Forest trail approved at Low Dalby (From Gazette & Herald)

Forest trail approved at Low Dalby

2:21pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in News

THE Forestry Commission has been given the go-ahead to build a multi-user trail at Low Dalby despite objections from wildlife lovers.

The trail will provide enhanced access for 10 per cent of the 400,000 visitors to Dalby Forest each year, who use wheelchairs, pushchairs, mobility scooters and special cycles for the disabled.

The trail will leave the forest road to follow Thornton Beck through fields currently leased to local residents for horse and sheep grazing.

Revised plans were produced by the Commission following a site visit earlier this year by National Park planners.

Objectors told the committee that the path would not blend in with the countryside and people would be roaming close to areas where otters live. One objector said the scheme would be “an undesirable urbanisation of the countryside”.

It was claimed the route would encourage quad bike users and destroy the natural habitat of birds including kingfishers and dippers.

However, planning officers said in a report that further negotiations had taken place on the scheme with the commission’s ecologists and some minor deviations had been made where otter activity was highest.

They added that the scheme will increase recreational opportunities to everyone visiting the area.