Inquiry off to stormy start

8:05am Tuesday 3rd April 2007

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Campaigners made angry outbursts yesterday as they began their final attempt to save a Radley lake from becoming a power station's dumping ground.

More than 80 people were at the first hearing of a four-day inquiry over whether to give village green status to two lakes at Thrupp and Bullfield lakes.

RWE npower has permission to dump spent fuel ash from its power station at Didcot into Thrupp Lake - but campaign group Save Radley Lakes says it should be blocked because the area is a beauty spot and recreation area.

RWE npower and two other landowners dispute that it has been used by many people over the past two decades - and that drew heckling from some campaigners at yesterday's inquiry at Radley College.

In his opening statement, RWE barrister Charles Mynors said there had been no recreational use of the lakes other than for angling by permission and occasional swimming, boating, canoeing, water and jet skiing by the previous owners.

Mr Mynors said: "I think over the years people's memories may have been coloured as to what activities actually took place on the lake."

His statement triggered cries of "rubbish", "nonsense" and "ridiculous" from SRL members.

Jo Cartmell, the Save Radley Lakes secretary, lodged the Village Green application with Oxfordshire County Council under the Commons Registration Act 1965.

In his opening statement on behalf of Mrs Cartmell, barrister Philip Petchey said: "The nature interest of the lakes site and its beauty are relevant.

"It is because of these things that people go there. If they go there it is to do things that will make the lakes registrable as a town or village green."

Mrs Cartmell said she and many people had used Thrupp and Bullfield lakes for a range of lawful sports and past times for more than 20 years.

She said: "It is a unique wildlife site whose future as a community resource deserves to be designated as a Town or Village Green."

Inquiry inspector Vivian Chapman said his function was to hear evidence and prepare a report setting out his findings and recommendation to Oxfordshire County Council, rather than making a decision himself.

Originally RWE npower wanted to use both lakes but dropped Bullfield, the smaller lake, from its planning application to the county council.

Campaigners want both lakes given village green status.