The Tale of How the Village Folk of Luddesdown Faced Down the British Army and Won the Peace

In her excellent blog, Kate Ashbrook, now Chair of The Open Spaces Society tells how in the early 1980s the Ministry of Defence bought 630 acres of farmland in the beautiful Luddesdown valley in the hope of gaining permission to use it for up to 90 days a year for mine laying and for up to 12 weekends for infantry training with pyrotechnics and helicopters.

This was despite the land’s many designations—North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, green belt, site of special scientific interest, Special Landscape Area, and Area of High Nature Conservation Value.  But then the military does occupy some outstandingly special areas—take the Dartmoor, Northumberland and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks for instance.  The Luddesdown valley is also crossed by public rights of way, including the Weald Way which runs from Gravesend, Kent, to Eastbourne, East Sussex.

As soon as it heard of the threat, this small community immediately swung into action. It formed the very effective Luddesdown Action Group.  The group is still thriving, as the Luddesdown Society whose efficient chairman Pat Luxford organised the celebration event.

The Gravesend (later Gravesham) MP, Tim Brinton, lobbied to ensure that there was a public inquiry.  And the Luddesdown Action Group secured a good turnout.  The Ramblers, Open Spaces Society and British Horse Society were among those giving evidence, and on the first day the hall was packed.  The inspector had originally allocated two days but it went on for weeks.

Summoned

The indomitable Pat Wilson, who helped to galvanise everyone into action, was responsible for getting Kate Ashbrook, a campaigner who now chairs the Open Spaces Society, to the inquiry.  At that time Kate was the secretary of the Dartmoor Preservation Association and had given evidence at the Sharp inquiry into military training on Dartmoor in 1975.  Kate was summoned by Pat to tell the Luddesdown inquiry of her experiences of dealing with the MoD.

In her evidence Kate said that the military could not be trusted to keep promises or adhere to agreements or covenants.  Its dealings were often concealed under a cloak of confidentiality so it was hard to counter its arguments.  She showed photographs (below) of unexploded bombs and unfilled-in craters, which were contrary to the military’s covenants with the Duchy of Cornwall. 

The inspector, Mr R Pierce, decided, and the Secretary of State for the Environment agreed, that the proposal should be rejected.  The inspector wrote:

”I am in no doubt that the area is one of particular sensitivity.  Above all it has beauty and tranquillity; qualities which in accordance with the relevant planning policies should be preserved and enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of the public."

His words are rare reminder of a wisdom and insight that is too rarely seen in planning matters, noting that he prefaced his opinion by acknowledging the particular sensitivity of the area.

Read Kate Ashbrooks excellent account here