From: Martin Wright [mcswright@hotmail.com]

Sent: 05 July 2016 17:38

To: Linaker, Karen

Cc: Tomes, Ian; Clewer, Richard

Subject: Harnham Water Meadows Tail Drain

Dear Ms Linaker,

I have been asked by Ian Tomes to write to you in support of the application to have the Tail Drain cleared.  I have spoken to Mrs Jan Fitzjohn who is chairman of the management committee of the Harnham Water Meadows Trust.  She is on her way to Alderney at the moment and asked me to write to you on her behalf.

The Tail Drain is an important part of the irrigation system of the Harnham Water Meadows.  Its function is to drain water from the water meadows into the Nadder and it helps keep the town path clear of flood water.  Although it is the responsibility of Wiltshire County Council the  Water Meadows Trust has, historically, assembled working parties of volunteers to keep the waterway clear of silt and rubbish.  I and my wife Lesley, who is a trustee and head of children’s education for the Trust,  were members of these groups!

That was stopped at a meeting of the Operational Flood Working Group – South in June 2013.  A section of the minutes states that:

                “Historically the trust has organised regular maintenance of the watercourse but involvement of Wiltshire Wildlife has restricted their activities and the system is now seriously overgrown, full of litter and rubbish .... there are also concerns that trees are growing against the town path and causing structural damage.”

This was followed by a visit in August of that year by Ms Fiona Elphick, Ms Dianne Matthews and Mr Russell Spencer who made recommendations including permission to carry out limited work provided it was done sensitively.  Nothing has so far happened despite repeated requests from the Trust.

This 300m waterway is now almost completely blocked and utterly beyond the capability of volunteers with shovels to clear.  It is in a very sorry state indeed.

The Trust wholeheartedly supports the initiative to have it cleared.  They have indicated that if the digger operator requires access to the Tail Drain from their property, they will have the sheep removed from the relevant areas and will authorise it immediately.

Please let me know if there is anything further I can add to support this request.

Yours sincerely

Martin Wright

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