FORESTRY Commission ecologists have been accused of reneging on an agreement with New Forest commoners over wetland restoration work at Markway Lawn.

The Forestry Commission and partnership organisations involved in the European Union-funded Life 3 project at Markway Lawn, beside the A35 near Holmsley, are trying to undo the work of Victorian engineers who straightened the Ober Water.

Over the past century, the fast-flowing straightened watercourse has allowed gravel to be washed downstream, reducing seasonal flooding and drying out the riverside woodland upstream.

To restore the wooded wetlands the original meandering stream has been re-dug and the Victorian watercourse diverted with a clay plug, or barrage.

However, the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association, which represents the interests of the people who own the cattle and ponies that graze the forest, claims that an agreement made in early June has been broken.

NFCDA committee member Michael Cooper complained to the Court of Verderers that the dam used to divert the stream was higher than agreed.

He told the court: "Works have now been carried out and on inspection we are presented with a massive plug which is over 60 metres in length from the point of diversion and in parts nearly a metre higher than the surrounding flood plain."

That would mean the Victorian channel could not act as an overflow when the river is in full spate after heavy rain, he claimed.

"The association is therefore in no doubt that this will result in additional flooding on the area upstream of Markway Bridge and of course result in a loss of grazing, the one point we were careful to avoid when agreeing initial proposals."

A Forestry Commission spokesman said the plug was higher than originally agreed.

The change was made as a result of further scientific information which predicted it would erode unless altered. Project leader Simon Weymouth sent an explanatory letter to all interested parties on August 11 giving them until August 22 to comment.

First published: October 13