Private woods could become new playground

Owners of The Hammonds, an area of private woodland off of Telham Lane, have submitted a planning application to change the use of the site to enable them to offer luxury holidays, family activity days and educational forest school classes.

The application includes plans for a natural swimming pond, shelter, tree house classroom and boardwalk paths.

Those behind the application say it will bring income and employment prospects to the area, as well as offering training, educational support to local schools and apprenticeships to those who may struggle to find placements.

But plans to use Telham Lane as access have caused some concerns.

Martin Whitley, who lives in Telham Lane, says it is just too dangerous.

He wrote to the council to say: “Although I have no real objection to the overall development, I object strongly to the access being provided via Telham Lane.

“It is just too dangerous to create an entrance which will be used significantly more than just a small lane to a holiday cottage.

“The traffic on Telham Lane is far too fast and the entrance being on the inside of the hill bend would not provide sufficient visibility, particularly of traffic travelling down the lane at speed to Powdermill Lane.”

A decision will be made by Rother District Council’s planning committee later this year.

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