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save penwith moors
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3:10 pm
July 1, 2009


marhak

Member

posts 6957
1

I'm reposting this thread, as it seems to have been airbrushed off the C24 Discussion site.  I hope this isn't connected with The Cornishman's refusal to print the last three reports we've given them (one more refusal will be a Press Complaints Commssion job, especially as they're falling over themselves to publicise "aren't we great" articles from the National Trust.


On Saturday 20th June, a very valuable horse was seriously injured by a new and poorly installed bridle gate off Trewellard hill.  This gate – where no gate has ever been before – is part of Natural "England's" disastrous Heath Project, with its grazing programme.  The state of this gate was reported to NE 5 weeks previous to the accident (incident) and, in spite of written assurances that such concerns would be immediately addressed, not a thing was done to correct it.


A razor-sharp projecting catch ripped the horse's foreleg right open.  Quite understandably (and do bear in mind that the horse in question is a calm, collected and biddable character), it reared with pain, pitching the lady rider onto rocks.  Luckily she got away with severe bruising.   The horse is out of action for several months, having had a good many stitches.  The scar is likely to be visible for all time, taking several thousand pounds off its value, on top of the very hefty vet's bill. Photographic evidence was taken at the scene, of the gate and the injury, as well as the blood-soaked ground.


This one will run.  Someone will have to pay for this, and Natural "England" – who were warned months ago that incidents like this would occur and also failed to deliver on their assurances – will be the ones to pay.


This isn't the first incident involving horses and riders who have every right to ride these moors unhindered (we've been doing it for a damn sight more than the 20 years giving us those rights under Section 31 of the Highways Act, and several decades longer than the presence of the external officials who are now trying to dictate to us about land they do not own).  However, it is the most serious one, so far.  Early in the year, on what had previously been a safe path, one rider and her horse got bogged down – the bog having been created by NE works.  Another rider, just half a mile from home, had to take a 2-mile detour because Kenny Trembath's longhorn cattle were clustered around the new bridle gate leading off the moor and wouldn't move.  The rider had decided against pushing through the cattle, because their headgear would have ripped the horse's flank open, even without any aggression.  My horse, who normally isn't bothered by anything, now won't go near these these gates because he's been frightened by the gravity return which whipped the gate back on him.


There are now very few riders, or even walkers, to be seen on the moor around Carn Kenidjack, not only deterred by the fences, gates and cattle with fearsome headgear, but by signs deliberately designed to frighten.  This is a Right to Roam area where the public's rights are being deliberately deterred.


This morning, Ian Cooke and I met with the professional archaeologists who had originally said that grazing would be good for the ancient sites.  Now, they are realising that serious problems are arising.  Natural "England" and the National Trust, recipients of European and Heritage Lottery money, refuse to take notice of anyone.


I remain convinced that another agenda is being practised: one that involves state-sponsored enclosure of open land.  We are not being deliberately obstructive.  We foresaw – and forewarned of all these problems.  We believe that it is unworkable and ill-informed.  We want an extension of the highly successful (for all parties) ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) scheme, which benefitted this landscape and all who use it for 25 years.

12:03 am
July 2, 2009


marhak

Member

posts 6957
2

Several times over the last couple of months, I have asked Natural "England" for disclosure of the Risk Assessment that I consider essential before any cattle were turned out onto an Area of public open access.  Several times, I was ignored but longhorned cattle were still turned out onto the moor around Carn Kenidjack.


Natural "England" have made themselves unavailable by e-mail so, in the end I rang them up.  Risk Assessments are not required, they told me, but we have a document  – issued by Natural "England" themselves – that specifically requires their selected farmers to produce a Risk Assessment before any cattle are turned out onto the moors.  Lies and more lies.

Same from Planning Enforcement.  8 months ago, at least two of us submitted complaints alleging unauthorised engineering works by the National Trust along the southern boundaries of their Carn Galva holding.  We bore in mind that modest garden ponds have been enforced against by Planning in the past and the NT works involved massive ditch-digging using two mechanical excavators – about 2 kilometres in overall length.  Rather bigger than any garden pond.

Enforcement stated that a report had been prepared for presentation to the February Planning Committee.  It wasn't.  Later, they claimed that a verbal report had been given to the Committee – except that none of the Committee members or the then Committee Clerk seem to have any knowledge of it (copies of the Minutes have been requested).  Eight months after the initial complaint, it transpires that no such report is on file and the Enforcement Officer has now considered there has been no breach of planning control! And closed the file.  Yet more lies.

Did either complainant get that info from the Enforcement Officer?  No, from the Rural Economy Oficer.  The Planning Enforcement Officer has not bothered with the courtesy of informing the complainants, as he is obliged to do.  I have e-mailed him, last week and this week, asking for an explanation of all the above.  No response whatsoever.  It is now an Ombudsman job.

Would this, I wonder, have anything to do with the fact that the Council is a named partner in the HEATH Project and, therefore, bears some responsibility for what has happened?  Or is it simply treating the National Trust as being above the law?

No one appears to be accountable for the biggest disasters to hit the Penwith Moors for 30 years.  The NT heirarchy are covering the Area Property Manager's backside, closely supported by the Council and Natural "England".

The Heathland Forum is to hold a series of site visits next Tuesday, this being fixed at the last forum over a month ago.  The NE representative decides at the last minute that he can't make it – which makes the entire thing pointless.  It's him we have to convince.  I have insisted that we visit Sancreed Beacon, where 12 years of grazing instigated by Natural "England" and Mad Mike Rosendale has not reduced the overall vegetation cover one jot – in other words, an abject failure that proves that the external "experts" are peddling an utter myth.  At massive public expense, with severe detriment to the rights of people to roam the moor without let, hindrance or undue danger; and putting the well-being of the moors, with the habitats and archaeology they contain in considerable jeopardy.

10:28 am
July 2, 2009


truru

C24 Regular

posts 444
3

Have you seen whether or not the press would be interested?

Kernowek yw namoy nakevys gen pobel yonk.

5:48 pm
July 2, 2009


marhak

Member

posts 6957
4

'The Cornishman' (sic) has failed to print any of our last three press releases but falls over itself to act as PR for the National Trust.  One more failure, or piece of favouritism, and we'll be off to the Press Complaints Commission.  There is Alex Pitt, a freelance hack who, last autumn put a very good piece in The Guardian for us.

I want to put a mass demonstration together, perhaps at the end of the summer at a site to be announced.  As many horse riders, walkers (solo, with dogs and with children) to walk every path on the area of moor in mind in order to reinforce our historic rights.  That's in the early planning stage, with Press and TV being invited.  There are other ideas being formulated as well.  NE/NT want to wear us out.  They won't succeed.  They've seen nothing yet.

By the way, just had a chat with a policeman who is disgusted with the behaviour and sharp practice of both Natural "England" and the National DisTrust.
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