Proposed Common Land Exchange
The Box Moor Trust would like to deregister a small section of common land owned by the Trust - part of Box Hill (Gees Meadow) exchanging the area for a larger area of land (also owned by the Trust) adjoining the common land that runs alongside London Road. The larger area would be registered as ‘common land’.
If we were successful in our application to exchange, we intend to use the deregistered Box Hill area for our land management and agricultural activities. This additional space would be used to improve our livestock housing and in turn will allow us to provide enhanced educational opportunities and community activities, such as our popular lambing event.
As part of our application, we intend to provide a new gate and a new permissive path from London Road to improve access to the remaining part of Box Hill through to the footpaths around Westbrook Hay.
Which areas are proposed for exchange?
Part of Box Hill (Gee’s Meadow)
The paddock at Snooks End Farm is owned by the Trust and is registered common land. The Paddock leads into Box Hill, but there is no egress through to Preston Hill. As part of the exchange, and if successful, the Box Moor Trust will install a pedestrian gate and a permissive path which would link Box Hill with Westbrook Hay.
Snook’s Triangle and part of Snook’s Moor
This area is privately owned by the Trust and is not common land. Should our application to exchange be successful this area would become registered ‘common land’. This would mean people’s rights of access would become protected in perpetuity. This area is three times the size of the proposed area the Trust would like to exchange.
Consultation
When applying to deregister and/or exchange common land any land owner must hold a public consultation, hearing and addressing concerns of members of the public.
The Box Moor Trust believes the application to exchange an area of Box Hill with Snook’s Triangle will be of benefit to the Trust but also for the Trust’s beneficiaries, and the wider public, as it will generate an area of registered ‘common land’ three times the size of the area proposed for deregistration. Ultimately, this will increase the overall acreage of open access common land within Hemel Hempstead.
As part of our obligation to hold a public consultation we warmly invite members of the public to join us at the Trust Centre where we will be able to share detailed information on our plan and application, answer any questions you may have and hear any concerns. If you would like to join us we will be hosting drop in sessions on Tuesday 15th July between 6:30 – 8pm and on Saturday 19th July between 10:30am and 12pm.
We also invite you to complete an enquiry form if you have any questions you would like answered directly beforehand, or if you are unable to attend either drop in session.
Should we be successful in our application, or otherwise, both areas, Box Hill and Snook’s Triangle, will remain part of the Box Moor Trust estate – owned and managed by the Trust.