14 Barrowford

Tom Bannister set up Boundary Mill, but was killed by his drunken driver, so the famous store (at Colne) is run now by Richard Bannister. He is building the massive Sawley Hall, nearby in Sawley where he chopped down loads of trees without permission  (See Para 3.2). He preferred to pay any fine. The Forestry Commission, the custodians for us of these sorts of matters, decided not to prosecute a clear breach of law. Richard Bannister is also accused of contributing to the floods in Hebden Bridge (3 serious floods in last 2 years) . There is a a campaign in Hebden Bridge to stop him burning the heather 'Ban the Burn' because he burns his moors to encourage grouse (burning encourages young green shoots for young grouse to eat). This reduces the water holding capacity of the soil. (More). Natural England choose not to prosecute, despite having started to prosecute against 45 grounds for damages (More), A close organisation of theirs, Royal Society Protection of Birds, have taken Natural England to the EU Court for not prosecuting. For only the third time in its history, the RSPB has laid a formal complaint with the commission against the UK government, claiming that its wildlife and habitat quango Natural England has failed to protect the bleak but hugely important landscape, Walshaw Moor. More. Two government bodies, there to protect our countryside,  have preferred not to prosecute. After all these years, the Pendle area is still dominated by those who own land.