QUESTIONS are being asked about why the authorities were unable to prevent the destruction of acres of ancient woodland in the South Downs National Park.

Landowner James Hyatt is accused of chopping down and burning approximately 13 acres of the 20 acre Pondtail Wood in Muddleswood Road, near Hurstpierpoint.

Private access roads have been created along with drainage channels and waste has been imported and deposited on the site.

However, no planning permission or licences were granted for the work.

Although there has been no word from Mr Hyatt as to his intentions for the land, The Argus can reveal he has a history of breaching planning rules having been involved in a long running battle with Horsham District Council over a two acre site in Southwater.

Having been refused planing permission to build houses on the protected piece of land in early 2000, Mr Hyatt bulldozed trees on the site as well as a grass bank.

Having beached multiple planning rules the district council issued a compulsory purchase order to buy back the land.

Councils and campaigners now fear action to save Pondtail Wood, which Mr Hyatt bought this year, is too late, with an estimated 13 acres of the site already cleared.

Local people raised concerns about work being carried out in late March but it was not until May 10 that the South Downs National Park issued a temporary stop notice to prevent any further work.

Mr Hyatt is also accused of ignoring the stop notice.

Mid Sussex district councillor, Anthony Watts Williams, who represents Hurstpierpoint and Downs ward, said: “My concern is that because things have not moved as fast as one would like damage has been done that is irreplaceable. This is ancient woodland, you can’t just replace it. It is very worrying.”

Mike Airey, chairman of Poynings Parish Council, has been collating information about activity at the site.

He said: “We want further action from the Forestry Commission. They have the authority to visit the site as well as the South Downs National Park. They need to be on the ground to see what is going on. So far most of the information has come from local people who have kept their eyes and ears open.

“Locally people think there should have been action quicker.”

When The Argus visited the woods on Tuesday, a number of vehicles were on site and a man was chopping up wood with a chainsaw.

The Argus has made repeated attempts to contact Mr Hyatt, but he has been unavailable.

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), Environment Agency (EA) and Forestry Commission (FC) have launched a joint investigation into alleged multiple breaches of planning rules and possible criminal matters.

The SDNPA is looking into planning breaches with regards to the creation of tracks and the importation of waste. The FC is investigating the felling of trees and the EA is probing whether waste material has been illegally imported on to the site.

The agencies are now taking legal advice about what steps to take next.

Commenting on the alleged illegally felling of trees, a FC spokeswoman added: “Our woodland officer has visited the site to do a further detailed assessment of the amount of wood felled, which clearly exceeded the amount permitted without a felling licence.

“We take illegal tree felling very seriously.”

SCENES OF DEVASTATION AT COUNTY BEAUTY SPOT

IT MAY look like a photograph from the deepest parts of the Amazon rainforest.

But this scene of devastation is actually from our very own South Downs National Park.

The gaping hole in the supposedly protected ancient woodland has been created in the last few months after a 58-year-old businessman bought the land.

But who is this James Hyatt, where has he come from and what is his interest in Pondtail Wood?

James Alfred Charles Hyatt is a businessman, thought to have originally come from the East End of London.

Married with children, he lives on a huge estate in the heart of the Sussex countryside.

You can see little of his Westridge Place home from Wineham Lane in Bolney because of a huge black and gold gate, complete with rampaging lions.

A long sweeping driveway leads to a x bedroom new build, which has a swimming pool, stables and numerous barns and farm buildings.

Surrounding the property are lush paddocks which are home to Mr Hyatt’s collection of horses.

But it hasn’t always been this way. Back in 2000, Mr Hyatt was living on the land in a caravan.

A planning application in the same year sought permission to build the luxury home which soon followed.

But where did his money come from? According to Companies House he currently has five operating firms along with two which have been dissolved.

The business linked to the work carried out at Pondtail Wood is Wineham Properties Limited, which was set up in 2011.

It is not clear exactly what the firm does but the company is currently listed as dormant, which means due to limited activity he does not have to pay corporation tax.

Another of Mr Hyatt’s current ventures is a business called Sussex Winter Wonderland.

Set up in July 2014, it is registered to Amelia House in Crescent Road, Worthing. But much like Wineham Properties, there appears to be little activity with accounts showing just £1,000 sitting in the bank.

His third business, Wineham Trading Limited, deals in the buying and selling of vehicles.

It was set up in January 2011, only for Companies House to issue a notice that they would close it down in 2014. It was saved at the last minute.

His fourth business, Wineham Investments, deals with the development of building projects. It too was set to be struck off in 2011 only to be saved at the 11th hour.

His final business is a holdings company called J&L Hyatt Holdings Limited. The L in the title refers to Lorraine Hyatt, who is thought to be Mr Hyatt’s wife. Her name appears in connection with many of his businesses.

He has also headed two companies which have since been dissolved: Hyatt Hair and Westridge Carriages.

The former, neighbours said, was a hairdressing salon set up for his daughter and wife, while the latter is thought to concern his love of historic carriages.

His children also appear to have entered the world of business with a Charles Hyatt, born in 1993, and Alfred Hyatt, born in 1997, listed as directors of Bolney Investments.

And just earlier this month Charles also set up a company called CL Grab LTD.

As well as a love of business, Mr Hyatt is a collector of old horse-drawn carriages. Neighbours said he can regularly be found going up and down Wineham Lane in the carriages, which he used to hire out for weddings, funerals and other events.

And he has been known to invite fellow enthusiasts to his land to show off his collection of more than 50 historic carts.

A flyer on the website of The Worshipful Company of Carmen Car Club from a couple of years ago tells of an event where members are invited to “James Hyatt’s Sussex home” for a “truly wonderful day”.

The Argus has made repeated attempts to speak to Mr Hyatt this week, first visiting his home on Monday morning.

Walking up the palm tree-lined drive, a young woman, thought to be Mr Hyatt’s daughter, emerged in a red Mercedes.

When asked if Mr Hyatt was at home she called the house by phone only to say he was out.

The following day when The Argus called, a man who identified himself as Mr Hyatt’s gardener answered the intercom.

He said Mr Hyatt was in Spain and would be there for about 10 days.

The Argus also called at the address where a number of his businesses are listed, Jasmine House in High Street, Henfield.

A young woman, who works for Accountancy & Business Matters, answered and said Mr Hyatt was a client and would pass on our details.

But at the time of going to press, Mr Hyatt had not been in touch.

For now, Mr Hyatt’s plans for Pondtail Wood remain a mystery.

LAWS SURROUNDING ILLEGAL FELLING

What are the rules regarding the felling of trees?

Woodland owners may fell just five cubic metres of timber on their property in a calendar quarter without a felling licence. This is as long as no more than two cubic metres of the timber are sold.

The amount is approximately enough to fill a small skip – tiny compared to the size of Pondtail Wood.

The Forestry Commission has stated the amount cut down at Pondtail has “exceeded the amount permitted”.

Pondtail is a plantation on an ancient woodland site. While ancient woodland receives special protection, any type of felling without a licence constitutes illegal felling.

Who polices illegal felling?

While Pondtail Wood is in the South Downs National Park, it is the Forestry Commission who investigate any alleged illegal felling.

So why are the South Downs National Park Authority and the Environment Agency involved?

A joint investigation has been launched with each investigating different breaches of regulations and possible criminal matters. As a planning authority, the national park is looking into alleged planning breaches with regards the creation of tracks on the land and the importation of waste material. The Forestry Commission is investigating the felling of trees and the Environment Agency is looking at whether waste material has been illegally imported on to the site.

What action is available to the agencies?

They are currently taking legal advice.

For illegal felling, landowners can be prosecuted and taken to court. A restocking notice can also be issued, forcing the owner to replant trees in place of those chopped down.

If convicted, landowners can be fined and even sent to jail. if they are found to be selling the illegally chopped timber.