New Milton councillor seeks to allay walkers’ fears over plan to reintroduce grazing cattle on Barton Common

A NEW Milton councillor sought to allay fears over plans to reintroduce cattle to a beauty spot.

Resident and dog walker Gordon Jamieson told a recent meeting of the town council’s amenities committee he and other walkers were concerned about possible attacks by cows if they return to Barton Common.

Pointing out a large number of elderly people used the common to walk their dogs, he warned many would be put off from going there again.

Mr Jamieson recalled being approached threateningly by a cow after unknowingly walking between it and its calf at another location.

“I had a walking stick with me, so I waved that and shouted at the cow which caused it to pause,” he said.

“But a lot of people down there [Barton Common] are older and very worried. They say they won’t walk there if there are cows on the common.

“I do understand the need for conservation, but I wonder if this is taking priority over what many people want.”

He asked the council what contingency plans it had in place in case of any incident involving the cows, commenting people would prefer ponies at the site.

Cllr Steve Clarke responded that the cows set to go on the common were Dexters which, he said, were known for being tame.

But he stressed: “There will be no calves and cows there – we don’t allow that.

“There will just be young Dexters, but no calves.”

Cllr Clarke explained it was the council’s long-term plan to reintroduce cattle, with it having previously grazed at the site back in the 1950s.

Recounting previous concerns over plans to have cattle grazing on Ballard Water Meadow, he claimed no significant incidents had been reported in the 10 years the Dexters have been there.

Referring to dog walkers, he believed “common sense” needed to be exercised, saying: “Speaking as a dog owner myself, you can, by use of common sense, walk quite safely with cattle there.

“It is OK to have a dog off a lead if you know and absolutely trust your dog.

Cllr Clarke added: “I fully support the use of cattle and ponies across our land, and we’re not the only place that does it.”

It was expected the cattle would be released onto the common to graze from late September to Christmas or early January.