Local step up woodlands fight (From Free Press Series)

Local step up woodlands fight

OBJECTORS are calling on Monmouthshire County Council to impose a blanket ban on woods being sold to developers across the area.

Last week residents of a Wye Valley community held a public meeting at Catbrook Village Hall to mount a concerted campaign to protect Ninewells woods being sub-divided into separate plots for sale on the internet.

Around 150 people attended the meeting organised by concerned residents who formed a committee to study the developers proposals.

The meeting was also told that woods at Cross Ash and an area north of Monmouth on the A40 had already been sold and sub divided by the developers.

Roger Evans a local resident and former MP suggested that the local authority has the powers to implement a scheme which overrides the principal of permitted development rights so as to halt the subdivision of the woods.

He said: "As we've just heard its not only Ninewells Woods that is under threat as many other woodlands throughout the county are also in danger."

The sale of the plots allows purchasers under current planning law that they can place a caravan and a shipping container onto their plot of woodland.

Buyers could also use the plots for parties and celebrations and light bonfires on them and fell a limited number of trees in a year.

MP Huw Edwards said: "A similar matter has already been raised in parliament over the sale and sub division of agricultural land.

"We have taken steps in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act to introduce a measure to help speed up enforcement following a breach of planning control which will enable the local authority to issue a temporary stop notice without having first to serve an enforcement notice."

Despite the Ninewells Woods being within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, they are not protected by legislation.

David Davies AM said: "Although subdividing plots of agricultural land or woodland does not breach any planning regulations at present, in cases like this where people are being sold the land for recreational purposes perhaps the vendor should have to make a "change of use" planning application.

"Lots of people over a smallish area each cutting down trees, lighting bonfires and putting in shipping containers and caravans is clearly not desirable. That is why I believe we are right to be concerned.

"I feel we should support Mr Evans suggestion that the Council should investigate passing a direction which would suspend all permitted development rights within the wider area."

John Brown has lived in the Ninewells wood for many years and he said: "We manage our part of the woods so as to conserve the natural wildlife and I would hope that local people's love of the woodland will help us save it for the future.

"If we do nothing we only have ourselves to blame. We need to stress in writing our concerns to ensure that Monmouthshire County Council imposes the necessary legislation to stop our woods from being destroyed by development.