Lakenheath spotters carpark

[C-Harvey]

Sad to say that even with such clarification there will still be members of FC who will park incorrectly.

[Doughnut]

The above letter is very informative. But several points are being missed
1) Continually blaming members of FC for all the damage and thoughtless parking is missing the point that the general public also park there. How many times have we seen HVG or white van man parked up there, just having time out, they are not even aware if the location of the airfield.
2) The letter clearly states that the "white marker posts are missing" well if the rare plants are that important they should spend the money to fence the area correctly.
3) I have been working in construction industry all my life including highways projects and have never heard of Roadside Nature Reserves.
4) Without public awareness then parking will continue.

[chrisov]

Good to see the clarification from the council /ecology team.
Would of thought that they would have taken into account what has actually been happening and looked at providing alternative parking if that is possible near by. Carrot is akways better than stick when trying to get things changed.
Hope something us worked out.

[Nighthawke]

The above letter is very informative. But several points are being missed
1) Continually blaming members of FC for all the damage and thoughtless parking is missing the point that the general public also park there. How many times have we seen HVG or white van man parked up there, just having time out, they are not even aware if the location of the airfield.
2) The letter clearly states that the "white marker posts are missing" well if the rare plants are that important they should spend the money to fence the area correctly.
3) I have been working in construction industry all my life including highways projects and have never heard of Roadside Nature Reserves.
4) Without public awareness then parking will continue.

I posted for info only not for blaming or getting blamed.
Re your item 2, money will be spent to prevent 4.

[slogen51]

I find it interesting that the RNR is criteria 1 - Red - 'not safe to visit' - strange as it is a quiet side road away from the main road

I am a bit suspicious of any restriction that limits individual freedom to roam - usually you find a lobby who just don't want people near by.

[James Cutting]

It's not exactly well advertised that it is a protected site, and it's been like it is now for quite a few years. Parking there has been like that for years and probably before I even started visiting so why's it now suddenly a problem? I don't get it

[reaperops]

**Deleted**

[andygolfer]

It’s quite clear, especially from the last line of the letter that they are not blaming anybody (let alone FC members) for deliberate damage and this is a letter to raise awareness rather than ascertain blame. Indeed they concede that the lack of posts may be a factor in the lack of awareness and they wish to rectify that to protect the plants and this is intended to prevent further damage until they can come up with a plan with Suffolk Highways. It’s also a designated SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) which gives it legal protection so more weight behind it.
Without the demarcation parking along there does seem to be an obvious option if the car park is full and sadly that is causing the erosion – hands up time, I parked there 2 weeks ago simply because it seemed convenient and I was none the wiser so that bears out the need for awareness. The problem is that when there is something tasty happening where else can one park AND of course if those that are aware stay away the spaces they leave clear will only be taken by those either not in the know or who think it doesn’t apply to them. Re providing more parking space or as they request parking elsewhere, I don’t think there is anywhere within a reasonable distance where parking could be provided (official or not) so this will always be a difficult issue to resolve. I notice that the RNR also includes Wangford Road which runs east to west (or vice versa) to the north of the airfield.
I can’t see where the ‘RED’ classification is which says unsafe to visit but that may be a classification because of the fast traffic on Wangford Road itself which I pointed out above is part of the RNR, if that’s the reason then it’s quite reasonable because of the traffic speed along there.
Thanks to nighthawke for posting the info, by the number of comments it has had the desired effect of raising awareness amongst us. Just a shame the link on the poster isn’t available to read more about RNRs.
Andy
BTW I encountered these roadside nature reserves fairly regularly in my working life and they do provide a useful ecological link and a corridor for wildlife, they don’t cause as much problem as the appearance of a single great crested newt though.

[reaperops]

For the record as of the 9th April 2021 the verge is marked and been 'zapped by tourists'. They have been there for several years and by the councils own admission not as clearly as they would like.

There are signs closer to the entrance of the Wangford Road and along the C602 towards Lakenheath.

Not out to blame anyone just pointing it out for your information.

[tommc]

I've never noticed those signs before, but that sign itself doesn't really give any information as to what "PROTECTED" means.

Does it mean you cannot even walk along there, or you cannot build a new house there? More clarity would be helpful.

[James Cutting]

For the record as of the 9th April 2021 the verge is marked and been 'zapped by tourists'. They have been there for several years and by the councils own admission not as clearly as they would like.

There are signs closer to the entrance of the Wangford Road and along the C602 towards Lakenheath.

Not out to blame anyone just pointing it out for your information.

Hadn't noticed that before, but thank you for pointing it out.

They could be clearer marked, mind

[martin condon]

I always thought it was the small field on the left as you drive up to the car park, that's the one which is full of rabbits which was "PROTECTED". In all the years I have been going to Lakenheath I have NEVER ever seen a flower on those verges .

Cheers Martin.

[Nighthawke]

Sorry, I had to convert the original document to an image file to post.

This is the link Andy referred to for more info:

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/planning-was ... -wildlife/

I have no connection with Suffolk County Council or any environmental body. I simply sought further information in light of earlier posts in this thread.

[Doughnut]

Thankyou for posting Nighthawk. My early comments were not meant as an offence to you, indeed it was C-Harvey who brought FC members into the conversation.
Andygolfer, yes my work with Highways and and Rivers Authority's has also made me aware of SSSI and their importance, but the RHR are new to me, sadly I expect far easier for the body responsible to add RHR to a map with no knowledge or indeed scientific survey of these areas, other than they are adjacent to a protect area.
Martin Condon, the reason you see no rare flowers in the SSSI protected area is probably because all the rabbits have eaten them. Giving the area special protection from humans has inadvertently allowed a rabbit population to grow to the point where is it the major danger to the plants they are trying to protect. lol

[reaperops]

As I previously posted on the 6th April, there is additional information located here...It adds a little more clarity, not a massive amount.

It isn't explicit in any rules, I guess reliant on the common sense from those visiting. To be fair the signs were put in place when the location was lot less overcrowded that it is now.

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/plann ... NR-153.pdf

[andygolfer]

Nighthawke - many thanks for the link, that's very useful as it explains a bit more about what the RNRs are. as I suspected the 'RED' nature of it is risk assessment based according to the traffic conditions and as Wangford Road is part of the RNR (and SSSI) that probably governed the assessment.

Andygolfer, yes my work with Highways and and Rivers Authority's has also made me aware of SSSI and their importance, but the RHR are new to me, sadly I expect far easier for the body responsible to add RHR to a map with no knowledge or indeed scientific survey of these areas, other than they are adjacent to a protect area.

thanks Doughnut, I had heard of them but they were still fairly new when I retired after almost 40 years in the Water industry - including 10 or so in the Essex River Division before moving onto 'man made dirty water' and drinking water work including water mains in roads and verges, as I said previously I think the SSSI with it's legal status is by far the more important legislation that used to guide us and still would be in this case. as you pointed out the RHR is probably an easier tool in the first instance.
Andy

[jordan]

It's a rather long well manicured lawn.

[Part Timer]

Having visited LN a few times since my first visit in 1982 when you could pull off the road and drive the fence line reading F111's I found the viewing area a mixed blessing. Yes it's a great place to park up and watch the days activity but if you have something special, F22's were a good example, then it's simply over whelmed by the volume of traffic. If you've driven for 6 hours to get there and there's no space you will try to park considerately hopefully and enjoy the day's activities.
Is it not possible to move the fauna and flaura as they do when the council decides to build a new road or housing project, it happens all the time and would avoid the long term problem caused by the conflict of interests.
Just my thoughts and those who are more in the know can shoot it down in flames with no offence taken.

[C24]

Slightly off thread, it is only in recent years (30 or so)that Councils have begun to designate verges as protected. I’m sure it is a good idea to create them but most motorists will pull off the road rather than park on the carriageway and thus blocking the flow.

I wonder how many visitors to RAF Cottesmore are aware that Thistleton Lane leading to the engine test shed/gate 1 and blending into Hooby Lane has had similar signing? Both verges are so designated with posts at long intervals for about nearly two miles.
The posts are not normally visible due vegetation growth. The verges get a thrashing in February/March.
Currently there is a wonderful display of cowslips with red campion beginning to show.

Perhaps the council could leave the Lakenheath verges in the same manner? To prevent access in the meantime, a small trench close to the carriageway would prevent wheels from encroachment.
Just for the record, I parked there before noticing the signs.
Perhaps the airforce Facebook site could provide guidance? They publish info which prompts visitors as I understand it.

Whatever, enjoy the sight and sounds

[Philly1971]

I must confess I have moved to parking in the lane over the past year(when we were allowed out) because as a household we have had to shield. So a rare day out meant trying to stay away from the crowd. Also having a two door car if someone parks too close in the main car park it’s difficult to get in and out of our car. However I also love nature, so am 100% behind protecting these plants, so will definitely go back to the car park going forward, although to be honest with it becoming so busy over the past year or so, these days I generally wait until 06 is in use, as it’s very pleasant to take a picnic, chair, and enjoy lots of space and few people.