A MAJOR CONFRONTATION was threatened between the people of Bourne and the Forestry Commission in 2008 over plans to sell off part of Bourne Wood for a new road development. The multi-million pound project had been submitted by a private housing developer as part of the county structure plan for 2026 in order to provide a north-south bypass for the main A15 trunk road and so solve the growing problems of heavy traffic using the town centre. But the full story was not revealed until the Friends of Bourne Wood obtained copies of the plans and published them on their web site.

Suspicions had been aroused in a contribution for the Bourne Forum on 17th January 2008 by town councillor Helen Powell (Bourne West) who said that plans were afoot to build a road through Bourne Wood as part of a major house building project. She suggested that if any development were to take place at this point, then it should be a leisure park. Her revelations sparked off a heated debate in which the majority were against any road or housing encroaching on the woodland and the story was eventually taken up by the local newspapers.

The wave of protest led to a meeting at the Corn Exchange on Thursday 19th June 2008, an unqualified success in the democratic process by bringing together all interested parties to state their case and generally clearing the air of rumour and speculation.

It was also a remarkable personal achievement for Councillor Powell who organised the event and arranged the various speakers, even persuading our M P, Quentin Davies, to dash up from Westminster to take the chair, Paul Hill-Tout, Director of the Forestry Commission to re-arrange his business schedule to speak, and Councillor Linda Neal, leader of South Kesteven District Council, who outlined the planning implications of a possible bypass route.

Around 150 people attended a most informative and lively session with impassioned pleas to maintain the tranquillity of the ancient woodland and a call for any relief road to be built to the east rather than the west, supported by interested farmers with land in that area. The Forestry Commission subsequently issued a statement saying that the proposal had now been dropped and that this decision had been swayed by the meeting, while the developers, Larkfleet Homes, also abandoned the idea.

BACKGROUND TO THE DISPUTE

Statement from the Forestry Commission

An announcement on Friday 29th February 2008, published by The Local newspaper, revealed that the commission was in talks with an unnamed developer seeking to buy almost 2½ acres (one hectare) although the exact location was not given. In return, almost 57 acres (23 hectares) would be gained as part of the land deal for use as a new car park and much improved recreational facilities. A spokesman said that access to the wood would be improved but could not say whether any existing entries would be lost.

The statement said: “The land would be used for the much needed north-south relief road for Bourne. Having previously refused an earlier route for the bypass, the commission is now in discussion with a developer for a much more sensitive proposal for the delivery of a bypass resulting in a minimum loss of woodland with a compensatory package. Less than one hectare (2½ acres) of trees would be lost.”

A further statement on March 7th said that the developer also wanted to build houses in the vicinity and added: "If the proposals do get to the planning application stage, part of the land which is not woodland would be cut off from Bourne Wood. One of the options we would be releasing the land for housing to raise money for the public purse. The existing car park and recreational facilities at the Edenham Road entrance would be closed to allow woodland flowers and plants to grow. A new car park and recreation centre would be provided in a field near the wood. Talks with the developers are at an early stage and a planning application is unlikely to be made for five to ten years. We are trying to minimise the loss of woodland which is why we have refused previous applications."

On Friday 28th March, the commission told the Stamford Mercury that it had closed the public toilets in the main car park and removed trail markers but insisted that this had no connection with the bypass proposal but was part of a national review. "The majority of visitors to Bourne Wood are local people who are familiar with the wood and do not use the markers of facilities", said a spokesman. "The children's play area remains open."

The M P for Bourne, Quentin Davies (member for Grantham and Stamford)

I learned of this with some consternation and have written to Paul Hill-Tout, director of the Forestry Commission for England, asking to see the plans and requesting a meeting to discuss them. Of course, Bourne needs a north-south bypass. I have said so for many years and have repeatedly lobbied the district council to make development on the eastern side of the town conditional on such a bypass being constructed. I continue to believe that such a bypass is feasible and the right place for it is the eastern side of town.

My view on Bourne Wood has always been that it is a priceless asset to the town and ought to be sacrosanct. It is a wonderful amenity for the people of Bourne and I would vigorously oppose any desecration of it. I shall therefore be discussing the plan in detail with the Forestry Commission and with the district council with the greatest scepticism and once the full details are available, I think it will be right to have a public meeting. I am determined to do everything possible to protect the wood. It is a precious asset to have next door the town and I am very concerned to protect all amenities.

The Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Jane Kingman Pauley

The town council has not been told about any formal application for a road in Bourne Wood. We have talked to South Kesteven District Council but until we get something formal, we cannot discuss anything we have not received. When it comes to us, we will discuss it immediately. I am totally against it. I cannot believe the Forestry Commission is even thinking of selling it off. Loads of people walk their dogs there.

Town and district councillor Trevor Holmes (Bourne West)

I would be disappointed to see the loss of any part of the woodland. I think it would be perfectly possible to achieve their objectives without encroaching into woodland. Any bypass should go to the east side of Bourne rather than the west as that is where the industry of the town is centred.”

Town councillor Mrs Helen Powell (Bourne West)

A new road will totally ruin the area. We also need developers to be more open about planning matters and the public should be involved at an early stage in order that they can give an opinion. A public meeting is the way forward so that those who are concerned can see maps of what is intended. We should be enhancing Bourne through preservation and if we do not protect what we have it will be lost forever. Houses will not be pulled down once they are built and so we must ensure that they go in the right place.

Lincolnshire County Council

We have no proposals for a Bourne relief road. We are aware that developers are interested in building on land to the west of the town, however, we believe that this would not be supported under the current planning policies of SKDC. We have no plans for the proposed road.” - Brian Thompson, divisional highways manager.

South Kesteven District Council

We have not received any proposals yet but a development of this kind is unlikely to fit in with our planning policies because demand for new housing is met be developments such as Elsea Park.

Friends of Bourne Wood

On 20th March 2008, the Friends of Bourne Wood, which has been leading the fight against the road development through the woodland, published full details of the proposals on its web site together with diagrams and detailed maps drawn up by civil engineering consultants on behalf of Larkfleet Homes, the company behind the controversial residential development for the laundry site in Manning Road. For the first time, residents could see exactly what the impact would be on the environment with a carriageway slicing off a large elongated area of trees behind Beech Avenue and the route clearly marked from the roundabout in West Road and curving eastwards towards Cawthorpe where it will connect with the A15. The plans also indicated that the new road would be 1¾ miles long (2,840 metres) and 24 feet wide (7.3 metres) with four roundabouts, and would also threaten the future of Diana’s Glade, an area of twenty small oak trees planted in January 1999 by the Friends as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died tragically in 1997. There were also fears that many other trees would have to be cut back for reasons of safety with the result that more than the 2½ acres (one hectare) originally proposed would be destroyed.

The web site claimed that the plans were submitted to Lincolnshire County Council on 19th April 2007, confirmed by the official rubber stamp of receipt, and added: "The suspected route will start at the existing roundabout of the southern relief road junction with the A151. It will cut through ancient woodland close to the Forestry Commission office and then on through meadow land obliterating the Blind Well, a source of minerals used in early medicine. At least five footpaths connecting Bourne to its woodland will be severed, isolating the town from the wood. Direct access to the wood for people with mobility problems will disappear.

"We are dismayed that the Forestry Commission is prepared to sell any part of the wood and are disgusted that they did not think fit to consult us. Any bypass should be constructed to the east of the town. A western route would isolate the wood from the town making direct access by foot, cycle, horseback, wheelchair and pushchair impossible. We must retain the whole wood and its access as a recreational resource for the people of Bourne".

Larkfleet Homes, the developers

The developers, Larkfleet Homes, eventually issued a statement to The Local newspaper after being given copies of the plans, and the explanation was given front page coverage on Friday 28th March under the headline "Proposed bypass is a long way off". In it, Karl Hick, the company's managing director, said that no proposal had been formally submitted and that any scheme was many years off. He added: "This is a very preliminary proposal on a long term project to find a solution to what is inevitably needed, a north-south bypass because of traffic flows along the A15. Bourne is probably the only village or town between Peterborough and Lincoln without one and the town will eventually clog up. Public funding will be unlikely but any project will have to go through a period of public consultation. We feel that Bourne Wood could benefit from the scheme and an eastern bypass, as suggested by opponents, would be costly at twice the length and would face difficult technical issues. The proposed route is in a flood zone whereas this route has none of those issues . . . and part of it is already there."

Comments from the public

The commission is funded by the taxpayer so in effect the wood belongs to us, the public, and we have not been consulted. Bourne wood is a haven for walkers and wildlife. This is ancient woodland that predates the Domesday Book and this plan will have an immediate effect on wildlife and its habitat. We need a greenbelt for the edge of the town to prevent the road going through the wood which is home to deer, sparrow hawks, purple orchids and bluebells which are all protected by law. The sale of any part of the wood will open the door to further development. There will be all sorts of environmental impact from a busy road next to it including the danger of deer rushing out, pollution and litter thrown from car windows. - Mrs Ayla Smith, resident and conservationist, Friday 29th February 2008.

If this scheme is ever approved it will (1) tarmac over ancient woodland (2) isolate the woods from the town (3) create a bypass which will allow westerly winds to blow pollution and noise over your houses and (4) allow greedy developers to exploit more unique landscape in the future. Bourne Wood has about 100,000 visitors per year. Support the action groups and get this scheme stopped. - Peter Hallam in a contribution to the Bourne Forum, Tuesday 4th March 2008.

People perhaps do not understand that the wood does not just mean the trees in it. The pasture is integral to the woods. - Roland Stevens, speaking at a meeting of the town council on Tuesday 4th March 2008.

I think people are being unduly pessimistic [about a road through the woods]. The developers have to contend with local residents, with the Forestry Commission and with the state. (1) Local residents would go absolutely potty and with good reason; (2) The money people at the Forestry Commission may be venal (although we are only guessing, at this stage) but when it comes to it their reputation is on the line and they know that all this talk of losing "just one hectare" of woodland is greenwash. The town connection with the wood would be ruined along with the wood and with it the (fairly good) reputation of the Forestry Commission. (3) Even if Councillor Linda Neal (Leader of South Kesteven District Council) doesn't kill the scheme (a possibility) it would be "called in" and massacred elsewhere by the Secretary of State. - Brynley Heaven in a contribution to the Bourne Forum, Friday 7th March 2008.

We are all aware of the environmental impact of deforestation. Trees are essential in minimising the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Losing part of the woods, no matter how small, will increase our carbon footprint. The people need to fight this now before it has any chance of becoming reality. - Lorraine Addy, of Tarragon Way, Bourne, in a letter to The Local newspaper on Friday 7th March 2008.

The acreage involved is immaterial. The tranquillity will have gone forever because it would not just be cars passing through. The main traffic would be heavy goods vehicles with all the accompanying noise and pollution. This unique amenity would be cut off from the town completely and lost forever. - Jean Mason, of Beech Avenue, Bourne, in a letter to The Local newspaper on Friday 7th March 2008.

Seemingly, a done deal has already been made. Why is the Forestry Commission so concerned about the benefits of a relief road? Surely their first concern should be for Bourne Wood. Leave local issues to SKDC and stop meddling. - T Knowles, Bourne, in a letter to The Local newspaper on Friday 7th March 2008.

NOTE: Sources The Local and the Stamford Mercury newspapers and the Bourne Forum.