Mistakes made over commons plan  - Henley Standard 19th October 2009

A NEWSLETTER published by the Commons Conservators on plans to graze cattle on Kingwood Common has been attacked by residents.

It said that out of 59 people who attended the July consultation sessions, 27 people were in favour, 18 were against and 14 didn’t have a view on plans to fence in up to six cows on the common. At Monday’s meeting of Peppard Parish Council, it was revealed that the views of visitors were not recorded.

Terje Johansen, of Colmore Lane, told the council: “I have heard several times that there have been drop-in consultative meetings but the people there were not asked whether they were for or against it.

“In the newsletter that has been put through our letterbox it says there is a majority in favour. I find that incredible — there has been no democratic process.”

Nigel Wooding, who chairs the council’s commons committee, admitted that they had “made a mistake” in not noting the comments of visitors.


Meanwhile, Matt Jackson, of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, gave a presentation on the proposals and revealed that cows alone won’t be able to maintain the common.

He said: “We can’t ask the cows to cut out what we want them to. People will be needed to clear pathways.”

Councillor Geoff Pitcher said: “Grazing is not a complete solution as the majority of work has to be done by human beings.

“The fencing will cost about £30,000 and at the last meeting it was said the decision will be made by the secretary of state which will cost another £20,000. For that amount of money they could employ a lot of people to look after the commons over many years.”

Residents agree that the common needs to be maintained but many are against the fencing and the majority feel that putting cows on the common would be harmful to dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Mr Jackson said: “Grazing comes with the more controversial topic of fencing but there is no other way of keeping cattle where we want them. In the good old days there would be shepherding but we don’t have that any more.

“We have looked at the options but we would recommend fencing in as unobtrusive a way as possible to give minimal impact but there is no other way around it. I can see why people do get upset about it. Nobody wants to keep people off the commons, I want people there to enjoy them.

“There will be cows there and I know it can make some people nervous and put off some people with dogs but it will have a minimal impact as they will be there for only a short time of the year so we can keep the commons as commons.

“I don’t think that it will be as big an issue as people think it will. There is no denying that some people will be put off but it is only for a few months of the year. I walk my dog in fields with cattle in and I keep it on a lead.”

Mr Jackson said that cows would encourage people to visit the common.

He said: “In Wisely, children went out there to see the cows.”

Councillor Tony Cotton said: “You raise two important points — firstly, the aim of the commons project is to encourage people to use the commons but, secondly, you said it might stop people from using them.

“It does not make sense to have 3.3km of fencing and 23 gates for six cows — it will be obtrusive.

“If they could find a way not to have fencing then there would be wider support.” Mike King, of Colmore Lane, said: “An unsightly three-mile fence with ugly gates to enclose six cows for four months of the year is a nonsense.

“The common is mostly covered by bracken and brambles, neither of which is eaten by cows and there is so much of it that, even if they did eat it, there would be a need for many more than six, they are going to need 60.

“The footpaths on the common will not be kept open by the cows as they are unlikely to agree among themselves a rota for clearing footpaths as opposed to eating the grass in the glades.

“Mechanical clearing methods will still be required for the footpaths and mechanical methods can also be used in the glades.”

Nick Launders, who chairs the council, said: “The parish council, having considered a number of objections to the fencing, will support the continued management of the commons but we will ask the conservators to seek alternatives to the fencing.”


Published on 19 October 2009