Hamsterley villagers speak out against Forestry England plan

The people of Hamsterley and surrounding areas have expressed fear, concern, and dread over plans that could see 70 cabins, a GoApe activity centre, a campsite, and more built in Hamsterley Forest.

Plans were submitted to the council earlier this month after discussions first began in 2021.

The Hamsterley Forest Action Group. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) By the end of September of this year, public consultations were held within the local community - leading tourist board Visit County Durham describing the development as a possible "game changer".

But now, residents living near the forest who are part of the Hamsterley Forest Action Group, formed in July, say they are scared the development could affect transport, traffic, wildlife and more.

'Why do we need this huge development?'

72-year-old Alison Hewitson. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Alison Hewitson has lived in Bedburn, just north of Hamsterley Village for 22 years. Transport, traffic, and water access are just some of her concerns following the "overwhelming" planning submission by Forestry England.

She said: "My concerns certainly are traffic and parking. To start off, the planning documents are so overwhelming. There is so much of it.

"The traffic report suggests that Hamsterley has bus services which is incorrect. The nearest transport services including buses are over in Wolsingham."

Alison is one of many locals who have pointed out that transport documents included on the planning portal make reference to non specific "bus or other public transport services".

However, a search reveals that the only buses that stop in the village are for school children which only stops once a day - namely the 88 to Bishop Auckland and the 101a to Wolsingham.

"I don't know of anyone in Bedburn who is in favour of this development," Alison added.

"Why do we need this huge development? If it gets approved, I hope there would be better management and local residents would be considered."

'It's just going to be like the Lake District here'

63-year-old Jill Tidmarsh. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Jill Tidmarsh lives with her husband in Hamsterley Village.

The 63-year-old said she was first aware of discussions to develop the forest back in 2021 - and she is now set to submit an official objection to the plans.

She told The Northern Echo: "The roads worry me - especially seeing how they are at the moment. I've previously had the wing mirror knocked off my car due to other cars speeding through the village.

"I do love that the forest is used. Post-lockdown, it was so lovely to see how many people were using it. We have no problem with that - seeing people and schools coming to visit. As it is, it's great."

However, Jill added that she does worry about emergency services being able to access the forest seen as though incidents, she says, are already common.

She said: "A few years ago we had to rescue a couple who got stuck in a verge in the forest. In the end, we had to get a farmer to come with a tractor to pull them out.

"Of course, we live here, so we help people out but it is getting frightening now."

'This is just a crackpot idea'

70-year-old Fran Thirling. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Fran Thirling has called Hamsterley Village home for the last 42 years - but despite enjoying the life that comes from living in a village, he fears the peaceful atmosphere could be destroyed.

He said: "The thing I used to love about living here is the peace and tranquillity, the community and the environment around us.

"My first thought when I saw the plans is that this is just a crackpot idea. The forest, at this present time, is absolutely saturated with visitors.

"From the A68 there is around four miles to go to get to the village - on C roads. At the best of times, with the traffic that is on them at the moment, they are crowded.

"There are tractors, horse riders, pedestrians - it would be unsafe to put extra traffic on them."'

'I will continue to fight it'

71-year-old Jan Wilkinson. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Jan Wilkinson is 71-years-old - and is one of many villagers who feel their voices haven't been heard.

She said: "I think this planning application will take away the identity of Hamsterley Forest. This forest has history - we have a beautiful forest here.

"This forest is for families - not for riotous debauchery. People come here to have nice walks but it is going to be overrun."

"I don't think, at a meeting we had, they took a blind bit of notice. They are not interested in the village.

"I feel disgusted that they think they can override our quality of life. If the plan gets the green light - I will still fight it. Truthfully, I would still fight."

'We want to fight this'

Carole Atkinson, 69. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) For 69-year-old Carole Atkinson, fighting for the forest is not a new prospect.

She was a key campaigner back in 2011 - when scores of people marched through Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, on Saturday, over fears it would be sold.

She said: "Why did we spend all this time trying to save our forest when they are going to do this anyway. It would be okay to put a few in, but 70 in?

"There are already queues usually to get into the forest and this is just going to overrun it. We want to fight this as much as we can."

Following comments made by villagers, we approached Forestry England to ask them to address their specific concerns.

Regarding emergency service access, they say that blue light vehicles have priority over others and that they have been consulted by villagers on this matter before.

They said: "We have answered questions on emergency vehicle access before, both at public exhibitions and in correspondence with individuals:

"This would be the same as on any part of the highways network. Blue light vehicles have priority over other vehicles. There are two highway access points into the forest in the worst case scenario.

"The proposals cover a very small area within wider Hamsterley Forest and multiple access points are both well-known and used by the emergency services with whom we have a strong relationship.

"There is a network of forest roads and Fire RV points which the fire service and other emergency vehicles can use in different areas of the forest.

"We liaise regularly with the emergency services, including the Teesdale Mountain Rescue Team, they are kept up to date with forest access points and this would continue."

"Forest Holidays additionally, at current operational cabin locations have an Operational Management Plan, which clearly sets out aspects such as fire safety and protocols for dealing with these in the forest environment."

Secondly, regarding traffic, they said the application is a "complex" one but did not specifically address villagers' comments regarding bus services.

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They added: "The full application (including a Transport Statement) is in the public arena and accessible on Durham’s website.

"The documents are evidence based, containing all necessary information for the relevant experts to inform their decision. 

"We therefore recommend that people read these thoroughly and submit any comments directly through the planning portal."