FOR OVER 30 years I have regularly walked in Thorncombe Woods.

About four years ago Dorset County Council as owners of these woods gave themselves planning permission to demolish the ranger’s building and build a large cafe incorporating a Thomas Hardy visitor centre.

New footpaths were opened up leading to the cafe which meant cutting down many trees.

Thorncombe Woods is listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory.

This winter more trees were cut down at the southern end and north eastern corner of the car park and on the eastern side of the entrance road to the car park.

Then notices were posted regarding a planning application by Dorset County Council to enlarge the car park and sure enough they granted themselves permission.

During the past couple of months I noticed many trees were being felled along the side of some of the footpaths.

The reason became obvious during the last few weeks as these footpaths are now being made up with a dark brown hard-core so they now look like roads and they all go to either Hardy’s Cottage or the cafe.

Whilst carrying out this work the dump trucks and rollers have churned up the original main path through the woods so much so that in one area it is impossible to walk there as the ruts are so deep and full of rain water.

In addition I am told that the county council are considering charging for parking in the Thorncombe Woods car-park but NT members will be exempt from this charge, effectively meaning that council tax payers will be subsidising NT members.

I was under the impression that Dorset County Council was having to make many cuts to services so how can they justify the costs and scale of all this work?

P H COSGROVE

Lower Bockhampton

Want to respond to this letter? Email letters@dorsetecho.co.uk or send them to Have Your Say, Dorset Echo, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XD