Campaigners win fight for wood (From Witney Gazette)

Campaigners win fight for wood

4:21pm Tuesday 16th September 2008 in Witney By David Horne

Penny Franklin and her dog Jasper in Pinsley Wood

The peace and quiet of an ancient bluebell wood in west Oxfordshire has been preserved.

Campaigners have won their battle to stop the Kent-based firm Treejumpers setting up an activity centre in the middle of Pinsley Wood, between Long Hanborough and Church Hanborough.

The 46-hectare wood, registered as a county wildlife site, was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and is well-known for its bluebells in the spring.

Treejumpers announced last November it wanted to set up activities using zip wires, climbing walls and aerial treks, with balance beams and cargo nets for "adrenaline-fuelled" days out.

But, in the wake of local opposition, the company has now withdrawn any attempt at getting planning permission.

Long Hanborough resident Penny Franklin, who sparked off a protest campaign resulting in a public meeting attended by over 200 people in the village, yesterday welcomed the company's withdrawal.

She said: "This is great news. There was such a huge outcry about it and we are thankful for the Oxford Mail for bringing the issue to the public's attention.

"We knew they might be thinking twice when they didn't turn up to the public meeting. I think they thought it was a little wood that nobody really bothered about. But many people who come here to see the bluebells, from all over the county, joined in the protest."

As well as bluebells, Pinsley Wood is home to some rare flowers and butterflies, as well as roe deer, buzzards and bats. It is owned by the Blenheim estate but has a public footpath around the edge.

Treejumpers, set up six years ago, runs activity centres in Kent, aimed at school parties and businesses, as well as paintballing and quad biking — activities not planned at Pinsley Wood.

Its consultants drew up an outline plan for the wood which was sent to Hanborough Parish Council, who objected strongly.

Company director Steve Etherton said the company took into account all responses to the planned scheme.

He added: "The level of local negative feeling was a great surprise to us as we initially thought this would be a suitable location with few downsides.

"We listened to all comments and, after much consultation and thought, decided that it would be inappropriate for us to pursue this venue any further."