A simple e.mail from you could help to stop an environmental disaster - and save our best riding area from destruction.
The Brownwich Estate, the last bit of coastal farmland on the Solent shore (Hampshire, Southern England) could soon be destroyed for gravel extraction. The area consists of 1,000 acres, has 6 miles of off-road tracks and paths, hosts the Solent Way National Trail - and part of the National Cycle Network. It has special designations for its landscape beauty, is the home to varied wildlife, and is bordered, on either side, by important nature reserves.
The crowning irony is the fact that Hampshire County Council purchased the land thirty years ago to protect it from development, and to provide public access for walking, horse riding and cycling. Now they want to destroy it by extracting 8 million tons of sand and gravel - leaving only flooded pits in place of the farmland and wooded streams. Over one million heavy-truck movements would be necessary to get the gravel off the site - bringing additional road danger and nuisance - especially for cyclists. The unique and beautiful sandstone cliffs on the shore, that we often ride along, would be completely removed.
The need for gravel is for new house building - on more local farmland where we currently ride! They can get plenty gravel from the seabed, but that costs more - so they want to rip up our countryside in order to maximise the profits of big house building companies. It's all about short-term greed.
Hampshire County Council has been devious in its attempts to avert local opposition, and there is only until Tuesday 15th write in opposition.
Please look at www.camelsolent.org.uk for more details - and write a very simple e.mail to oppose the plan. There are e.mail links for this on the site.
We love riding at Brownwich. It is tranquil, unspoiled and very beautiful - please help us to save it! Thank you in advance.
"Gears are like eyes or testicles. Having more than one is an unnecessary luxury." Elvis A. Presley