Hoad’s Wood: an update

Environment Agency launches tender process to find clearance contractor

The case of Hoad’s Wood has attracted substantial media coverage at both local and national level, with CPRE Kent heavily involved in efforts to highlight a growing problem in the Kent countryside.

Some four acres of the wood, near Bethersden, had been wrecked by the illegal dumping of landfill waste, causing campaigners to demand government approval for a £10 million budget for full clearance of the site and its replanting with native species.

In April, Rescue Hoads Wood, CPRE Kent, Kent Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, The Woodland Trust, South East Rivers Trust and CLA South East (Country Land and Business Association) wrote to Steve Barclay, then-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, asking him to sanction the release of emergency funds to begin the clean-up.

The following month, MP Robbie Moore replied on behalf of Mr Barclay to confirm that the Environment Agency had been asked how it intended to tackle the issue, which was also raised in the House of Lords by Earl Russell.

And on Thursday, May 23, a ministerial direction was published on the government’s website, GOV.UK, ordering the wood be cleared of waste. Although the campaign groups had called for funds to be released from the Treasury, the order said the cost of the operation was down to the EA.

It had been hoped the EA would have begun clearance operations by Wednesday, July 31, at the latest, but lack of evidence of any such work prompted legal action from Rescue Hoads Wood, which instructed legal counsel Leigh Day to send a letter to the EA in a bid to get it to commit to a concrete timeline to clear the site.

The letter appeared to focus minds, the EA responding with the assurance that it would indeed clear Hoad’s Wood. However, it also said the ministerial directive did not stipulate a timeframe for clearance and it would follow its own process.

In turn, Rescue Hoads Wood asked Leigh Day to follow up with a message to the effect that if the clearance did not start by Monday, October 28, it would consider escalating with formal legal proceedings.

Happily, it can be reported that the EA has launched a tender process to find a contractor. This went live on Monday, September 16, and it is anticipated that award of contract will have been made and clearance started on Monday, October 28.

• To learn more about the saga of Hoad’s Wood, click here