The letter below is published in response to two letters published in MADNews
DOWN END HOUSE,
CHIEVELEY
BERKSHIRE, RG20 8TG
Telephone (01635) 248334
Ms Meriel Lewis
Publisher and editor
Marcham & District News
8 Orchard Way,
Marcham
Abingdon
0X13 6PP
12 March 2010
Dear Editor,
I an writing to you in response to two recent letters in the Marcham & District News, from Mr H Logan (March issue), and from an unnamed correspondent (November 2009 issue).
Mr Logan is correct in saying that the land in question (of which I am owner) is fenced and that the only basis of public access is by my permission. It is not, however, right to suggest that this is a new state of affairs: the land has been fenced off for many, many years. It has always been necessary to fence the field completely as it has always been used for grazing animals, and in recent years there has also been an electric fence within the fixed fence during the grazing season. I have recently carried out renovations and repairs to the fence, particularly on the west side.
Although it is correct to say that permission is revocable, and that I have been asking people to seek my permission before walking on any of my land in Marcham, I have never revoked any of the permissions which I have granted (over 60 families).
The reason why permission is necessary is that there is no public right of way or any right of public access on the land. I need to manage the land, and also to cover adequately the issues of risk and liability in case of an accident.
The land is grazing land and has to be stocked. That is its primary purpose, so any access has to defer to the need for stock retention and management.
I have no current intention of stopping everyone walking on the land (as suggested by Mr Logan), but I would have to reconsider that policy in the event of any actual claims being made.
Until that time, local people are welcome to walk there with my permission, provided they apply to me first.
I have no intention to dedicate any public right of way on any of my land at Marcham.
That has been the policy of successive owners and occupiers before me, so any previous public access which may have taken place cannot have been as of right.
The letter in the November issue (writer unnamed) gives a misleading impression about past access to the orchard, which would have been physically impossible for any member of the public. There was stringent security around the site because it was used for scientific research. The adjacent bridleway is of course open to the public. (The orchard was burned because it was seriously infected and therefore a danger to other fruit trees.)
Yours sincerely,
John Duffield
If you you wish to apply for permission to access Duffield land, you should write to:
John Duffield
c/o Sheepstead Farm
Sheepstead Rd
Marcham
Abingdon
OX13 6QG
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