For the layman, can you explain what the military harbour area is ? Is it the carpark mentioned previously in this thread ?
Yes, it is the car park referred to earlier. The MOD is not obliged to provide any public car parking, but zones are required to enable military vehicles to pull off the public road and allow troops to disembark.
Was up at Hankley today to try out the Houndown descents. There is something going on at the top with fencing and lighting, portakabins and military vehicles.. Could be a film or is this where the car park will be?
I hope its not the latter as it right at the top of the quite descents that are rarely ridden.
ATP - have you tried this area yet? I took the route off the nose at the RH corner of the flat area today. Lots of snow made it a bit hairy, then my seat post snapped half way down 🙁 If only that area was 3-4 times higher it would be great!!
teamhurtmore
The enclosure at the top of the Houndown Ridge is an Army Command Post. It has a civilian security guard.
Houndown is one of the car park options offered to us to replace the DZ car park but it would not be suitable for horseriders or any but the most active to access Hankley Common.
Hankley Common Public Meeting
PATH Public Meeting Friday Feb 10th
A very well attended meeting was held at the Elstead United Reformed Church on Friday evening Feb 10th. 96 people came to hear about the proposed closure of the central car park on Hankley Common.
Presentations were given on the general situation, the laws that affect access to the Common and the MoD plans. This was followed by a question and answer session. 99% of the attendees gave their approval to the work of the Action Group.
For more details go to: http://www.elstead.info/weblog
You can ensure that you opinion on this is taken into account by completing our on-line survey at: http://www.elstead.info/survey
There is also a petition at: http://www.elstead.info/petitions
The MoD have informed the PATH action group that the number of military training man days in 2011 was 241,702. This means that on average 660 soldiers were on the Common on every day of the year. If they were working two 12 hour shifts then there would be 330 at any time. Assuming that the training was not quite as regular as that then the numbers would vary between zero and perhaps a full battalion of up to 1,200 men, with a fleet of lorries to carry them. Can anybody confirm these figures?
Hankley - thanks for the updates.
Re the last post (and considering the time my family/friends spend on the Common) I can only say that they must be very well camouflaged and silent!!!
The Army command post has new temporary fencing and portakabins. There were military and film vehicles there. Plus there is a new construction in the middle of the common - target practice/film set or both? If, and I say if deliberately, they are hiring out the common for films then doesn't stack up with usage figures.
A car par on Houndsdown would require people to be able to descend and ascent relatively steep slopes (plus would encourage too many cyclists on the hidden trails :evil:)
Nice little route through Houndown, shame if it's now out of bounds? There been a lot more Army activity on Hankley, but not by the numbers quoted, or as TeamHurtmore said, very well camouflaged!
Houndown car park unlikely because of access problems to Hankley Common. Most likely is a car park at the Woolfords Lane/Houndown Lane crossroads with Truxford Lane.
In which case, if the size is Ok, wouldn't that be a good compromise? Flat paths for those who want that and easy access to hills for others. Might make the h,down trails a bit more well known though 🙁
ATP - have you tried this area yet?
Yes I have, it's a bit "straight up and straight down" isn't it 🙂 I managed to climb up in granny and saw all the portacabins etc at the top. Had a little nose around and then descended at the Eastern end by the Hankley access road.
The bit right on the nose is less straight than the middle and Northern end. But all far too short sadly, but worth a blast if passing!! Plus the bit straight off the top by the tree jump looks fun. I was going to do that one 2nd after the nose route, but my seat post snapped 👿
