Thorncombe Hill, one of the areas that will be sold off. Photo: Martin Bodman CC-BY-SA-2.0
The Ramblers have condemned the decision by a local authority to sell off parts of an area of outstanding natural beauty despite a 35,000-name petition against the move.
Somerset County Council confirmed the sale of 800ha (2,000 acres) of land in the Quantock Hills despite widespread local opposition.
The Ramblers said they were deeply concerned at the sale, and claimed the authority had not carried out an economic or recreational valuation of the land, which includes Thorncombe Hill, Great Wood and Customs Common.
The Ramblers said they were worried about continued access to the hills when they pass into private ownership. They also said the sale could be the start of a worrying trend of cash-strapped councils selling off their land.
Justin Cooke, Ramblers senior policy officer, said: “The Quantock Hills are a beautiful area much loved by walkers.
“Our fear is that if the land is sold off to a private individual, the level and quality of access could be severely reduced.
“Somerset County Council has owned the land for over 90 years. To sell it off now for short-term money saving is severely short-sighted, especially because they have not even investigated the recreational and economic benefits of the area of outstanding natural beauty.
“This historic and scenic setting should be kept open for the public benefit and for future generations to enjoy.
“We are hoping to work with other groups locally to continue to try and prevent any open market sales which may lead to a deduction in access and will press for greater protection of the outstanding recreational access and enjoyment that these sites currently provide.”
Council cabinet member David Huxtable told the Western Morning News: “It is protected as it is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and I stress that it is currently, and will remain in the future, fully protected and open to public access.
Much of the area in question is a designated open access area under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.
hughwestacott
17 February 2012I don't see that there is likely to be a problem with access if it is already protected under the CRoW Act.
sue thorne
18 February 2012Why yet more threats to sell off public access land?
We had the same threats a couple of years ago with the Forest of Dean area, this Government's cuts are too deep!
David Cameron keeps telling us that this Government is going to be the greenest ever. I don't think so. It says in the media that who ever buys the land will be bound by clause to maintain public access, I don't believe that for one second, when the sale goes through it will be gone forever, just look at what is suddenly happening with the public footpaths around Longleat, access to walkers/ cyclists etc suddenly stopped.
The Government keeps telling us to take more exercise as we are all obese and have Diabetes but then encourages local councils to sell off land to save money. This with the selling off of Council owned farms is just beyond all comprehension, especially as we should be growing more produce in the Country to cut down our Carbon Footprint, yet again something this so called green Government say we should be doing until it wants us to cut ever deeper into Rural ways of life/communities.