I am a new member to the club this and have enjoyed quite a few sessions on the River Wear on the Brockbank stretch down towards the farm.

I usually park the car in the Honest Lawyer car park and cross over the Browney then turn right and follow the footpath down alongside the Browney, across a field to the stiles then walk down the side of the river.

I walked down the river tonight to see what damage / changes had been made to the river following the recent big floods. When I got to the side of the Browney, below the house on the top, it was fenced off with barbed wire and barrier tape stopping anyone going any further. Nailed onto the posts were signs saying it was a building site and no trespassing. It was fenced off right down to the Browney so access was impossible.

Can anyone shed any light on this and if it is correct can they tell me where I can access Brockbank from.

Thanks,
DavidH

As I recall, low burnhall farm as been sold to the woodland trust (see news section on this website). It appears that our fishing rights aren't affected. I haven't seen this myself and dont know what they're building, but hopefully it is a car park (bang goes the environmentalist in me).
No doubt the woodland trust have some funky new development going on (environmentally friendly and sustainable, ofcourse). Hopefully its a temporary inconvenience. Where exactly is it and what does it look like, just out of interest?

With regards to the above I will try and contact the woodland trust to see whats is going on. I attended the public meetings with the secretary and the woodland trust assured us the fishing would not be affected and the current access would remain. I presume this is temporary but will find out and reply asap. The woodland trust also assured all at the meetings that no carparks would be built at all except and disabled dropping off point near the farm.

Roy Collins
FDAC Press Officer

Spoke to a gentleman from the woodlands trust today and he is going down to the site tomorrow to see what it is. He seems to think its not the woodland trust who has done this and will make enquiries then get back to me. This may take a few days so please bare with me. I also tried the house but got no reply.

Roy

With regard to exactly where it is. It is no where near Low Burnhall and nothing to do with the fence that has been erected near the farm

It is directly below Oakwood House right next to the Browney. It is made up of wood posts, 2 strands of barbed wire, warning notices and brightly coloured warning tape. It sections off quite a large area, goes right down to the Browney and impossible to get round. You can climb over it but risk ripping your waders.

Too big to be an extension to the existing property?

Might be worth contacting Durham City planning office Roy?

Im going to leave it with the woodland trust people at the moment as the land which surrounds the house is all theirs including where this tape/fence is. The gentleman I spoke to yesterday did have contact info for the all the adjacent land owners inc the mentioned house so i thinks they are the best way forward. I know this does not solve the situation straight away re access but it does show the club is willing to work with other organisations for every ones benefit especially on future matters which may arise.

Roy