Background
Southey Woods, managed by the Forestry Commission/Forest Enterprise for nearly 50 years, is one of very few areas of ancient woodland with public access within easy reach of Peterborough. It has a diversity of plant species, including native hardwoods and wild flowers, which provide varied wildlife habitats; there are waymarked trails for pedestrians, including those with limited mobility, and for horse riders, as well as picnic tables and ample car parking. Over the last five or so years it has become a public sex environment/PSE. The car park and surrounding woodland has now been completely taken over by "doggers" so that families and dog walkers feel embarrassed and intimidated and no longer visit. The meeting was called by Cheryl Lundberg of the Forestry Commission to discuss ways of tackling the PSE problem as well as improvements in public access and facilities. It was attended by 5 Forestry Commission employees and representatives of PCC (Wildlife and Footpaths), Cambs Police and Ufford PC.
Improvements in access
There is already a right of way through the Woods but only one access route through the car park on Langley Bush Road. An application is being made to the Secretary of State on behalf of PCC for the drift leading south from Marholm Road near Ufford to be designated as a pedestrian right of way and bridle way. It will not have a hard surface so will not be up to Sustrans standard but it will maintain its rural character. With the proposed linkage into Castor Hanglands, this will allow access from Peterborough for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists. An improved car park at Southey Woods would also serve Castor Hanglands, Swaddywell Pit Nature Reserve as well as all the all the circular walks in neighbouring parishes. It may be possible in the future to improve access by public transport.
PSE issues
It was agreed unanimously that it has to be a top priority to reclaim the woods for the benefit of the residents of Peterborough and the villages and it was felt that the only long term solution was by attracting enough people to make this an unattractive place for anti-social behaviour.
The dilemma facing the Police has been that there are a number of such sites in the area and they cannot monitor them all the time. They would prefer to concentrate on the site in the lay by near Wansford. Their powers are limited by the "human rights" claimed by these people.
Proposals include:
- Keeping the woods
closed for another 6 months - they have already been closed for 10
weeks during logging operations. It was felt that this might help
to break the pattern of use. This contravenes the normal Forestry
Commission policy of access but may be possible under the
circumstances. It was noted that damage has already been done to
the gate and lock, but it may be possible to build up a barrier of
logs to prevent access to the car park. UPC offered to fund a small
side gate to allow access for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists
if the main gate has to be closed for very long.
- A well publicised
re-opening of the woods, using the local press, TV, radio.
- A mobile police
station, perhaps with police dogs at the re-opening.
- A Police Notice
warning car owners that registration numbers may be recorded.
- A Forestry
Commission warden for several hours a day for several weeks.
- Forestry
Commission website to publicise the re-opening and state that the
aim is to bring back the woods into public use.
- Local support from
Ufford and other villages is essential. Teams of volunteers could
be trained to act as Wardens. Others could record car registration
numbers and pass them on to the police. Employers are not pleased
to learn what their employees were doing in work time. It was noted
that the woods are not signposted and not on a major road and
business men cannot claim to have stopped there just for a breath of
air. The police will respond to messages from the public reporting
gross indecency or outrageous behaviour. In fact the more messages
they receive the better as it will be seen as a higher priority.
- It may be possible
to recruit young people on probation or conservation volunteers to
work up there.
- An attempt will be
made by the police to talk to the leaders of the gay and lesbian
communities and explain what it is hoped to achieve. They can be
very aggressive and try to claim that they are being discriminated
against, but it has to be stressed that they are as welcome in the
woods as anyone else so long as they conform to normal standards of
behaviour.
The Forestry Commission options were either to leave everything as it is now or to change the nature of the woods as has been done recently at several sites in Northamptonshire, including Top Lodge, Fineshade. The second option was agreed. It would probably include:
- A car park with an
improved surface
- Probably an
entrance gate into the car park, which could be locked and a
separate exit, which would not allow cars to enter by
- A children`s green
play area
- "Go Ape"
activity area
- Cafe and loos,
involving the need for water sewage and electricity services
- The whole scheme
would be handled sensitively and the rest of the woods would remain
as a varied wildlife habitat, with public access.
Frank Inglis ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) would like to discuss possibilities with Opportunity Peterborough and in particular with regard to possible links with the Green Grid Strategy.
Frieda Gosling, Ufford Parish Council 1.8.07
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