Devastation in the Hills

Work is soon to begin on the Bourley and Long Valley SSSI (part of the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area) which will permanently destroy the landscape and habitat of the area. The MoD under the guise of "routine maintenance" will be doing TAG Aviation's dirty work so that TAG can obtain the CAA certification for their commercial flying operation just given the go ahead by John Prescott.

The work will:

Extensively deforest 70ha of the SSSI

They are also going to "lower" the tops of three hills in the SSSI:

Miles Hill - 1ha will be lowered;

Eelmoor Hill - 1.5ha will be lowered;

Norris Hill Copse - 0.03 ha will be lowered.

In total TAG admit that this will involve removing 50,000 m3 of earth. If this is not, in TAG's words "adequately managed", this earthworks would cause siltation of the SSSI of Fleet Pond. Due to the recent heavy rain we have been having there is a distinct possibility that this siltation will occur if the hill scalping starts now.

The work is being performed by the MoD without any planning permission because of Crown immunity. However both BVFoE and Hants Wildlife Trust had previously advised Rushmoor Borough Council that the large nature of the works, involving mineral extraction, waste disposal and engineering works should have meant that a specific planning application was put forward by TAG. This application was not forthcoming and neither Rushmoor or Hart have objected to the MoD performing the work. which BVFoE regards as another example of the councils putting Swiss based TAG profits first to the detriment of the local people's environment.

Rick Kimber of BVFoE said "Devastation like this to a government owned SSSI shows that we badly need the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill passed before the end of the parliamentary session. This would force Government owned bodies like the MoD to manage SSSIs sustainably instead of being grossly irresponsible with their inherited areas"