Many will know that the Cotswold Way campsite in Randwick woods closed this year following repeated vandalism, noise and other problems. To me this is a huge shame as the campsite offered walkers and others a place for the night.Photo: woods yesterday bathed in winter sun
Randwick Parish Council has taken the initiative to look at this further. Last night they invited representatives from other local Parish councils and the National Trust to look at why the site closed and whether there was an option of reopening the site. Parish councillors noted that since the closure people had been camping on various private land in the area and causing a number of problems.
The lack of other campsites in the area compounds the problem - and the canal developments and the need to be encouraging more local sustainable tourism all add support to the arguments in favour of reopening the site.
So should the site reopen?
Well clearly the problems a few residents faced from noise and vandalism on a repeated and sustained basis over months was wholly unacceptable. If we are to consider the site reopening - and I am very much in favour of that move - then we need to be absolutely sure that such problems like this do not arise again.
So what are the options?Photo: more of woods yesterday
The Parish meeting came up with various possibilities and lots of questions. Could the site be run commercially or part-commercially? Would fees from the site pay for a warden to visit regularly? Could a warden be employed locally? Could funds be found to improve the site to reduce vandalism? Could the police be more involved to ensure that raves like those at Ash Lane don't occur? Would Stroud District Council, the National Trust and other groups put money into making this a local community resource? Could other local groups be involved including young people to help improve and maintain the site?
So what is the next step?
I am hoping to arrange a meeting to discuss this - I've provisionally booked Thursday 18th January 6.30pm to 7.10 at the Village Hall as a time for residents to come forward and share thoughts, fears, hopes and ideas about the possibilities of reopening the campsite. The Parish Council meet at 7.15 and as always that is open to the public and there is a slot for the public to ask questions or raise issues if they like. I will confirm this meeting time on this Blog when I know the hall is free. MEETING POSTPONED: Parish Council will let us know of new date - but in meantime please send comments re campsite.
I am also happy to talk or meet with others to discuss the best ways forward if you can't make that meeting. This is not easy and we have to be very clear we need to find a way that does not lead to further serious problems for residents in that area. Please phone me, Philip Booth, on 01453 755451 to share your thoughts.
National Trust woods - some brief background info
It was great to hear from the National Trust a bit about the history of the local woods. Here is some of what they said...In the 1930s a local committee started buying up bits of land locally: over the years they managed to buy some 27 pieces of land and during the 1940s to 60s they replanted the woods like the Standish woods which were felled during the wars. The local committee handed over the land to the National Trust but continued to manage it and organise all the work needed.
Then in the late 1970s the National Trust employed the first warden, Harry Hayward who sadly died last year. He was in post for 10 to 15 years: now the National Trust have a team of wardens to manage a massive 4,500 acres of land locally that includes Woodchester Park and the Commons. Michelle Oliver who was at the Parish meeting with her boss the Head Warden, David Armstrong, is the officer responsible for our area.
There are many stories of how well Harry managed the woods and started the campsite in the 1980s for walkers - it was on a site that had started to be used as landfill and was only a wee way away from the Cotswold Way. It had no parking, a pit for a loo and water was available until that was vandalised about 7 years ago and not replaced.
The Cotswold Way for those not familiar is a long distance walking trail that runs between the city of Bath in the south, and the town of Chipping Campden in the north.The trail is approximately 100 miles long, and runs for most of its length on the Cotswold escarpment. It has been in existence for over 30 years and has recently been approved as a National Trail. This designation is special - making the trail one of only thirteen trails to be made into National Trails in England in the past 50 years.
After Harry left it was harder for the National Trust to manage the site: he lived there and was able to visit very regularly and attend to any difficulties. The problems however were mainly litter and minor difficulties but then about 3 years ago the more serious problems began: parties, raves and vandalism that spread from the site to neighbouring properties. 2 years ago the problems became even more frequent. The police also said they had not got the resources to keep policing this site.
Early this year the NT decided the only option they had was closure. They have operated a licence system so that groups can still book the site but no one has taken up this offer - if this route is to be pursued then we need much better publicity of this scheme.
Although the site was supposedly closed, the summer still saw people camping there regularly and also many reports of people now camping in other parts of the area on local farmland. This has led to a number of problems.
As noted above the community now needs to consider what is the best way forward. Should we try and tackle the problems and restore this campsite or should we look for other solutions? Clearly the campers are still wanting places to camp so what can we do to help local landowners who are now facing problems? Do come to the meeting to make your views known.
Other issues?
It was also interesting to learn about the ancient monuments like the Long Barrow in the National Trust woods. These are sadly being damaged by mountain bikers and boarders (see photo) - this is most likely ignorance of the monuments rather than anything intentional. The National Trust have already started to look at ways to make people more aware about these local monuments so that the accidental damage can be stopped. This seems a great opportunity to celebrate more our local heritage. How best can these monuments be made more of a feature? Do we need information boards? Perhaps some fencing or some trees removed?Various other issues were also discussed like how the areas are maintained and the plans for some limited stone wall repairs. The Trust have also offered to talk to local groups and schools.
