Summary of the Littleworth Common Management Plan Public Consultation 2011

A consultation exercise on the draft Littleworth Common Management Plan (2011 - 2021) has been undertaken and a summary is shown below.

The management plan has been amended where appropriate following the consultation exercise and has been
adopted by South Bucks District Council (SBDC).

The draft management plan was sent to key stakeholders; a public drop in event was held on 18th May 2011 and the draft management plan has been available to view on the SBDC website, with a link from the Burnham Parish Council website. The consultation period ended on 25th July with a further offer to local residents to make comments by September 2nd.

The stakeholders included:
Colne Valley Park
Bucks County Council Rights of Way office
The City of London (Burnham Beeches)
Bucks County Council Countryside officer
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
Natural England

A copy of the Draft Management plan and the presentation made at the public consultation event are available on the South Bucks District Council website - www.southbucks.gov.uk/environment_planning/countryside_and_nature_conservation/littleworth.aspx

Respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire that asked if they were in agreement with the objectives of the plan.

The questions in the questionnaire were as follows, asking people if they:

• Agree
• Are a little Concerned
• Do not agree.

1. Do you agree with the general content of the proposed plan?
2. OBJECTIVE ONE: CONSERVATION
   
   • The Vision for the Common
   • The Management of the Ponds
   • The Management of the trees around the ponds
   • The Restoration of the Heathland
   • The introduction of Grazing on the Common
   • The Management of the Woodlands
3. OBJECTIVE TWO: PEOPLE
   
   • Establishment of a Friends Group
   • School visits
   • Interpretative signage
4. OBJECTIVE THREE: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
   Do you agree that we should seek additional funding and help from third parties and groups to support our aims and objectives?
5. WHAT MORE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON THE COMMON?
   For example seats. (Note: We cannot guarantee that these will be provided as any structure on the common must be approved by Natural England.)
6. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

PLEASE CONFIRM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN A NEW FRIENDS OF LITTLEWORTH COMMON GROUP?

There were 20 responses. The responses to these questions are summarised below:

Question 1	% of respondents who agreed	% of respondents who were a little concerned.		% of respondents who did not agree.
1	55			45
2
The Vision for the Common	45	20		35
The Management of the Ponds	50	35		15
The Management of the trees around the ponds	40	35		25
The Restoration of the Heathland	55	15		30
The introduction of Grazing on the Common	20	35		45
The Management of the Woodlands	45	25		30
3
Establishment of a Friends Group	65	20		15
School visits	80	20		0
Interpretative signage	35	30		35
4	45	10		45
5	See Appendix B.
6	See Appendix B.
Would you like to be involved in a Friends Group?	Yes	No	Did not answer	Maybe
	55	20	20	5

Overall, there were more respondents responding ‘Agree’ to the proposals, than ‘Do Not agree’, although some residents had some concerns.

Further details are available by calling on 01895 837321 or email environment@southbucks.gov.uk