Dear Jon Harvey

Thank you for your information request received on 17 April 2021.

We can confirm receipt of your request for information and will handle it
under the most appropriate legislation.  

Your case reference number is FOI 24102

You can expect to receive a response by 17 May 2021.

The Council will be in touch if we need any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Information Management Team

Buckinghamshire Council

[1][Buckinghamshire Council request email]

[2]A Little Longer

DISCLAIMER FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender and
are not necessarily those of Buckinghamshire Council unless explicitly
stated.

This email and any attachments may contain confidential or privileged
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to whom it is addressed. Any confidential, sensitive or protectively
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If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute,
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confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost. 

Buckinghamshire Council may monitor the contents of emails sent and
received via its network for the purposes of ensuring compliance with
relevant legislation and the Council’s policies and procedures. All such
monitoring will take place in accordance with relevant legislation
including privacy and data protection legislation. For details of how
Buckinghamshire Council uses personal information please see the Council’s
website.

Buckinghamshire Council has scanned this email and attachments for viruses
but does not accept any responsibilities for viruses once this email has
been transmitted. You should therefore carry out your own anti-virus
checks before opening any documents.

References

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1. mailto:[Buckinghamshire Council request email]

Dear Mr Harvey

FOI / EIR 24102

Thank you for your request for information regarding trails and dens
around Holloway Spinney.

This request has been handled under the Environmental Information
Regulations 2004.

We can confirm that Buckinghamshire Council does hold information falling
within the description specified in your request.

Please refer to our response below.
Holloway Spinney is owned and managed by Buckinghamshire Council for the
purposes of informal recreation and conservation; officers with
ecological, land management and tree management expertise all contribute
to the management of a number of open spaces and woodland sites across the
area; they make operational management decisions about these sites on a
daily basis and any removal of unauthorised structures within any of the
sites is a purely operational decision. 

The construction of ramps and jumps in these sites is a fairly commonplace
activity in our green spaces and woodlands but these structures raise a
number of concerns for the Council:-

 1. Holloway Spinney is covered by a Tree Preservation Order and any works
to the trees needs permission, this includes tree removal, branch
pruning and root pruning. Digging within the spinney needs permission
and it is an offence to cut through tree roots, creating the ramps and
hollows will undoubtably have a negative impact on the tree roots and
causes harm to the trees.

 2. Similarly, the excavation of soil and erosion caused by riding
bicycles around the base of the trees is detrimental to their health
and will ultimately lead to decline and probable death of the tree
which will subsequently need to be removed.

 3. The cut timber resulting from tree safety works was left within the
woods for its conservation and biodiversity value; the
relocation/repurposing of this timber means that this conservation
value has now been lost.

 4. The locations and build quality of the berms and jumps do not meet any
design standards and as a result the potential for an accident to
occur and its severity may be increased. Should an accident occur
while individuals are using these structures, it is possible that the
Council would be liable for any claims. The works completed to remove
these structures fulfils the Health & Safety and Occupiers Liabilities
and protects the interests of the Council.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number provided in the subject line of
this email in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision,
you can contact us at [1][Buckinghamshire Council request email] or by
writing to us at

Information Governance
Buckinghamshire Council
The Gateway
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
HP19 8FF

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
internal review procedure provided by Buckinghamshire Council. 

You can contact the ICO via their website
[2]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ or by writing to them at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire

SK9 5AF 

Alternatively, you can phone them on 0303 123 1113.

With kind regards

The Freedom of Information Team

Deputy Chief Executive Directorate

Buckinghamshire Council
New County Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA
[3][Buckinghamshire Council request email]

[4]A Little Longer

DISCLAIMER FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender and
are not necessarily those of Buckinghamshire Council unless explicitly
stated.

This email and any attachments may contain confidential or privileged
information and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity
to whom it is addressed. Any confidential, sensitive or protectively
marked material must be handled accordingly.

If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute,
copy, print or rely on any of the information contained in the email or
attachments, and all copies must be deleted immediately. If you do receive
this email in error please notify the sender immediately and note that
confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost. 

Buckinghamshire Council may monitor the contents of emails sent and
received via its network for the purposes of ensuring compliance with
relevant legislation and the Council’s policies and procedures. All such
monitoring will take place in accordance with relevant legislation
including privacy and data protection legislation. For details of how
Buckinghamshire Council uses personal information please see the Council’s
website.

Buckinghamshire Council has scanned this email and attachments for viruses
but does not accept any responsibilities for viruses once this email has
been transmitted. You should therefore carry out your own anti-virus
checks before opening any documents.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Buckinghamshire Council request email]
2. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
3. mailto:[Buckinghamshire Council request email]