Residents must be vigilant to help protect a north Hampshire beauty spot.
This call to arms has come from borough and town councillor Steve West after a fire at Tadley Common last week. According to Cllr West, the common is plagued by fires every summer through arson and camp fires which threatens to destroy it.
Tadley Common is also home to a herd of Dexter cows and they could be lost if a fire spreads out of control, Cllr West warned. “I have lived in Tadley for 12 years and this has been a recurring problem,” he told the Observer.
“People thought it had been and gone after last summer but, to be honest with you, that was because it rained pretty much every day. Year on year, summer on summer we get fires in the common; whether this be through arson or people pretending to be Bear Grylls and lighting camp fires.
“People use this common to exercise their dogs, children play in the common and there are Dexter cows who live here – what they are doing is dangerous. At best we could lose acres of the common and at worst someone could get killed.”
Cllr West believes residents can ensure this summer is incident free.
“The summer hasn’t even kicked off yet but, with the help of residents, we can save the common,” he continued. “It is a beautiful area for recreation and this mindless crime is putting it in danger.
“I walk along the common regularly and if I see anyone committing arson I will arrest them and hand them over to the police. I would urge all residents to be vigilant and help protect Tadley Common from this senseless threat.
“If you see someone lighting a fire, call the police. Common fires are draining the resources of the emergency services preventing them from attending more life-threatening situations.”
Hampshire Fire and Rescue confirmed vehicles from Tadley and Hampshire attended an incident at Tadley Common between 6pm and 6.15pm on Tuesday, April 27 – they are treating the fire as malicious.
