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Walkers demand better access to Warwickshire wood after parking spot closed off




A DECISION to close an access road to Oversley Wood has been met with anger and frustration – and created a parking problem.

The wood at Oversley Green near Alcester, owned and managed by Forestry England, has become increasingly popular, but inconsiderate parking by visitors has stopped forestry workers from getting onto the land.

According to the area forester, Richard Boles, parked vehicles have also prevented a farmer from accessing fields while antisocial behaviour, littering, fly-tipping and bags of dog mess left in bushes have also been reported.

While walkers can still get to the woods via Arden Way, the single-track access road off Trench Lane, which led to an unofficial car park, has been closed by owners, National Highways.

Richard Slatter, chairman of Oversley Green Residents’ Association said visitors were now parking off the A46, which he believed had made matters worse.

Oversley Wood.
Oversley Wood.

“The decision by National Highways to close the established parking area for Oversley Wood is really bad for both safety and congestion in the area,” he said. “What they have done is move cars from a safe, secluded spot, used for years, onto a slip road directly off the A46 where parking is much more dangerous.

“Forestry England seem to be sticking to their position of insisting that visitors arrive at the 230-acre wood on foot, over half a mile from any car park in Alcester.

“I moved to Oversley Green seven years ago partly because of the natural beauty of Oversley Wood on our doorstep. We can still walk to the wood to see the bluebells in the spring, but those who have to drive are now faced with a long walk, parking dangerously or just not visiting at all.

“Forestry England have a golden opportunity to create a real success, working with National Highways to produce a safe and secure parking area which supports their mission to ‘connect everyone with the nation’s forests’. It is sad that what we seem to have now is disconnection on a grand scale.”

Mr Boles told the Herald that access issues had been tolerated for years but the situation had got worse since Covid. He said attempts at putting up notices asking drivers to ‘park respectfully’ were ignored.

He added that littering was also a constant battle.

Sign at Oversley Wood, Alcester asking dog owners to 'pick it up, take it home'.
Sign at Oversley Wood, Alcester asking dog owners to 'pick it up, take it home'.

“We’ve asked people to respect and look after the woods and take their rubbish home, but that doesn’t seem to be working,” he said. “We have a group of volunteers who kindly go up each week to pick up other people’s debris and rubbish and they are at the end of their tether.

“We’ve also had reports of anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping – it all comes down to us to manage this so we spoke to National Highways about what we could do and as a result a decision was made to keep the gate closed.”

Mr Boles also pointed out that an access route on the western side of the wood was suitable for wheelchair users wanting to visit.

National Highways route manager, Fiona McKenzie, said: “We introduced locks on the gate across the access road after parked vehicles were causing damage to the road surface and verges as well as blocking access.

“The public right of way has been maintained for pedestrians.”

She added there were no plans to remove the lock and urged drivers find areas off the A46 to park safely.



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