Radley Lakes public inquiry, 20th - 22nd June

The nPower legal team, far outnumbering their witnesses, could claim no supporters at the Inquiry. The well-behaved Save Radley Lakes Campaigners turned out to welcome Mr. Chapman, the Inspector, and behaved impeccably throughout the proceedings.

The witnesses gave their evidence. Each aimed to show how their historical and continued use of the lakes justified its classification as a town green.

One told of how, when he lived in Abingdon, he visited the area three times a week and more. He would go birdwatching and walk his dog. He knew the names of people’s dogs that he met, but rarely the owners’ names. When his father died he spent a considerable amount of time gazing over the open water of Thrupp Lake because it seemed to bring solace. 

Dr. Guyoncourt, an active campaigner, told the hearing that he had made many visits birdwatching and measured over 2000 trees by the lakes with the help of local conservationists. A number of these trees were felled by nPower with no word yet of a prosecution by the Forestry Commission.

Ray Faulkner had visited the lakes daily for almost thirty years. He has also seen an otter near Lakes H/I - a species whose presence at the Lake nPower...

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