Wickhambreaux and Seaton villagers fight for access to marshland as new land owners fence off access

Sharon Egin wrote:

Thank you "ex local resident" for writing about how you played in the marsh and the river as a child. Perhaps we can add that to our testimonials, as every one counts. .What a shame it is as an adult you feel current children should not benefit as well.

I must also apologise for being incoherent and illogical (my husband often accuses me of the same), and hope the following will clarify my position by posting a quote from the open spaces website.

“A green is any land on which a significant number of inhabitants of any area has indulged in lawful sports and pastimes, for 20 years, as of right”.

I think it only right to allow the professionals to debate the legalities at the appropriate time, but it’s important to point out the previous owners allowed access and for a lot longer than 20 years. There appear to be 6 people who disagree with this position, 5 owners and 1 “ex local resident”.

On the bright side isn’t it great to know that 94 villagers excluding our four legged friends partook in a peaceful protest yesterday Sunday 11/4/09. Onwards and for this campaign.

12 Apr 2010 9:50 AM

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ex-local resident. wrote:

Despite the fact that for almost 18 years i was one of those children who grew up and 'played in the river', i have now grown up. I believe you should realize that actually, from a legal perspective we were trespassing despite what you currently perceive, simply because there is a mass community backing you does not make it correct - which is what i believe Sharon is trying to say, your second paragraph seems a little incoherent and illogical, something that is mirrored throughout your argument too.
The fact is that the land belongs to someone else, if you are so enveloped by this land why don't you offer to purchase it, there are clearly enough of you that feel so passionate, maybe you could work together to do something, although that sounds like something that does not happen there anymore.

11 Apr 2010 8:59 PM

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Isobel wrote:

The 'local resident' who objects to the villagers protest at the fence is forgetting that the land was never appropriate for the use of polytunnels - its a marsh with a river running through it. Even mansfield who was putting in a bid said he would leave the field as it was. Villagers were also deterred from putting in bids against the consortium who brought the land as the consortium were apparently "people who will be sympathetic to the views of the local community" - obviously this is not the case. The land has always been open land, never showing signs of being privately owned and WAS openly accessed by the local community. grow up and take the fence down.

08 Apr 2010 8:25 PM

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Sharon Egin wrote:

I doubt the village children who have used the marsh and played in the river for decades without reproach would have had the presence of mind to consult their ordinance maps first. However, they would have listened to their parents and followed the lead of other villagers.

To accuse people using this area of being trespassers is absurd and if it were true there would be evidence of people being asked to leave not pictures of family picnics and testimonies of hot air balloon rides.

Luckily for the majority of people living in the local environment the facts speak for themselves though I can see why some people would dislike this.

08 Apr 2010 7:06 PM

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Local resident wrote:

I am speechless at the actions of certain people living in Wickhambreaux concerning the field that has been fenced off. I lived in Ickham for 15 years and went for many walks in Wickhambreaux and Seaton. On the occasions that I walked across this field, it was quite apparent that it was privately owned and not an area that was open to access for everyone. The signs, stiles and ordnance survey maps state clearly where the public right of way runs. The parish council shouldn't be supporting trespassers.
It is amazing that these people have come out of the woodwork now to claim common land status, when they could have put their hands in their pockets and bought the land themselves, having the satisfaction of making a magnanimous gesture for the 'good of their village'.
The field could now be covered in polytunnels, with additional traffic through the villages when harvesting started, or it could have been ploughed, planted with crops and sprayed with pesticides.
Its tough to accept you can't always get what you want, but its all part of growing up.

07 Apr 2010 11:38 PM

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Anne Colyer wrote:

We visited Wickhambreaux for a walk today and couldn't believe how the marsh has been violated. We have loved walking that area for over 25 years. Rather than stopping accidents happening, the barbed wire is extremely dangerous, being at eye height for small children. Have the owners explored what litigation they would face if this vicious fencing caused personal injury?

05 Apr 2010 5:02 PM

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marion westropp wrote:

We have known and loved this area for 25 years and I was shocked and appalled to see the new fence. It is so out of keeping with the whole ambiance of the countryside around Wickhambreaux and Seaton. I hope that common sense prevails and that it is removed as soon as possible.

23 Mar 2010 7:20 PM

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Helen Hirst wrote:

What an insult for Mr Perkins, one of the consortium of five landowners to hide behind the excuse of public liability. Thankfully, every river and sea is not fenced off to protect landowners from claimants. The spirit of public liability is the duty of care for all owner/occupiers to protect the public from any undue risk. The shallow and gentle flow of the Little Stour through their recently acquired land poses a negligible risk, with the barbed fence a clearly disproportionate measure depriving the public the liberty to enjoy this area. The fields have long been accessed freely by many; including some consortium members who have walked their dogs daily prior to the sale of the land.
To add further insult to injury, a recently replaced stile restricts safe access to the public. The construction is narrow and steep; and many dog owners would have to carry their dogs over, or if their dogs were agile enough leap dangerously close to the barbed fence or into the road. A considerate landowner of nearby has installed kissing gate for safe, easy access. Sadly, the consortium have continued to act with disregard for safe access and alarmingly without notification to residents or Parish Councils.

23 Mar 2010 5:38 PM

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Dr Beata Nowak wrote:

Selective memory

Mr Perkins states that "he would be happy to speak face-to-face with anyone about this, but so far nobody has decided to do that."

I feel Mr Perkins private land ambitions are against the ‘spirit’ of the village & I know his selective memory to be untruthful. I am a newcomer to Wickhambreaux & I was terribly upset by the erection of the fencing as I have dogs and a 3 year old who had already enjoyed playing in the Grazing Marshes. Being proactive, some 2 weeks ago my partner telephoned Mr Perkins to voice my said concerns whereby he kindly invited us to his house and we debated the matter for some 2 hours.

Does Mr Perkins deny this meeting took place for I read in one article that he stated “…. some of the people protesting have only lived here for four weeks …. “ WITH A CLEAR REFERENCE TO MYSELF AND OUR MEETING. Four weeks, four months, four years or forty years matters not – it is clear Mr Perkins simply does not begin to appreciate the fundamental deep sadness and dismay that he has created by his selfish actions against good and kind people who simply want to enjoy their village community and countryside.

23 Mar 2010 12:05 PM

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Janis Volckman wrote:

Seaton Marsh

I walk past Seaton Marsh every day. Within a matter of weeks a beautiful meadow has been turned into an Essex Girl's garden! I'm waiting for the garden gnomes to arrive! I can't wait for the day that Seaton Marsh is declared a Village Green.
Janis Volckman, former Essex girl now Wickhambreaux woman.

23 Mar 2010 10:15 AM

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Geordie Hayward wrote:

In another conversation with Mr Perkins

Mr Perkins states that "he would be happy to speak face-to-face with anyone about this, but so far nobody has decided to do that."
He has selective memory because having spoken face-to-face with his wife, he has obviously forgotten that he telephoned me some 3 weeks ago and we talked frankly but firmly for some 30 minutes and far from fencing off the marsh for his publicly stated health and safety reasons - he categorically stated the following: "I am fencing the marsh off to keep people like you and dogs out". This modern day form of Enclosure is all about power and control and a disregard for local villagers who have used this land freely to access since, in my living memory, 1962.

21 Mar 2010 2:50 PM

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Emmy and John Watts wrote:

In conversation with Mr Perkins

In the last sentence of your very good and balanced article, Mr Perkins states that " he would be happy to speak face -to -face with anyone about this, but so far nobody has decided to do that." Perhaps he has forgotten that we spoke to him for 20 minutes, outside Mill End, about our fence, and the marsh, and our true feelings on what he has been doing to the marsh. I think it is important to set the record straight. Thank you. Emmy and John Watts.

20 Mar 2010 10:08 AM

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Sharon Egin wrote:

Selfish Owners

How many accidents have taken place over the last 100 years I wonder? Why didn't the previous owners fear litigation? Make no mistake this is not about health and safety it's about power and the extreme selfishness of a wealthy club who have done this just because they can and to show the less privileged villagers their place. How can they sleep at night knowing how upset the village is as a whole? This area has been used by the community for decades and deserves village green status. I suggest when they are gazing into their private river they remind themselves of the follies of Narcissus.

20 Mar 2010 10:07 AM

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E M Gray wrote:

Save Seaton Marshland

I often travel over to Wickhambreaux from Thanet to enjoy a walk with the dog.This is not just a local catastrophy but for all those people who have enjoyed the marsh over many years. I was astonished to know the land had been sold. I had not heard about the sale prior to this.

19 Mar 2010 2:31 PM

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Jessica Farnham wrote:

Seaton Grazing Marshes

As a resident of Wickhambreaux, keen dog walker and nature lover, I am very upset by the installation of this ugly and brutal fencing. It has ruined a once beautiful natural landscape and taken away an excellent place spend one's leisure time.

What I can't understand is why someone who says that the reason the fence was put up was to ensure the public's safety and make sure that he is not liable for injury etc, would then put a double line of barbed wire along the fence so that people may snag their clothes or cut themselves if they brush up against the fence.

Safe to say I can't wait until Mr Perkins is made to take the fence down! And we can enjoy this excellent village amenity once again.

18 Mar 2010 8:50 PM

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Catherine Lane wrote:

Seaton Grazing Marshes

I really want to be able to walk and play on the marsh again, and I will help fight to make it happen!

18 Mar 2010 8:01 PM

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Isobel wrote:

face-to-face

I have spoken to many people from Wickhambreaux who HAVE spoken to Mr Perkins face-to-face about this matter! He must have a very selected memory.

18 Mar 2010 6:05 PM

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Jerome Dutton wrote:

Seaton Grazing Marshes

If you've loved this space and visited it often then please keep an eye on the Seaton Community Action website: http://www.seaton-community-action.org.uk - We will be holding events and protests throughout the spring and summer and see how you can get involved in helping us succeed in our aims.

18 Mar 2010 5:22 PM

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Calib Franks-Butler wrote:

Marsh

I am so sad to see this, I have visited Wickhambreaux many times over the years. I cannot understand the mentality of someone that would do this to somewhere so beautiful.

18 Mar 2010 4:39 PM

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Paul Harris wrote:

Seaton Marshes

Good that a local celeb has got behind this,
this look like a problem that needs that kind of backing.

18 Mar 2010 1:16 PM

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