After last year’s campaign to save the Countryside Management Team, the Council stated “We listened to what people told us, we looked carefully at the proposals and we've taken account of the concerns raised. We will continue to support the countryside by maintaining sites by keeping two posts who will also work with the volunteers."

10 months later the two remaining Ranger posts are now under threat of redundancy !
 

The Council has a statutory responsibility in respect of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Local Nature Reserves and Local Wildlife Sites to further their conservation and enhancement. How can this responsibility be fulfilled without the knowledge and technical expertise of the Rangers ? There will be a substantial impact on sites with no management: statutory sites will fall into decline and degradation, litter and vandalism will grow quickly, sites will become insecure. Green flag and other award-winning sites will fall into non-compliance.

The Countryside Strategy’s aim is to “conserve, educate and promote our countryside for the benefit of people and wildlife”. The Countryside remains open at all times and cannot be closed. Many thousands of people will continue to visit, require information, access to visitor centres and hides. They will require a safe environment in which to walk and not be subjected to anti-social behaviour. Sites cannot be left without management.