New Forest National Park Authority probing claims of unauthorised land work at Sway sites

Two sites in Sway are being investigated amid claims unauthorised work is being carried out on the land.

The national park authority has launched an enforcement case at the Old Quarry, also known as Doctor’s Copse, off Southampton Road.

This follows similar NPA action – which could soon lead to a prosecution – against those who made unauthorised alterations to a spot near Everglade Farm, off Mount Pleasant Lane.

A Sway resident who has been sending photos of plant machinery and felled trees at Doctor’s Copse, previously told the NPA he was “extremely concerned” by a lack of enforcement action at the site.

“I first contacted the NPA about this piece of ancient woodland in August 2023 and have been updating the NPA frequently since that date.

“As I drove past (recently) I saw a huge amount of activity.

“There is a clear need for urgency.”

NPA planning enforcement manager Lucie Cooper replied in late March to say the authority has now “instigated a new enforcement case in order to investigate the recent activity at the (Doctor’s Copse) site”.

She added: “We’ll update as and when we are in a position to, once we’ve visited the site.”

An NPA spokesperson told the A&T: “In March 2021 the authority issued an enforcement notice relating to the use of the land for the storage of unauthorised items.

“As part of the investigation, it was found trees had been felled which were subject to protection but it was not possible for the authority to pursue a prosecution due to a lack of evidence.

“Subsequently, the majority of the requirements of the notice were broadly complied with, and as a result, the enforcement case was closed.

“Further concerns regarding activity at the site were raised in August 2023 and as a result the site was monitored over a period of time, during which there did not appear to be any significant activity at the site and no further action was deemed necessary.

“Following recent reports about activity at the site an enforcement officer and tree officer visited to find that the recent activity did not involve any new tree felling. Any wood that was being processed was old and not recently felled, based on its condition.

“The matter is the subject of an ongoing enforcement investigation in terms of the use of the land for the storage of various items and we are liasing with other agencies.”

A Forestry Commission spokesperson added: “Our team has carried out an initial assessment of the site at the Doctor’s Copse and we are currently investigating this further. We are unable to comment while these investigations are ongoing.”

Not far from Doctor’s Copse, the NPA has already launched enforcement action against the owners of a plot adjacent to Everglade Farm, off Mount Pleasant Lane, following unauthorised work carried out.

The NPA could prosecute the landowners over the “creation of an unauthorised highway access point” and the “unauthorised installation of engineering materials to raise land levels”.

Enforcement officer Katherine Pullen told NPA planning committee members that landowners had failed to engage with the authority or comply with two enforcement notices.

The first notice was served in 2020 after a site visit by NPA officers, but a subsequent visit in September 2022 showed the notice had not been complied with.

A second enforcement notice was issued in June 2023.

Both notices stated the land was being used for recreational and leisure purposes.

Ms Pullen said there are 10 separate plots of land off Mount Pleasant Lane which have all seen “various contraventions” of local planning rules.

NPA member Ann Sevier said: “We’ve got absolutely no idea why, and they [landowners] have given no reason at all why they should not comply. We’ve got no information from them at all.”

Sway parish councillor Helen Schneider told the committee she and her council colleagues have discussed the situation and are “supportive” of enforcement action.

Planning committee members voted unanimously in favour of taking “all action as necessary to commence and conduct the prosecution of the owners” for failing to honour the notice, if officers agree it would be appropriate.

Committee members also voted that, should prosecution not be considered appropriate, the NPA takes other steps to achieve compliance including “direct action” and placing charges on the land to recover any associated costs.