Inspector orders landowner to remove tons of tipped soil

8:38am Friday 9th May 2008

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A COPYTHORNE landowner has been ordered to remove thousands of tons of spoil tipped onto his land.

The dumping of soil and waste on land off Pollards Moor Road at Copythorne took place in 2006 and the New Forest National Park Authority issued an order in December of that year for it to be removed and the land restored to its original state.

It also put a block on any further importation of materials and for the watercourse, which ran into the Cadnam River and on to the Blackwater and Test, to be restored and its banks to be reseeded with grass.

An appeal against that notice was lodged by landowner, Kenneth Lovett, who had bought the field in November, 2005.

But, after conducting an inquiry, planning inspector, David Baldock, has upheld the National Park Authority's requirements.

He has ordered that the restoration work be completed within five months and that the banks of the watercourse should be reseeded within six months.

No figures have been given for the amount of material tipped on the land.

Mr Baldock commented that it had altered the character of the area.

After comparing the appearance of the original site with its post-dumping appearance, he said: "Its original appearance and character replicated that of other nearby grazing land to the south-west, north-west and north. Thus, the field harmonised with its surroundings and it does not do so now."

The national park authority had contended that the tipping had increased the risk of flooding .

Mr Baldock said he was not convinced but added that he had taken on board evidence from resident that flooding problems had increased since the work was done.

The ruling was welcomed by campaigners and nearby resident, Ruth Farmers, said: "Obviously, we are delighted. It is the right decision and it supports the policies of the national park."

She was particularly pleased by the order for the restoration of the watercourse. She said: "We have had quite bad flooding of people's gardens and the fields are so wet you can't use them. Thankfully, the drainage system, which was put in Victorian times and has worked for 150 years, will now be restored."

The intensive lorry activity which was caused by the deliveries of the soil and waste will be replaced by lorry movements for the removal.

"We can put up with that inconvenience, knowing there will be no nasties left to contaminate the watercourse," said Mrs Farmers.