PLANS to install cattle grids to introduce grazing at Holt Heath have been amended following fears that wildlife will be put at risk and public access restricted.

Objections have been pouring into Dorset County Council over an application from English Nature to install three cattle grids and erect fencing on existing public footpaths at the conservation site. They would incorporate a self-closing hunter gate alongside to allow access to horse riders.

English Nature's hope is that by allowing the land to be used for regular grazing, it will not revert to woodland.

At a roads and rights of way meeting at Dorset County Council yesterday, residents' concerns motivated members not to support proposals to site one of the cattle grids at Paradise Farmhouse. A decision over the proposed grid on a farm track south of the Cross Keys pub was deferred for further consultation but councillors gave the third grid, on a track north of the pub, the go-ahead.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Spencer Flower, East Dorset district councillor for Holt, described the decision as "a victory for commonsense".

Dorset county councillor for Verwood, Cllr Toni Coombs said: "This was only a small part of the total grazing scheme, which will be open to public consultation once English Nature have submitted their proposals to the secretary of state. There still remain serious public concerns regarding road safety for both animals and the public should grazing be given the go-ahead."

English Nature maintains the presence of cattle stock and grids would act as traffic-calming.

First published: August 20