Horses relocated from tourist location due to denied residential construction proposal
In the picturesque Cornwall countryside, a dispute concerning Rame Head, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an integral part of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, has been unfolding. The controversy began when tenant farmer Chris Wilton applied for planning permission to build a two-story family home on the site in 2019.
However, the application was rejected due to non-compliance with local zoning regulations and building codes. Following the rejection, Mr. Wilton removed 16 ponies from the land, which were previously used for grazing and conservation purposes. This decision has raised concerns among locals and visitors, as the ponies were not only an attraction but also crucial for maintaining the area's unique wildlife.
Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council have been made aware of the issue and have requested Mr. Wilton to restore grazing on Rame Head as soon as possible. The Rame Protection Group has gone a step further, suggesting that if Mr. Wilton does not wish to maintain the land with conservation grazing, he should consider returning it to the ownership of the councils.
Mr. Wilton, who has been farming the land for over a century, has expressed his commitment to environmental conservation and lamented the removal of the ponies. He stated that a balance must be struck between development and conservation. The farmer claimed that he needed a new home to continue working on the land.
The High Court's decision to refuse planning permission was based on the claim that Cornwall Council's planning committee did not follow the correct process. Complaints from locals led to the case being reviewed by the High Court, where a judge retrospectively refused planning permission.
In response to the rejections of both his planning application and appeal to the Government's planning inspectorate, Mr. Wilton made the decision to remove the ponies due to the lack of facilities and people required to look after them being sufficiently close by.
The Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee, which manages the Country Park, is currently negotiating with relevant parties to ensure appropriate land management of the site going forward. Councillor Kate Ewert, the joint chair of the Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee, has acknowledged the community's concerns about the management of Rame Head without the ponies.
Rame Head is an important nature reserve, part of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, which is a Grade I listed landscape and attracts about 250,000 visitors each year. The Park, managed by both Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council, is home to a variety of unique wildlife, making the conservation of the area a top priority for all involved.
