Novelist Jilly Cooper makes plea for Yorkshire estate's 4x4 plan to be rejected

Locals opposing the application for more frequent off-road driving courses on the Swinton Estate say it will destroy the tranquillity of Nutwith Woods, part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Mrs Cooper yesterday urged Harrogate Borough Council to refuse the plans put forward by Lord Masham, Mark Cunliffe-Lister, for the 85 hectare site.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, she said: “It just seems tragic. There’s a lovely wood here and those wretched 4x4s will just be crashing around and spoiling a sanctuary. Surely Swinton Park can find plenty of other open spaces to impress their clients with these vehicles rather than raping lovely woodland?”

Mrs Cooper has a love of the region’s countryside and is the great, great granddaughter of the Liberal MP for Leeds who founded of The Leeds Mercury, which merged with The Yorkshire Post.

She highlighted the way towns such as Harrogate cherished their parkland and surrounding countryside, adding: “I would beg its borough council, therefore, to have mercy on Nutwith Wood and uphold Yorkshire’s tradition of being one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

There is already permission for forestry plantation with off-road driving courses on up to 28 days per year. But permission has been sought for an unlimited number of courses, to be run by Cheshire-based 4x4 Events UK.

Objectors fear increased use will destroy the area’s tranquillity, drive away wildlife and damage tracks and public footpaths.

Grewelthorpe resident Tim Harrison said: “Our local economy is in part dependent on the tourism that is generated by the unspoilt and beautiful countryside in this very special part of Yorkshire. It deserves the highest level of protection.”

The Ramblers Association, Grewelthorpe Parish Council and Nidderdale AONB’s joint advisory committee have all objected. And Historic England is concerned about harm to nearby heritage assets, including Hackfall woods.

But Lord Masham said the courses would cause much less disturbance than ongoing forestry work and tracks would be better maintained if brought into more regular use.

“It will help complement the offering we have at Swinton and will also bring much needed extra income into a loss making forestry operation,” he said. “This will also create extra jobs.”

Nigel Mayne, a director of 4x4 Events UK, said the courses focused on responsible off-roading, with speeds of four or five mph.

He said: “We’re a professional company and we do events all round the country. We’re driving £60,000 vehicles – we’re not going to be racing those around.”

But those opposed to the plans remain unconvinced.

Karen McKeag, who lives close to Nutwith, said: “There is already a weekend motocross event every spring. The damage and churned up ground is evident for months afterwards – so 4x4s six days a week would wreck this beautiful spot.”

Nutwith and neighbouring woodlands

Nutwith Common Wood was planted by the Forestry Commission between 1956 and 1962 when it leased the land from the Swinton Estate.

There has been managed timber felling on the land since 1983, with careful management of an area classed as a planted ancient woodland site (PAWS).

It lies to the west of Hackfall, a separate area of woodland designed by Fountains Abbey landscaper John Aislabie, which Dame Judi Dench, inset, has described as her favourite walk.

Mentioned by William Wordsworth in one of his tourist guides, it benefited from a £1m Heritage Lottery grant in 2007.