One of the reasons I love living in Reigate & Banstead is because we have some of the most beautiful countryside in the country. From Reigate Heath to Chipstead Downs, we have an abundance of amazing landscapes and breathtaking views on our door step. And that’s why the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) designation is so important. It protects some of our most naturally beautiful land ensuring that it is conserved for future generations. Currently Reigate Hill, Colley Hill and Gatton Park benefit meaning they have equal status and protection to a national park.
And it's for all these reasons that I welcome Natural England’s plans to expand the Surrey Hills AONB to protect even more of our local land. Not only will it further conserve and enhance our natural and cultural heritage, but it will also give a boost to local tourism and help attract funding.
The main changes proposed to the boundary of relevance for us here in Reigate & Banstead are as follows:
- Headley Hills
To protect the pastoral and ancient woodland surrounding the village of Headley, the existing border is proposed to extend northwards up to the M25 towards Walton on the Hill taking in the area including Costal Wood, Frith Park and Queens Wood. The boundary expansion is proposed to stop at the M25 leaving Langley Vale and Banstead Heath outside the AONB, largely for reasons of M25 noise.
- Chipstead
To protect the chalk valleys and ancient semi-natural woodland in this area, the existing border is proposed to extend northwards towards the urban fringes of Kingswood and Chipstead taking in part of Lower Kingswood and Banstead Woods.
- Reigate Heath
To protect the dry acid grassland and lowland heathland of Reigate Heath, the existing Buckland border is proposed to extend southwards across Betchworth and then eastwards to take in Reigate Heath. The boundary expansion is not proposed to include the elevated woodland of Reigate Park.
A public consultation on the proposed changes ran earlier this year, and the responses (around 1,500!) are still being reviewed by Natural England. From speaking to local residents and community groups, most people are delighted that the AONB is being expanded, but there is appetite for the expansion to go even further and include areas like Langley Vale and Banstead Heath.
One of the concerns raised is that too much onus is placed on ‘relative tranquillity’ in determining eligible areas, which is especially detrimental for beautiful landscapes close to the M25. The noise from the concrete road surface between J8 and J9 is particularly loud at present due to the concrete surface needing repair, but this noise will reduce once addressed. It's vital these landscapes don’t miss out on important protections due to delays in road repairs. I have ensured that this concern has been shared as part of the consultation process.
We should know by the end of this year whether or not Natural England will propose further expansion of the boundary in response to the public consultation, so watch this space! More information can be found here.
Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Boundary Variation Project - Defra - Citizen Space
