front of the Cricket Hill Lane cottages.

7.4 The Cricketers Green was cut in November.

7.5 Contractors capped the 10 ft `hole' discovered on the West End. Highways contractors repaired the exposed sewage pipe on Cricket Hill Lane.

7.6 A capital bid for funds for track work was submitted. We successfully received £1,600 to cover emergency works to picnic areas. Funds to maintain the remaining track network was bid for, but was unsuccessful.

8. Water Levels

8.1 At present the water levels in all the ponds is good. Whether we will be able to use Strood Pool for pond dipping this season remains to be seen.

8.2 The wet weather has caused some problems with localised flooding on the Common. All problem ditches have been looked at and cleared.

9. Access to Blackbushe Metals

9.1 An agreement has been reached between the County Council and Sims Metal regarding access arrangement s to the metal recycling plant. If planning consent is gained, a new access route will be opened through woodland to the south west of the site. Sims Metal has relinquished all rights to the concreted route to the north, off Dungells Lane. The southern end will be relinquished on construction of the new route. Blackbushe Metals Liaison Panel welcomed this plan.

10. Wyndhams Pool

10.1 Fishing re-opened on the pond in December. The Environment Agency tested the water for Blue-green algae and although still present it was below the `toxic threshold'. We are investigating the use of barley straw to reduce this problem next season.

10.2 A capital bid for funds to restore the dam wall was unsuccessful. At this stage vegetation clearance and investigative works are planned only. Mr. Allen is dealing with this issue.

11. Volunteers

11.1 Our numbers in volunteers have been increasing and from a variety of backgrounds. Mick Young and Roger Harris are still proving to be invaluable to our work. We have also been approached by Turning Point and Employability, schemes aiming to integrate people with learning disabilities into paid employment. At present we have two people working with us for a day a week. We are also still in close contact with Rushmoor Volunteer Services regarding other placements.

11.2 Yateley Society Conservation Volunteers continue to offer their support. As do Berkshire Conservation Volunteers.

12. Events and Education

12.1 There have been two walks on the Common; Winter Tree ID and Garden Birds. Both were very well attended with over 20 people at each.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report be noted.

4cR110207