News

We have published Finding Common Ground, the first-ever guide to how to recognise and take account of local-community interests in common land. The work was commissioned by Natural England, the government’s adviser on the natural environment. Read it here
Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary (who wrote the report with Nicola Hodgson, its case [...]

We have booked a speaking slot on 1 September to urge Lewes District Council’s Planning Applications Committee to reject a retrospective application for illuminated brick piers on Chailey Common in East Sussex.
The planning application has been submitted by Mr and Mrs John Gibson of White Cottage, Haywards Heath Road, North Chailey. They have erected [...]

We have objected to plans by Awel Aman Tawe to erect a wind turbine, hard standing and access tracks on common land in south Wales. The threatened common is Cefn Gwrhyd Common in the community of Cwmllynfell in Neath Port Talbot. We were consulted about the application for works on common land [...]

We have objected to plans to site two new schools at Whittington Way on the south side of Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire, because they will severely interfere with the Hertfordshire Way long-distance footpath.(1)
The governors of the Bishop’s Stortford and Herts & Essex High Schools want to move the two schools to the Whittington Way [...]

The Guardian has launched its Piece-by-piece campaign. The aim is to publicise threatened places and spaces and to enable local activists to exchange information and advice, and to build a powerful alliance against developments which threaten our natural environment and people’s enjoyment of it.
Click to add your campaign to Piece-by-piece.

The path across the former slip bridge on Swansea’s seafront is to be closed. The decision was made by Sue Arnott, the inspector acting for Welsh Ministers, at a public inquiry in June into Swansea Council’s proposed extinguishment of the route.
The plan was opposed by the Swansea Slip Bridge Civic Society, ourselves and others. [...]

An inspector acting for the environment secretary has ruled that Rawtenstall public footpath number 237 should be closed, to enable Lancashire County Council to build a new Waterfoot Primary School.
There were nine objections, from the Open Spaces Society, Rossendale Ramblers and others, to Lancashire County Council’s plan to stop up the path, and a hearing [...]

Thanet District Council in Kent has resolved not to sell off the Chine at the Western Undercliff in Ramsgate, and to reconsider the other proposed asset disposals.
The Chine is an immensely important site, for public enjoyment and for wildlife. We are thrilled that Thanet District Council has recognised its public value and resolved to [...]

The London Development Agency’s plan to flog off part of Crystal Palace Park, in the London Borough of Bromley, has been approved, following a public inquiry last summer.
The plans from the LDA form part of an ambitious regeneration scheme for the park, with disposal of parts of the park for private housing helping to fund [...]

We are delighted that Cornwall Council’s planning committee has rejected the application for 20 wind turbines at Davidstow Wood, adjoining Bodmin Moor, at its meeting on 22 July.
Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘We opposed the application because of the disastrous effect these monstrous turbines and their associated development would have on the beautiful, [...]