Vegetation Clearance at The Ghyll – Update and Clarification

Southwater Parish Council is aware of concerns and comments circulating about the recent clearance of vegetation at The Ghyll. We want to take this opportunity to be fully transparent on the matter and address any misinformation or misconceptions that may have arisen.

What Works Have Taken Place?  

Vegetation clearance works were recently carried out at the overflow car park and around the southern perimeter of The Ghyll, along the path from the bridge by The Ghyll Play Area to the Public Right of Way (PROW) in the southeast corner.

These works form part of a scheduled maintenance task under the Council’s existing grounds maintenance contract that commenced on 1st April 2023. The path in question had become heavily overgrown as it had been overlooked prior to 2023 and suffered from years of neglect.  The path was no longer accessible or safe to use despite being marked as a path on HM Land Registry title plan (dashed line on image below) ref WSX382981.

This is a copy of the title plan on 23 MAY 2025 at 11:42:39.

The works being undertaken are necessary to restore access in accordance with the marked path which will also protect the fencing from further deterioration and ensure safety following concerns raised.

Who is Responsible for the Area? The land at The Ghyll is managed by Southwater Ghyll CIO, which has operational responsibility for all the land contained within the title plan for The Ghyll, and the Laurie Apted Building under a leisure management agreement. However, much of the ground maintenance works for the area are being fulfilled by Southwater Parish Council.

Specifically, the Council holds a Grounds Maintenance Contract which runs from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2026, includes scheduled upkeep of The Ghyll and surrounding pathways. This arrangement ensures continuity of care, health and safety compliance, and cost efficiencies through inclusion within the Council’s wider maintenance programme. As a local government body, the Parish Council was also required to publish the Invitation to Tender via the Gov.uk Contracts Finder website.

This agreement was made following the transfer of operational responsibilities to the CIO, and the Council’s financial grant to the CIO from 2023 onwards was adjusted accordingly to reflect the continued delivery of these services to the grounds by the Council’s contractor.

In essence:

• Southwater Ghyll CIO manages and operates the land and building.

• Southwater Parish Council currently delivers grounds maintenance through its contractor until 31 March 2026.

The recent clearance works were carried out by the Council as part of its contractual obligations and site inspections, and not Southwater Ghyll CIO.

Why Was the Work Carried Out Now?

The Council recognises the importance of timing such works responsibly. Clearance works are scheduled only after contractor assessments confirm it is safe to do so. In this case, following concerns raised relating to public safety, a site inspection identified damage to fencing and unmanaged vegetation that was beginning to pose a risk to public safety and to the security of the playing field which required urgent maintenance.

Why Was This Area Not Maintained Previously?  

We believe it is important to be transparent with our residents. The specific area in question, ‘the overgrown path along the southern perimeter of the field’, had unfortunately been overlooked in previous grounds maintenance schedules. This omission predates the formation of Southwater Ghyll CIO and the signing of the LMA.

Over time, this section of the site became significantly overgrown and inaccessible. Regrettably, due to the lack of clear reference in earlier contracts and handover documents, routine maintenance of this path had not taken place. The issue was only brought to the Council’s attention recently via correspondence from a resident, at which point it was promptly inspected by both Southwater Ghyll CIO and the Council.

While the Council acknowledges that this section should have been maintained sooner, we also wish to reassure residents that this was not due to negligence or disregard, but rather a legacy issue stemming from a changeover of staffing, management and the absence of handover, combined with historical ambiguity in maintenance documentation and definitions. Now that this has been brought to our attention and the matter has been clarified, we hope that we have been able to address the issue and ensure its continued rectification.

Moving forward, should Southwater Ghyll CIO request inclusion in the Council’s next grounds maintenance schedule/invitation to tender, the Council will ensure the area is clearly listed in the site specifications for any future grounds maintenance contracts.  An updated review will be planned ahead of the next contract term from April 2026.  We understand Southwater Ghyll CIO would likewise ensure the inclusion of this area and that it is not omitted if they choose to carry out their own grounds maintenance works without inclusion in the Council’s programme.

Nesting Season and Wildlife – Were Rules Followed?

Yes. Southwater Parish Council takes its legal and ethical responsibilities towards wildlife seriously. The timing of works during nesting season (typically March–August) was carefully considered. The contractor engaged to carry out the works, follows a Wildlife Care Policy and carried out pre-works nesting assessments following best practice, accreditations, and guidance from the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000.

These assessments include:

• Visual inspections for active nests

• Monitoring bird activity for signs of disturbance

• Stopping work immediately in any area where a nest is identified

Wildlife Care

It is important that before we undertake any work, we conduct an animal presence survey to enable us to comply with these codes. This enables us to inform our customers of any protected species which may be in the area and how their presence could restrict our work. Many of the animals and their habitats which we encounter are protected by law.

All assessments are recorded by the contractors and, no active nests were found in the areas cleared. If a nest had been discovered, work would have been halted and the area left undisturbed.

You can read more about nesting birds in our previous News Post on Nesting Birds Season.

Is This Work Connected to the Proposed 3G Pitch?

Absolutely not. We wish to firmly clarify that these clearance works have no connection whatsoever to the proposed 3G pitch planning application submitted by Southwater Ghyll CIO.

The works carried out form part of the Council’s broader grounds maintenance responsibilities, which continue to include The Ghyll and the Laurie Apted Building as part of a service arrangement with Southwater Ghyll CIO.

Rebuilding Trust Through Transparency  

We understand and respect the passion many residents have for our green spaces and the local environment. We also understand that trust is earned through openness. As such, we hope this explanation provides reassurance that no laws have been broken, no wildlife has been put at risk, and no connection exists to any planning application.

We aim to maintain safe, accessible and well-managed community spaces while balancing biodiversity and public use.

We encourage residents to contact the Parish Office directly if they have concerns, rather than relying on social media speculation, so that we can provide factual information.