3 Greenham and Crookham Commons Access Audit Initial baseline findings of the site’s physical and intellectual access provisions. Author: James Stevenson, BBOWT West Berkshire Access Audit Officer Date: 27th April 2015 Contents Introduction, aims and constraints of the project ................................................................ 5 West Berkshire Council and the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust .................................. 5 The Vision ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Reserves and Commons Access Auditing Project .............................................................. 6 BBOWT’s Aim ................................................................................................................................. 6 The main objectives of the review ................................................................................................ 6 Legislation and criteria used in this report. .......................................................................... 7 Initial signage audit ................................................................................................................. 9 How to use the report ............................................................................................................ 10 Key to how the recommendations are prioritised ..................................................................... 10 Priorities ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Cost bands ................................................................................................................................... 10 Note to reader ............................................................................................................................... 11 Scope of the report ...................................................................................................................... 11 Report findings ...................................................................................................................... 12 The primary objective within the original action plan (ISAP) ................................................. 12 The Vision ..................................................................................................................................... 14 The main findings of the audit .................................................................................................... 15 Off-site Information ...................................................................................................................... 15 Finding the site ............................................................................................................................ 15 Car Parks ...................................................................................................................................... 15 The main car park at the control tower ...................................................................................... 15 Pyle Hill car park .......................................................................................................................... 16 Crookham Car Park...................................................................................................................... 16 Bowdown Bombsite shared car park ......................................................................................... 16 Getting to the site......................................................................................................................... 17 Public transport ........................................................................................................................... 17 Pedestrians ................................................................................................................................... 17 Bicycle .......................................................................................................................................... 17 On horseback or by horse and carriage .................................................................................... 18 Mobility vehicles .......................................................................................................................... 18 Signage and information on the site .......................................................................................... 19 Orientation maps and way marked routes ................................................................................. 19 Wildlife and Heritage interpretation............................................................................................ 19 The on-site path network ............................................................................................................. 19 Gates and stiles ........................................................................................................................... 20 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 21 Section 1: Background to the Site ....................................................................................... 23 The Greenham and Crookham Common Commission ............................................................. 24 Rights of access .......................................................................................................................... 24 Byelaws ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Rights of Common ....................................................................................................................... 26 Facilities ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Special Events .............................................................................................................................. 27 Areas of conservation ................................................................................................................. 27 Historical areas and artefacts ..................................................................................................... 27 Section 2: Audit Findings ..................................................................................................... 28 Section 3: Initial Recommendations and Actions ............................................................ 100 3.1 Off-site Information .............................................................................................................. 100 3.1.1 Internet ............................................................................................................................... 100 3.1.2 Internet search engines .................................................................................................... 102 3.1.3 Leaflets and additional literature ..................................................................................... 103 2 3.2 Getting to the site ................................................................................................................. 106 3.3 Accessing the site once arrived ......................................................................................... 107 3.3.1 Arrival by vehicle and parking ......................................................................................... 107 ■ Control Tower car park ........................................................................................................... 107 ■ Pyle Hill car park. .................................................................................................................... 108 ■ Crookham car park. ................................................................................................................ 110 ■ Bombsite Car Park .................................................................................................................. 110 ■ Unofficial Parking ................................................................................................................... 111 3.3.2 Walking .............................................................................................................................. 112 3.3.3 Bicycle ............................................................................................................................... 114 3.3.4 Horseback or horse and carriage .................................................................................... 115 3.3.5 Mobility Scooter – All terrain............................................................................................ 116 3.3.3 Public Transport ................................................................................................................ 116 3.3.4 Emergency vehicles .......................................................................................................... 117 3.4 Signage and information on the site .................................................................................. 117 3.4.1 Orientation maps ............................................................................................................... 117 3.4.2 Way marked routes ..........................................................................................................