Michael has spoken to Councillors about the proposed changes to the byelaws affecting MoD land, and had an online meeting Cllr Paul Deach and Attieh Fard in late February 2020.
Michael is aware that various areas of MoD land, such as the Ash Ranges, have been fenced off by the MoD, preventing the public gaining access. In April 2020, he wrote to the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP, and a copy of his reply is attached below.
Michael also held a meeting with the Minister on 15 May, and posted an update on Facebook, which you can find here.
Michael has continued to regularly discuss this issue with Minister Quin to make sure he remains aware of local residents’ considerable ongoing concerns. Most recently, he wrote again in June 2021 with his colleagues Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, and Jonathan Lord, MP for Woking, to ask him to do all he can to ensure the restrictions are lifted. A copy of this correspondence is below. This was followed up by a meeting in July 2021, in which Minister Quin pledged to respond to the issues Michael raised on behalf of his constituents. Minister Quin has since sent the below response outlining the costs to the MoD attributed to vandalism – which remains the principal reason for maintaining restrictions.
Minister Quin also promised to reflect on the broader issues that were raised about access overall in more depth, and agreed to a further meeting with Michael and local Councillors at the Ranges in October 2021. During the meeting Michael once more pressed for the restrictions to be lifted, and he received a further response shortly after, copied below, in which the MoD outlined its proposals to improve access.