§ Mr. GrieveTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if the Highways Agency will revoke the licence of the Uxbridge Gun Club to occupy Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire; [36095]
(2) if the Highways Agency will bring proceedings against the Uxbridge Gun Club in respect of damage to Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire; [36098]
(3) if Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire, is ancient woodland; and what environmental assessments have been carried out in respect of the wood; [36096]
(4) what the terms are of the licence from the Highways Agency under which the Uxbridge Gun Club occupies Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire. [36094]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Highways Agency agreed to the licence of Broadspring Wood to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club under the following terms
550WThe exclusive right of sporting by shooting and of killing and carrying away for his own use all game deer wild fowl and such other wild birds listed in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as it shall for the time being be lawful to shoot kill or take and to shoot clay pigeon. Together with power to enter upon the lands for the purposes aforesaid and for rearing and preserving game and wildfowl".To exercise the rights and privileges hereby granted and demised in a sportsmanlike and proper manner and at proper seasons of the year and in such a way not to endanger tenants occupiers or users of the lands or any adjoining neighbouring premises or to cause any nuisance or annoyance to the same".Not in the exercise of the said rights and privileges to do or permit to be done any spoil or damage whatsoever to the lands or to the woods banks fences hedges crops or plantation thereon or any property of the Owners".To indemnify the Owners against all agricultural and other claims and demands made against them for costs incurred by them in relation to any spoil or damage to property stock crops or any person against claims of any other nature arising out of game damage or the exercise of the rights and privileges herby granted and demised".To kill destroy and strictly keep down the ground game pigeons moles and other pests in and upon the lands so as to prevent the number of them increasing or impeding the good management of the lands or injuring the crops trees underwood plantation pasturage hedges and fences thereon".To satisfy the Owners that the Licensee during the period of this Agreement is adequately covered by insurance in respect of third party liability for a sum of not less than £5,000,000 and on request to produce for inspection by the Owners the policy and premium receipt".To obtain any planning or other permission which may be required".Not to shoot towards the M25".To remove empty cartridge cases from the land after each shooting day".To adhere to the British Sporting Code".The Highways Agency have requested their managing agents Smiths Gore urgently to visit the site to investigate any further disturbance to the land since their visit on 13 December 2001. They are requested to report immediately and on receipt a decision will be made on whether the licence held by the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club is to be revoked.
Throughout the process of negotiating the licence and the sale of Broadspring Wood to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club the Highways Agency had no indication that the site was designated as ancient woodland. Professional advice was sought in respect of the sale of the land and it was reported the woodland was in poor condition and contaminated. The contamination was alleged to be from the adjacent land that was a former refuse site.
Together with the recent concerns about the activities of the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club and the suggestion that the site is designated as ancient woodland the Highways Agency will undertake a full review of the case and take any action deemed necessary against the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club.