Tentative moves towards agreement on Pensford Field following “constructive” meeting

Pensford Field Wildflower Meadow

Following a meeting on Friday 29th November Richmond Council has issued a jointly agreed statement which outlines a potential route to an agreement.

In response the Chair of the Pensford Field Environmental Trust (PFET) Sarah Atkins, told the Kew Society that whilst they are contributing to ensuring that the community continues to have access and it remains a nature reserve, they “still disagree with the decision and believe it to be unlawful”.

In the joint statement Richmond Council commits to providing a “response” to PFET’s formal complaint, seeking a reversal of the council’s decision and consultation with the community.

The meeting discussed the council’s proposed transfer of the lease of Pensford Field from the PFET to Dose of Nature. The meeting was chaired by the Leader of the Council and was attended by representatives from Pensford Field Environmental Trust, Dose of Nature, Richmond Council along with Councillor Clare Vollum and a representative from The Kew Society.

Joint Statement:

The meeting was constructive in nature and discussed both the detail and the generality of the emerging Heads of Terms and Lease Arrangements under which Dose of Nature would assume management of Pensford Field. The meeting considered a range of conditions and requests put forward by Pensford Field Environmental Trust relating to the emerging heads of terms and lease and the majority were accepted in full by Dose of Nature and some accepted in principle subject to further review and clarification.

The council advised that the lease and heads of terms would be based on the current lease, with specific safeguards and protections included to protect rights of access and focus on nature conservation. The council intends that there would be close involvement by the council to monitor progress and offer assistance as required.

The council proposes that the initial lease awarded to Dose of Nature would be for 10 years with a break clause, within sole control of the council, to be considered at two years. Further a period of engagement 18 months after commencement of the contract would be entered into to ensure various undertakings in relation to conservation and community use were being met.

It was agreed that council officers would be given space, subsequent to the meeting, to produce the lease and heads of terms which would be shared, in draft form, with those present. It was further agreed that once the draft was finalised then a process of engagement would be undertaken.

The meeting concluded with broad acceptance of the plan for engagement and timescales for the next steps. A commitment was given to provide a response to the complaint made by Pensford Field Environmental Trust on 16 October seeking a reversal of the council’s decision and consultation with the community.

Ends