Help us protect Throop Village and the surrounding countryside.

Throop Village Conservation Group is a recently formed group - set up to stop Bournemouth Borough Council's plans for a large visitor attraction at Hicks Farm in the heart of Throop Village.

We want the Council to renovate and restore the heritage listed buildings at Hicks Farm which they have allowed to fall into a bad state of disrepair, and retain the land for agricultural purpose. However, the Council is proposing developing a 'sustainable community farm' on the land at Hicks Farm which is highly unsuitable for the location, being within a small hamlet, within the conservation area and on green belt, and with unsuitable road access.

The Council is in the process of applying for a Heritage Lottery Grant, and despite no consultation with, or involvement of the local community, they have issued their proposals for the farm, which will attract many hundreds of thousands of visitors, bring major traffic problems, and destroy the last bastion of true countryside remaining in the Bournemouth conurbation.

As well as being damaging to the wildlife and natural habitats, this project has huge ramifications for the local residents, many of whose properties are in the immediate vicinity of Hicks Farm.

The plans include visitor centres and education centres, business units, staff accommodation, cafe, farm shop, meeting rooms and classrooms and several toilet blocks. 2 large car park areas have been identified within Throop Village, together with a network of footpaths and cycle paths across currently untouched riverside landscape & countryside within the conservation area.

Suggestions for generating income (additional to the shop/cafe etc.) have included 'glamping' and educational residentials, plus cycle hire.

This is not a charming, 'fluffy' countryside heritage project - but a VERY LARGE SCALE PLAN. It forms part of the newly proposed 'Stour Valley Park', and the Council wants to have 3 MAJOR GATEWAYS: The first is Hengistbury Head (which attracts 1 million + visitors), the second is Kingston Lacy (327,000 visitors) and the third is Hicks Farm, in Throop Village (which could feasibly attract up to 500,000 visitors each year.)

The Stour Valley Masterplan 2013 identified other alternative sites for the potential third gateway, and yet the Council has chosen to disregard these in favour of Hicks Farm (without any community consultation). Land adjacent to Cherry Trees nursery (which has riverside access, open countryside etc.) was the suggested site - and this land (also owned by the council) would be far more suitable, where purpose built eco-friendly units could be constructed, with safer road access and no impact on residential properties. We want to know why the Council has now chosen to totally disregard this option in favour of Hicks Farm?

HELP US TO STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT!

Many people have asked us how they can help support the group. We have set up a website, published our first newsletter and held an inaugural meeting. Far from being NIMBY's - this is a group of people passionate about protecting the area from over use and over development. Many of our supporters are those who appreciate Throop Village as it is, and even though they don't live in the vicinity, enjoy walking, fishing, horse riding etc, and visiting Throop Mill and the surrounding countryside. We believe there is already enough existing access to the riverside and meadows, without the need to create high impact, high footfall visitor numbers which will be severely detrimental. This is a heritage area - and once it's gone... it's gone forever.

Due to the secretive and non-communicative tactics being adopted by Bournemouth Council we are having to be the vehicle to keep local people informed. There are costs incurred in this, and anything you can donate towards our fighting fund will be greatly appreciated. This is COMMUNITY IN ACTION! We won't be bullied into submission and hope you will continue to support us. THANK YOU.

For more news, views and information visit our website Throop Village Conservation Group