SUN receive certain assurances at
National Trust Liaison Meeting
On September 17th 1997, we held the first of two meetings with the National
Trust. This followed a summer of escalating harassment and oppressive behaviour
by National Trust employees and their paid puppets in Dorset Police.
Trust questioned over behaviour of wardens throughout
the summer
The early part of the meeting followed the familiar pattern of National Trust propaganda
recitation, intermixed with some harsh and searching questions from our side
relating to the behaviour of National Trust employees over the preceding months.
After half time the Trust tuned in to the valid
arguments of SUN and showed willingness to reach a compromise
After a
half time break for refreshments the entire atmosphere changed. We sensed that
maybe, at long last, they were beginning to realise that we were not just a few
agitators (or any of the other uncomplimentary epithets they have applied to us
over the last two years) but that we had a valid argument. Most of the
initiative in this change of attitude seemed to be as a result of the much more
open and conciliatory approach adopted by Ms Mead, a younger and more
articulate representative of the National Trust's position than her predecessor Liz
Roberts. As the meeting progressed through its second session it was quite
clear that there was a willingness on their part to reach a compromise, and by
the end of the afternoon we had received certain assurances:
- That they would seriously reconsider the routing of Heather Walk
- That they would not conduct any further tree clearance without consulting
us, and that they would ask English Nature to do the same
- That they would have regular meetings with SUN Group - initially, they suggested
four times a year, but we felt that twice a year would be sufficient for
general purposes with the proviso that ad hoc additional meetings
could be arranged as and when required
- That National Trust wardens and other staff would wear name badges when working on the
beach to ensure they can be identified
- That we would pass on to the Beach Manager, Derek Loveless, any
reports of incidents received by SUN
- That particular attention would be paid to excessive speed of quad cycles
and to the attitude and behaviour of wardens
It is fair to say that the meeting, which broke up in a much more amicable
atmosphere than that in which it started, marks a significant breakthrough in
the two-year deadlock. We believe we can build on this, and go forward in a
spirit of co-operation rather than confrontation. This has, of course, always
been our objective, but it is pleasing nevertheless to report that at last, the
National Trust seem to be coming round to our point of view.
As part of this new concordance, we have offered regular space in The Bare
Essentials to both the National Trust and English Nature. Articles from both bodies
appeared in TBE5 as submitted. Read what English Nature and the
National Trust
have to say.
The meeting was
held for the first time on our ground - the meeting room at the King's Arms, Wallisdown, Bournemouth. SUN was represented by Representatives Mark Nisbet,
Gill Williams and Trevor Barratt, Treasurer Sue Dangerfield,
Trustee Pete Dangerfield and Secretary Colin James. The National
Trust fielded
Area Manager Mark Harold, Property Manager Julian Homer, Beach
Manager Derek Loveless and new Regional Public Affairs Manager Celia
Mead.
Unfortunately, the spirit of well-being generated by the above meeting was abruptly shattered
less than one month later when a huge area,
thirty to fifty yards wide and the better part of a hundred yards deep, had been
totally denuded of trees. Full story.
Pictures.
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