Wildlife group ‘dismayed’ by footpath plan for common
Maidenhead: Wildlife group ‘dismayed’ by plan that allows walkers
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The council has released a ‘masterplan’ for Battlemead Common. Proposals include a new footpath through the East Field.
A ‘masterplan’ for Battlemead Common has been updated by the council – but a wildlife group has said it is ‘dismayed’ by the proposals.
The 110 acres of land between Cookham and Maidenhead were purchased by the Royal Borough in 2018.
An original plan for the land, off Lower Cookham Road, was created earlier this year after consultation.
The updated scheme – called The Ecological Management Plan – includes measures to ‘enhance wildlife’ while ‘giving greater public access’.
Included is a new public footpath in the East Field with a dogproof fence and hedgerow separating it from the field, which is home to rare wildlife.
Other changes include the causeway path, which also runs through the East Field, opening during the warmer months from March to October. It will be closed from October to March to prevent disturbance of wildfowl.
Dogs will be allowed off the lead year-round in the West Field – but in all other areas that are open to the public they will need to be kept on a lead.
The Willow Woodland area in the southern part of the common will remain closed to the public.
The plan has been prepared by Austin Foot Ecology and will be reviewed after one year.
Battlemead Common has been at the centre of a number of disagreements about public access and ecological benefits.
Chairman of nature group WildCookham
Mike Copland said: “We are very annoyed, we are dismayed.
“We have never said there should be no public access. All we have said is this is a prized piece of land.
“It is an amazing opportunity, which not many councils would have, to take land over which there are no public rights. Let’s look at how we can use that to maximise the biodiversity.
“We are quite dismayed as to what led them to make this rather ignorant decision.
“We are seeking meetings with the council to get this delayed. We are looking at all aspects of that, including legal possibilities. [But] we don’t want to do that.”
Cllr Donna Stimson, the council’s lead member for climate change and countryside, told the Advertiser: “I just believe in fair process. We have been thinking about this long and hard.
“What we decided was to [talk to] Austen Foot and say to them: ‘we are at an impasse, we want to have biodiversity net gain, but we want compliance with the rules’.
“I know [some people] are upset about this, but I believe you are more likely to get compliance. We have already lost three or four birds to dogs who have been [on the land] without permission.
“You can have some of it [the land], and we are making it more secure.”
She added: “We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful habitat like this on our doorstep.
“We must do all we can to preserve and enhance the wildlife that occupy it, while also allowing residents to enjoy the area.”
Dog walker Oliver Sharpe, who heads up the Facebook group ‘Battlemead Common – Our Dogs View’, was satisfied.
He said: “It seems like [the council] has been really fair and have listened.”
Asked about whether he was happy about dogs being on leads in public areas outside of the West Field, he added: “It is not ideal, but you know what, it is a compromise.”
In a document seen by the Advertiser, the council intends to install the additional fencing and gates in East Field, including along the causeway, in late July or early August.
The additional permitted footpaths will be opened to the public later in August.