5th February 2024; Since we first published this blog more evidence and information has come to light. We have updated the blog accordingly.

TAG have been consistently raising concerns over the abuse of the DANGER signs at Long Valley. Since their implementation combined with installing fencing and use for the 2018 Farnborough Air Show (which apparently lasted 2 months) the desire to exclude recreational access at all times irrespective of use or risk has been endemic. Just in case anyone was wondering the Air Show is a civilian event (not military training) and did not require all 950 acres at all times. But that’s what DIO’s DANGER signs claimed.

But before we dig deeper into the failings let remind ourselves what DIO used to justify the fence and £250k spend. Hung on the fence are laminated signs setting out DIO justification.

The DANGER signs assert military training is underway and poses risks greater than the regular dry training conducted on the rest of the open estate. To be telling the truth both conditions need to be true.

But as TAG have demonstrated back in 2020, 119 hours of use from a total of 2200 hours of locked access cannot be described as balanced or rational.

Nor can it fit the direct instruction from the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP.

In July 2019 the Minister assured residents:

“I can however assure you that officials have been directed to ensure that existing gates are open for public access to Long Valley when it’s not in use for military training.”

JEREMY QUIN MP – SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE PROCUREMENT – LETTER TO CONSTITUENT JULY 2019.

That’s DIO’s political boss making it really, really clear. Except DIO have clearly not got the memo. Or are unwilling or unable to implement it. Or treat Ministers with contempt.

Neither the local politicians or the Junior Minister picked up on the simple fact DIO staff are ignoring them.

Deleted Records? Make Your Own

Not long after TAG started analysing the booking on and off records DIO started deleting them within 48 hours.

The “no good business reason” justification was given but TAG take the view DIO are deleting stuff that is so inconvenient and directly challenging the “always in use” excuse to keep people out. Sharing this stuff just does not fit their narrative or desire to exclude recreation.

The fact is, there is a thing called the Seven Principles of Public Life and these are supposed to guide civil servants and their behaviour.

1.3 Objectivity clearly says “...using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.“

TAG firmly believe the local community is not being served here. Cyclists remain discriminated against while simultaneously other groups are welcomed with a dedicated contact or charged a fee and free to carry on. Gates remain locked for days at a time when the evidence is clear and nothing – certainly not dangerous training – is happening.

Standards do not say “delete anything inconvenient”. TAG firmly believes the in-use records will exist and are held elsewhere but DIO would rather not share them publicly for scrutiny.

In the meantime DIO expect the local community to serve up obedience to signs that are not communicating a valid and truthful message.

So TAG set out to gather their own set of evidence.

Visual Records

The soft, sandy soil of Long Valley is like an Etch-a-Sketch pad. The tracks and marks of anything left by a vehicle, dog walker, cyclist, deer or even a snake are quickly weathered.

Every day is a blank slate. By observing the changes and state of the tracks it becomes easy to take a very good estimation of what has – or has not – happened in the previous 24~72 hours.

And if you take a picture a permanent record is created. Smartphones will record not only the scene but the latitude & longitude and GPS derived time of where and when the image was created.

Which is exactly what TAG supporters have been doing, starting in 2018 and increasing after DIO announced booking on/off records were being quickly deleted.

TAG now have 750 950 1040 individual images creating a persistent record of when, what and where was going on in Long Valley.

Here’s a selection of what recent use looks like:

And here is a selection of what little or no use, or who used it last, looks like.

The sequence of tracks is important – cycle tracks over tyre makes show who and how many have used the area since a vehicle has passed through. Clear puddles show no recent vehicle movements and so speak for themselves.

Update: On quiet weeks where nothing moved, one vehicle would transit the area. Was this training? Or something else? TAG pondered this for a while and then the likely answer was found in the Aldershot Standing Orders.

Combat Service Support Training and Development Unit (CSS TDU) operates the test track and this:

...CSS TDU is to inspect the condition of the track and barriers at least once a week…

Which struggles to qualify as military training. The vehicle leaving the weekly tracks is staff simply inspecting the routes. It wont need 24/7 lockout to achieve this.

Sometimes the only evidence of vehicles moving around – mostly outside of the designated driver training areas – is the pickup carrying the person charged with locking the gates.

The clues of what has been going on can, with careful observation, be read.

How fresh are the tracks?

What has the weather been doing?

What tracks are present and in what order?

What is the vehicle tread type or walkers shoe pattern?

Are there dog tracks too?

How clear are the puddles?

How many weeds are growing in the test track?

It boils down to two primary indicators. Just like objectively measuring wear on MTB trails its the presence or absence of change that tells the story.

All of these are pointers that on their own don’t tell much. But together collectively build up a fuller picture.

The fence itself, whilst very unwelcome, makes it easier to monitor the space. Gates create natural pinch points that anyone and anything must pass through. Presence or absence of fresh tracks is a strong indicator as to how much the land is being used.

The short answer of how much use is “not much”. The status quo established in 2020/21 with just 119 hours from 2200 hours of locked gates remains broadly consistent today.

The Evidence

With such a rich set of evidence it’s difficult to share all of it in an easy to digest form. TAG are willing to consider any requests to review the evidence gathered and any interested party may request a copy by dropping an email to info@trailactiongroup.co.uk

The data about the images tells its own story. In the link below TAG have shared the list of images, latitude & longitude (WGS84 is the datum), and time/dates as an Excel spreadsheet:

Based on that list DIO should be able to correlate the times and dates to their own records. Providing evidence that demonstrates a) when training was underway and b) the training carried a risk profile higher than regular stuff that happens across the rest of the estate should be easy.

On this point TAG firmly welcome any and all evidence based challenge. And TAG will take a moment to remind everyone that civil servants are required to use the best evidence.

Equally, TAG will take silence from DIO as acquiescence and tacit confirmation Long Valley really is more empty than in use.

Or to put it another way “Because we said so” won’t pass the test.

TAG now believe DIO will seek to apply the same “When we say so” rules of access everywhere if they can get away with it. DIO staff are already on record stating new byelaws will contain closed and restricted areas and Long Valley access policy is very much the canary in the coal mine warning of a highly restrictive future if nothing is done.

February update: Long Valley has been closed for weeks and there has been little sign of use. All of this changed on Sunday 4th of February when the area saw plenty of activity. The local drag hunt were granted access, yet the gates were locked and the DANGER signs proclaimed military training.

Times are hard and budgets tight. Military training reverting to horses might save money on armoured vehicles and we know the Ajax program is over budget and late…But this more Pony Club than Light Brigade. Civilian events fail to meet the minimum test for closure of military training. DIO will permit recreation if it’s the right kind. Double standards? We certainly think so.

No one minds the local horse riders enjoying the space and we would welcome more equestrians. What remains deeply objectionable is DIO and their continued efforts to publish mendacious information, claim the area is dangerous and lock the public out. Asking the local community to believe false claims is simply not acceptable.

With Caesars Camp and Beacon Hill busy with military training – including blank firing – Long Valley remains empty and yet denied as an alternative for casual recreation. DIO are really pushing an agenda of conflict instead of working towards a positive outcome for all users – military and civvy alike.

TAG, and indeed the wider community, would welcome an explaination from DIO here. We all deserve some help in understanding how recreational equestrian use on a vehicle test track remains compatible with signs that declare the area is being actively used for military training, and said training is dangerous.

Put it simply, if the rest of the estate sees Long Valley style restrictions we can all kiss goodbye casual recreational access when not in use (or when DIO say it is not in use – Easter and Christmas / New Year?). We will remain at the whim and ego of DIO senior management, who will unilaterally decide when access is appropriate and consider high days and holidays suffice for us mere proles.

The Outcome

The track record of DIO staff meeting direct Ministerial instructions (Jeremy Quin) and MOD policy for access when not in use is abysmal. One immediate outcome should see gates unlocked when not in use.

Even when on their own website they state the land is open after 16.30pm as published on the Gov website the signs do not reflect this.

Left unchecked DIO are, on balance, more likely to serve up more restrictions, more locked gates and more empty space irrespective of actual use. Its all a ratchet that clicks one way.

All statements to the contrary – from politicians and MoD – should be measured against the evidence and treated as false until proved by deeds and actions. The ratchet clicks. Access is lost. In less than a decade it’s gone.

Is that a future we want?

TAG think not.

That is why openly challenging and raising questions about the lack of recreational access at Long Valley is critically important.

Long Valley presented an alternative space when Caesars Camp was busy. By closing off 950 acres irrespective of use DIO are driving conflict. TAG would not be surprised to find DIO seeking to trigger more disruption and conflict between recreational users and the army, stuff that would in their eyes justify more restrictions and serve to strengthen the DIO desire to remove casual public access.

And this is why we are asking everyone to raise the matter with their local MP.

You do not need to be a user of Long Valley to raise these concerns, just be aware of the systemic risks posed by DIO to our recreational future.

If you are still not sure and think DIO are really nice chaps seeking harmony and cooperation with the community, just ask the residents of Ash (or indeed serving military personnel) how DIO treated them during the pandemic. If there is ever a guide book to be written on how to disengage and enrage an otherwise previously supportive community then DIO would be that author.

TAG have little faith in the political process and the local MPs. The evidence suggests DIO run rings around them and even Ranil Jayawardena MP seems unwilling to challenge DIO over a few simple extra gates that were promised.

But we do have an election coming and how DIO have treated our community is going to be a factor.

And finally, don’t believe any “…not intention of MOD to restrict access…” guff if and when an MP replies.

This is comfort jargon – handy soothing phrases intended to make us feel like everything is going to be fine but the reality is different. Government bodies like DIO and politicians are skilled at this form of communication but it’s quickly shredded as meaningless bullshit when checked against reality and measured against outcomes.

All the evidence and outcomes thus far directly and irrefutably demonstrates that DIO has every intention to restrict access, perhaps the early steps in a strategy to sell off the land for housing?

When deeds, actions and outcomes are measured, such words are seen to be meaningless soundbites and spin.

Regular readers should need no reminding that Long Valley is empty more than used. DIO’s own booking on/off records for October 2020 recorded just 7.6 hours of use while the gates were locked for 495 hours total.

Why is this so important?

Put simply…we humans are supposed to be in nature. We belong there. We are part of it and inseparable from the wild.

For individual and collective positive health exposure to natural environments like Long Valley is a deeply embedded need.

Since their imposition in 2018 the fence and locked gates have regularly denied the community access to a wild but otherwise empty and unused space.

Fast forward to October 2022 and we are already seeing the same pattern…days of locked gates and no use. The evidence for this claim has been received by TAG in the form of photos recording vehicle tracks…and once again DIO its clear are sticking two fingers up at the community and recreational users.

By now readers shouldn’t need reminding DIO routinely delete records within 48 hours claiming “no business purpose” for their retention. TAG see this as a nothing more than a deliberate action attempting prevent anyone challenging the decisions and policy set for recreational access by Lt Col Dickie Bishop and subordinates…but it does not stop TAG creating records in their own right.

TAG are now in possession of 500+ photos that record what & when stuff happens and they are proving invaluable. A few are shared below to highlight the persistent issues of access at Long Valley.

After reading the tale of an engineered omnishambles that follows and you feel DIO are failing the community then please take a moment to raise concerns with your MP – and we would encourage you to do so – then a link at the bottom of the page will guide you.

Back to the main point; Just what is the problem at Long Valley?

Locked Gates

For the DANGER signs to tell the truth two conditions must exist:

• Military training must be underway
• The training must be considered more dangerous than regular “dry” training

It would be reasonable to close the gates too if training was imminent and dangerous.

But locking the gates for civilian events, reccy visits ahead of training, TSMs driving around…map reading exercises…regular dry training…you name it…none of them meet the statement on the signs. Yet DIO will put the DANGER signs up and are comfortable publishing information that is either misleading or an outright lie. The convenience of the timetable is rigidly adhered to, overrides rational thought, remains inflexible and is sacrosanct.

The job of locking and unlocking the gates falls to the TSMs or Landmark. Their vehicle tracks are seen Monday morning and Friday afternoon as they drive between each gate. Often their tyre tracks remain the only significant evidence of use for days. This summer saw very little use of the test track to the point areas now have grass growing on it…yet the DANGER signs were duly raised and the gates locked to the timetable.

Pause for a moment and consider the role of the TSM. TAG wonder if the job had been sold as carrying authority including the powers to arrest recreational users? That must be attractive to the authoritarian types?

How disappointing it must be to find out powers of arrest were revoked 17 years ago.

If the job comprises of driving around to unlock gates and let the unwashed undesirable types such as joggers, dog walkers and heaven forbid the absolute scum lowlife mountain bikers in for mere recreation then the job’s not got the same appeal, has it?

TAG have very little sympathy.

The fences wasted a lot of our money and TAG firmly believes their existence is to support egocentric decision making and access policy.

And as we will see they are not even in the right place, if they could be rationally justified.

Thing is, displaying the DANGER signs and locking gates is now driven by administrative convenience and this is contrary repeated direct instructions from two Ministers of Defence Procurement to keep the area available for casual recreation when not in use. Its also a massive exercise in crying wolf which does nothing to support what DIO claim to be for safety purposes…its just convenience.

It takes a special level of arrogance to ignore a direct instruction from your political masters…but DIO carry on regardless and are have proved immune to any attempts to point out their failings.

The issue of access goes beyond contempt for the community and loss of access. The fence – justified on grounds of driver training – is in the wrong place.

DIO Land Grab

According to DIO Standing Orders for the Aldershot training area only part of Long Valley may be used for driver training. The area is subdivided into two discreet and separate areas B4d and B4e, which is known locally as Eelmoor. Here’s a map showing the full extents of driver training area:

As a reminder driver training was the justification and there are signs to this day on the fence confirming this. This area covers 465 acres. Now lets compare this are to where the fence runs:

Which is a total of 952 acres. Which leaves us with 487 acres of space that is out of bounds to driver training. The green areas highlight the gap between what is driver training and what is not. Visually it represents the loss of space either due to standing orders or a physical impossibility thanks to dense woodland:

B4d and B4e can and are booked separately. On the map B4e accounts for 44.5 acres. However most of this comprises of dense woodland. The actual, workable and usable area is a mere 12.6 acres.

Yup – you guessed correct…a booking in B4e representing just 1.3% of the fenced area triggers closure of the lot. The entire area denied to recreation.

A dog walker could be a mile away from the 1.3% of used space but thats just too close for comfort by DIO standards. Rational? Reasonable? Based on evidence? Not at all…but nothing stops DIO in their desire to block recreation.

These maps were created from DIO’s own data and the standing orders were obtained via Freedom of Information requests.

The driver training area accounts for just under 50% of the total space…combine this with very limited use and its clear the DANGER signs are publishing irrelevant and misleading information. TAG directly challenges DIO to refute this conclusion with evidence.

TAG will take silence on this matter as acquiescence and confirmation DIO evidence is non-existent.

There is a fence defining the boundary of the driver training area. DIO have let it fall into disrepair and have elected to spend £250,000 on another one to intended to deter everyone from the full 952 acres, not just the portion perceived to be dangerous.

If the real reason is to keep recreational users away from driver training – and we doubt very much it is – then why is the fence excluding the community 24/7 from a vast area of land?

More DIO lies to support egocentric policy decisions? Administrative convenience? Preparing the area for sale? More housing anyone?

The sale of prime land in the South East would help fill a multi-billon pound hole in MOD accounts.

Think MOD won’t sell the training estate?

Think again.

MOD have an ongoing commitment to reduce the estate.

And judging how DIO treat existing wildlife legislation nothing is off-limits.

TAG can see no good reason, nor have DIO ever provided justification to exclude everyone from an area that sees no more danger than “dry” training – the stuff that is conducted elsewhere on the estate – and without the need for a DANGER signs.

Deja Vu – October 2022

TAG have been sent a series of photos taken during the week commencing October 10th.

They reveal a driver training area that is mostly unused with previous vehicle tracks in the soft sand weathered to the point of being erased.

With patient observation and recording there is no need to visit every day. The weathering of vehicle tracks can be used gauge how long has passed since their creation but most important can be directly compared to previous images. Tracking use isn’t precise as booking records but with DIO routinely deleting them TAG can create a record.

Photos now provide a valuable (and only) record of what is going on.

Taken midday Monday 10th this image was taken at the main entrance to the driver training area:

The area remained unused until at some point prior to AM Thursday:

Thats three days of zero use…and denied recreational access.

By Sunday the land had seen a little more use. However, the most recent tracks left behind on Sunday and seen below are likely to be a TSM or wildlife pickup and not military training.

A quick ride around the area showed the vehicles were not using the full extent of the available tracks.

Here at TAG we prefer quantitive evidence. A while back the driver training routes was ridden (when not in use!) and recorded:

The complete route measures just over 20kms in distance. An average fitness mountain biker would cover that in less than 1hr 30mins. An off road military vehicle is likely to be quicker but the pattern of use over the last two years reveals arrival, one or two laps (not every track every time) and then back to base for tea.

The time Long Valley is used remains a fraction of the time of locked gates and this week’s example is no different to every other week; Minimum use/maximum lockout. The October 2020 example of 7.6 hours of use isn’t unique and continues to this day.

TAG would welcome any challenge from DIO that seeks to disprove our evidence.

Should Long Valley be busy and deserving of locked gates then TAG firmly believe the onus remains on DIO to comprehensively prove it. With evidence. Subject to audit and robust beyond the usual “because we said so”. DIO must clearly demonstrate they are meeting political commitments to make the space available for casual recreation when not in use.

Nothing less will suffice…equally TAG are happy for DIO to remain silent on the matter.

We will take silence as tacit agreement that DIO are unable on balance to prove their case and the DANGER signs really are publishing deliberately misleading information.

Strategic Recreational Asset

TAG bang on a lot about how the use of the locked gates and DANGER signs are being abused. Folks – including Lt Col Bishop and Mark Ludlow (Security and Access) – must be tired of hearing about it.

But the history of failed policy delivering 24/7 lockout is good reason to maintain the tempo and not let the matter rest. In spite of the then Minister for Defence Procurement giving written assurances the area would remain open when not in use for military training this did not happen. In July 2018 DIO locked the gates for a civilian event and walked away, keeping the area locked for months at a time.

DIO had no intention to keep the area open for recreation.

Political assurances were and remain worthless in the face of DIO intransigence.

It took political pressure to secure a commitment from DIO to keep the area open. Even with the commitment in place DIO just ignored the instruction from the Minister before regular access was partially restored with the gates unlocked based on an administrative timetable rather than actual use.

Fast forward to 2020 and it was apparent DIO were still falling short. Their own evidence – in the form of booking on/off records – comprehensively shredded any argument to the contrary.

Then DIO decide to delete the inconvenient truth – the booking on/off records – that should be used to inform and set policy. This is one of the standards in public life. DIO simply ignore the need to function within these expectations.

The current situation is a farce.

DIO carry on locking and unlocking gates perhaps maintaining a fallacious belief the padlocks will work if only people believe just a bit harder. By recording the MTB tracks, dog footprints and jogger trainer marks TAG are confident the DANGER signs are routinely ignored by the local community, who are fully aware the signs are not providing useful or relevant information. For what its worth the popular recreational tracks are away from the driver training routes…

All this misinformation has triggered the TAG satirist creative juices:

The DANGER signs are just a sham. Not worth the scrap value of the boards they are mounted on. The choice of the font and colour scheme is deliberate and is intended to trigger fear…which works until you apply a dose of rational thought and realise its all based on fraud…

Here’s the bottom line:

• As an open recreational space Long Valley benefits and supports military training

When Caesars Camp and Beacon Hill are used for dry training, including blanks and pyro, Long Valley provides an alternate space to use. Avoiding military training very is important but the fence and locked gates make it harder to do just that. Knowing their enthusiasm for full public exclusion a cynic might think DIO prefer fences to force conflict and see training disrupted…thereby justifying more fences…

• As an open recreational space Long Valley is a strategic and important space

With links to the Basingstoke Canal to the north, Velmead Common to the west and Caesars Camp and Beacon Hill to the south the are is used for transit as much as exploring. Its an enabler of greater access and more gates enabling access to the 950 acres remains a very important goal.

• As an open recreational space Long Valley supports the health and wellbeing of the community

Of the 11,000 respondents to the 2020 Byelaws Review survey 4,000 identified Long Valley as an area to use. DIO consistently fail to appreciate the value a cooperative, supportive and welcoming local community represents. Without our cooperation DIO’s goals and aims are worthless and a sensible, rational organisation would be working with the locals not making life hard at every turn.

Try running the show with an uncooperative community who see direct action as a means to achieve the reasonable and rational outcome of preserved and protected casual access

Think it won’t happen?

We would suggest think again. If the National Trust won’t rule it out…or the RSPB…why would anyone think direct action is off limits? TAG are not alone in this thinking with people like Nick Hayes and his excellent book The Trespassers Companion providing food for thought about what comes next.

There are a few simple and inescapable facts that eludes the recreation-is-bad mindset in DIO; humans are very much part of nature and wilderness. We are supposed to be there.

TAG will reason its a human right to exist in nature for we are inseparable. This is recognised by just about every government body except DIO. They stand alone seeking to deny us what Section 2 empowers whilst being funded by the tax revenues the community dumps into their budgets. TAG are now seeing the section of tax handed to DIO as a distinct overhead entitled the “moron premium”…we digress…

DIO function and exist on our cash. DIO require our goodwill and cooperation to deliver their services. Yet we are subject to prejudice, contempt for the laws of the land and are expected to choke on outright lies while Standards in Public Life are disregarded with impunity.

There is a wealth of good evidence to confirm a mentally and physically healthy society is more economically active than unhealthy versions. Demand for health services falls and tax revenues rise. With deterrent fences, closed areas and locked gates DIO are literally killing all- slowly and imperceptibly – the goose that lays the golden tax eggs.

And no one seems to have made that link. Or if they have its a matter of DIO policy to ignore the long term outcomes.

• The success of closing Long Valley will embolden DIO to block casual recreational access

Recreational access is not protected.

DIO remain at liberty and beyond accountability to fence any and all areas they choose.

Think Caesars Camp will remain open? TAG suggests think again.

The fact humans have been using the space for at least 6000 years will count for nothing if DIO decide to pull the plug, fund a fence, install the DANGER flip boards deliver another example of Long Valley “managed access”.

Still not convinced?

Mark Ludlow (Security and Access) is on record saying the areas need greater protection for the habitat and the new byelaws would reflect this “need”.

TAG views this as utter nonsense and is an example of how simply an emboldened DIO will decide what areas are deemed to be off-limits for any human who is not anointed and blessed by written permission. Contrast that to how Middlewick Ranges have been treated…nothing DIO say ever makes joined up sense to the rational thinking types. And knowing how certain groups are blessed by DIO with a named contact…whilst cyclists are treated one up from dog mess…we can guess who might get permission and who won’t be on the guest list.

The idea of using military byelaws to protect habitats makes even less sense when the current raft of protections – SSSI/SPA/Wildlife and Countryside Act plus the existing byelaws – are taken into account.

The desire to protect is sound but DIO are dropping the “solution” to their “problem” on at the feet of casual recreation. The habitat is precious and yes ground nesting birds are indeed worthy of protection but industrialised agriculture and its practices have done more harm than recreational users have to Nightjar chances of success. Yet DIO blame the local community and resolve to ban us instead challenging the real culprits.

DIO will use any and all means to justify their desire to limit or remove casual recreation…its all a fallacy.

Just what part of the existing laws fail to protect the wildlife?

The easy answer…the smokescreen of habitat protection would empower DIO to remove the very thing they despise and resent whilst presenting a charade of being a caring and nurturing organisation. Goodbye casual recreational access.

Which is the very thing we cherish, treasure and value – because we humans are part of wild nature and an active balanced life means immersion in a natural environment is inseparable from the what it means to be a healthy, net positive contributing member of society.

We pay their wages. They work for us. Its time the local community is recognised and treated with respect.

The Way Forward

The current situation isnt sustainable. The holes in the fence and recreational tracks demonstrate the deterrent isn’t working.

Until the Seven Principles of Public Life are amended to include egocentric policy and publishing misleading information, changes must be made to how DIO function and engage with the local community. Changing policy on Long Valley opening times is a step towards that goal.

TAG recognise the need for the army to train. What we struggle with is seeing DIO act as if the community does not exist and their collective and individual failure to use evidence to set policy. We also recognise there might be a lag between closing and start of training and similar when training ceases…but we are not talking a few hours lost…its hundreds of hours per month and thousands over a year. We can never get this time back but the time for change and a better future is now.

TAG sees several options:

• Do nothing

This option is worthy of consideration for a fleeting moment…but like a bad budget its best dropped as it will not deliver an outcome. The status quo cannot be allowed to continue as it serves no one.

• Remove the fence

This option would be expensive but TAG will wager a large group of willing volunteers would pull it down and dispose of its carcass at zero cost to the taxpayer. Judging by the number of holes in the fence there is plenty of talent out there and it won’t take long…this option is TAG preferred.

• Unlock gates and reword signs

The default setting for gates should be unlocked. The DANGER signs replaced with CAUTION signs and more information advising where driver training occurs. The principle must be to inform and educate not revert to fear mongering and scare tactics. Gates may be locked but only when the type of training really is dangerous…apply the lessons and principles of respected range red flags and garner some respect for the system of safety.

Of the three TAG consider the sensible and pragmatic compromise of lowering the warnings to rational levels – advising CAUTION – and supplying sensible information to help recreational users let the army do their thing as the best way forward. The gates can remain unlocked and the TSMs are free to concentrate on other matters. If training gets really gnarly then the decision to lock gates can be taken…but the risks to trigger that will require a rational mindset.

This one is a win-win for all.

So to conclude we will ask everyone to do two things:

Firstly, when you enter the lands adopt a simple mindset;

“I am supposed to be here. I belong in this space. I am part of nature.”

We are supposed to be in nature, to feel the wild and suck in the benefits being in open wild space brings. By taking on a positive mindset we start to remove the barriers and fences others have imposed on our free will. We are, in effect, turning every visit into a small, unmeasured but very personal protest at loss of access.

Having practiced it, stepping over the fence no longer triggers the negative emotions DIO seek to induce with their barbed wire and faux DANGER signs.

Secondly, if you feel suitably aggrieved please feel free to contact your MP and raise your concerns. Encourage them to seek the sensible compromise – include a link to this blog if it helps articulate the issues. Make it clear casual recreational access – including Long Valley – is not something to be removed or blocked by unelected unaccountable remote desk bound civil servants. Remind them of the extreme value of casual recreational access to the wild spaces and ask what provisions they plan for increased healthcare costs if restrictions continue or expand.

Here’s the link:

https://www.writetothem.com

The summer is here and here at TAG we are taking advantage of the great weather to enjoy the wild open spaces of the military lands.

The recent focus on standards in public life has finally delivered a result. Locally and on a similar theme TAG have few updates worth sharing and – surprise surprise – DIO’s latest antics just might trigger a WTH shake of the head.

Summer Reading

We often struggle to articulate why access to the training estate is so important. Why are the rambling nature and informality of the tracks and trails so vital to mental and physical health?

For words and inspiration we need look no further than Nick Hayes‘ excellent work The Book of Trespass.

We would urge everyone to read this book, for it explains why the urge to be in nature, what makes a fence such and affront and offensive, how the powerful manipulate and seek to suppress and remove access…but above all what makes access to the military lands part of us and us very much part of the space.

We humans have been part of the landscape for thousands of years. Neolithic flints at Caesars Camp attest to this and exclusion is a very recent and unwelcome intrusion.

At its basic level, with no gym fees or expensive equipment, recreational access really should be open and available to all. No matter the colour, creed or disposable income everyone can take part. The wider win delivered by casual access is reduced costs for physical and mental health intervention – a healthy society. We have yet to see any evidence DIO take these factors – our welfare – into consideration.

All good booksellers should have a copy of Nick’s book – such as this one.

No, its not a sponsored link or commission based plug to read Nick’s book…just a good idea if you have ever wondered why DIO are so obsessed with control and why the local community places a high value on casual access.

TAG & Private Eye

Known for its cutting journalism and exposing the corrupt, Private Eye have cast their critical gaze over DIO South East and their behaviour towards recreational access.

The article entitled De-ranged* can be found on page 48 in issue 1574 and covers a wide ranging (no pun intended) set of issues triggered by DIO, and points out this isn’t the first time the Eye has covered their antics. Issue 1555 of the Eye featured the efforts of Save our Spaces to reinstate access at Ash Ranges.

The latest article is worth a read, but only if your blood pressure can tolerate tales of empty threats, deletion of records to hide the truth, and the simple fact Long Valley really isn’t as busy as the signs claim.

The article mentions a email TAG received from an unnamed DIO email account, asking that we cease naming DIO staff, such as the commanding officer Lt Col Dickie Bishop, and only use generic titles claiming GDPR rules as good reason.

We checked with the ICO.

Junior officials can expect not to be named. However, senior staff – and those who set and make policy decisions – should expect to be held accountable. Which is exactly the principle we adhere to.

Until DIO can point to the legislation that backs up their claim the email can sit in the “crude attempt at censorship” bucket. DIO have repeatedly claimed the ICO are looking into a complaint against TAG…but at time of writing they have refused to provide the case reference number, in spite of being asked for it multiple times.

No doubt DIO would prefer to see everything working their way and trying to suppress dissent would help greatly. TAG are in good company. Private Eye have shared the name of who sits at the top of the mess DIO SE. We wonder if Private Eye will be subject to a similar complaints?

There is every chance more material will be heading to Private Eye very soon…we hope to make DIO and staff a regular feature.

*TAG adored the title…so we shamelessly copied it.

Uncomfortable Truth? Delete It!

For a long time the DANGER signs at Long Valley have been telling lies. TAG have proved this by obtaining the booking on/off records and comparing them to the number of hours the gates were locked.

You can read the full story here.

The October 2020 records are…outstanding. From 498 hours of lockout the area was in use for a mere 7.6 hours. This qualifies as a WTH head shake moment…but that is exactly what DIO’s own records said.

Before we go on its important to remind everyone there is such a thing as Standards in Public Life. There are seven of them (see Seven Principles of Public Life) and one is objectivity. We repeat it here:

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

From our latest FOI request we now know booking on/off records are deleted within 48 hours of their creation.

Yes, thats right…DIO are deleting records to prevent anyone from using them… to either inform objective policy (little chance of that happening in DIO) or permit objective and very reasonable criticism of their behaviour (every chance of TAG doing just that).

Another WTH head shake moment? We think so.

MoD’s own policy document (JSP375) indicates records should be kept for 3 years. Clearly DIO seem to think it doesn’t apply to them.

However, there is an extensive set of records that we can rely on.

TAG have been amassing a photographic record and there are nearly 400 images that capture the lack of use within Long Valley.

On their own the images simply record changes in the land and vehicle movements, or lack thereof. Collectively the date/time/location data highlight a pattern of inactivity and empty unused space.

With DIO deleting their own records we are confident TAG hold the sole example of a decent set of evidence, but we would always welcome any and all contributions.

From the bike tyre marks and dog walker footprints we know the local community are ignoring the signs – perfectly reasonable considering they lie more often than not – and the walk/ride could be put to wider benefit if a few photos were taken.

We will treat all contributions anonymously, so if you can help please get in touch via our Facebook Page.

Finally, should a TSM (Training Area Safety Marshall) attempt to prevent photography do ask for their name, and even better record the encounter…any attempt to restrict photography or recording by a TSM would be a very interesting discussion and hearing their reasons would be important.

Important; Make it clear you are making a recording of the encounter. There may be objection but there are no powers to compel anyone to cease recording or filming an interaction with a public official or representative

Political Inaction

The local MPs have been generous in their support and kind words regarding recreational access to the lands. The MP for North East Hampshire – Ranil Jayawardena – took the lack of gates at Long Valley seriously (see Where Are The Gates) and wrote to constituents assuring more access was planned.

That was in April 2021. Its now June 2022 and no new gates have been installed.

TAG followed this up with a FOI to see the gate plans and DIO confirmed no such plans exist.

This is hardly surprising given DIO’s track record on ignoring political direction.

We know of several local constituents who have gone back to Mr Jayawardena, asking for an update on the gates. Regrettably at time of writing there has been no reply forthcoming. No wonder the community is resorting to informal access restoration.

When deciding what gets their attention politicians will undoubtedly factor in what wins votes and contrary to the kind words access to the military lands seems to not feature highly enough.

However, this exposes an issue concerning the entire estate – all 13,500 acres of it and the parts close to you dear reader – and if DIO are permitted to ignore politicians and fail to accommodate recreation when the lands are not in use in one area we can rest assured they will apply the same lessons across the rest of the estate.

What happens at Long Valley could impact every area and all of us and TAG prefers to measure outcomes rather than kind words. We will continue to press for more gates and everyone is welcome to add their voice.

Please take a moment and use the Write To Them website to drop your local MP an email, asking where are the gates and seek protection for casual access when not in use.

Summary

DIO remain free of political accountability and at liberty to carry on as they like. The gates at Long Valley remain unfulfilled in spite of a commitment – in writing from the local MP – that work was underway.

In that regard nothing much changes.

It is looking increasingly likely the Parliamentary Ombudsman can find no fault in DIO behaviour either;

• Threatening arrest using revoked laws
• Soliciting information then ignoring volunteer efforts
• Generating legal uncertainty
• Ignoring political instruction

The written evidence, carefully prepared and presented, has counted for nothing. DIO collective memory failure and denial have been deemed admissible. We have now submitted legal counsel written statement and further evidence – sourced from DIO themselves – to support the case. We await the judgement.

Quite how the above is deemed perfectly acceptable and fits within the Seven Principles of Public Life is beyond us. Another WTH shake head moment.

We will publish a full analysis of their findings once complete but it might be a good idea to practice the WTH head shake in the meantime.