Archive for February 2015
We fight plan to replace wind turbines on Cumbrian commons
We have objected to plans by RWE Innogy to replace the wind turbines on common land at Kirkby Moor, Cumbria, with much bigger ones. When the planning consent for the 12 turbines expires in 2018, Pegasus plans to replace them with six turbines which are more than twice the height. Whereas the current turbines are 42.2…
Read MoreWind turbines will rip the heart out of Rochdale common
We have objected most strongly to a planning application from Coronation Power Ltd, to build 12 wind turbines and associated structures on common land north of Rochdale. The proposed development is on Rooley Moor common. It is extraordinary that the applicants should have chosen to construct this development on common land, where both walkers and…
Read MoreNorfolk footpath to stay put
We are delighted that, thanks to our objection, a public footpath in Norfolk’s Breckland District will remain on its ancient, direct route. The footpath is at Lyng, four miles south of Reepham. Breckland District Council wanted to move the route which runs past the property Patholme. The council was concerned that the existence of the…
Read MoreA black day for greens
We are devastated that the supreme court has today rejected the rights of local people to register West Beach at Newhaven in East Sussex as a village green. Five judges in the supreme court have upheld the appeal of Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP) Limited, overturning the decision in the court of appeal in March 2013…
Read MorePanshanger Park event on 31 March
On 31 March 2014, the opening day of Panshanger Country Park East in Hertfordshire, over one hundred Friends of Panshanger Park and local walkers set off on the friends’ People’s Walk, from Hertingfordbury into the long overdue country park. Since then the eastern end of the park has been much welcomed and enjoyed by thousands of people. However…
Read MoreNew Forest solar farm rejected
The New Forest National Park Authority’s planning committee has unanimously rejected plans for an ugly solar ‘farm’ in the national park. The application was from MTS Exbury Solar Ltd for a solar farm on nine hectares of land east of Lepe Farm, Exbury. The society sent an objection to the national park planning authority urging…
Read MoreDecisions for Haven Green common, Ealing
Our member, the Friends of Haven Green (FoHG), is pleased to report two decisions from the Planning Inspectorate concerning Haven Green, Ealing. The first stems from last September’s public inquiry into Ealing Council’s planned changes to the green in preparation for Crossrail. These would have widened the pavements, and created a counter-flow cycle lane on the east…
Read MoreThe fight to stop green-belt solar farm
We are backing our member, the Mawdesley and Heskin Solar Farm Protest Group, in its fight against a solar farm in the Lancashire countryside. We are objecting to plans from M S Power Projects Ltd (MSP) for a solar farm on green belt land at Heskin, about a mile south of the town of Eccleston.…
Read MoreThames Path to be consigned to a rat run in Maidenhead
We are angry that the Thames Path National Trail is to follow Maidenhead’s Ray Mead Road rat run. On Wednesday 11 February Windsor and Maidenhead Borough’s planning committee approved the creation of a short footpath along Ray Mead Road instead of a riverside route for the Thames Path National Trail. The council had applied to…
Read MoreLake District fencing plan conflicts with special Act of Parliament
We believe that plans by United Utilities for 10 kilometres of fencing above Thirlmere in the heart of the Lake District National Park conflict with a special law for the area. Because the land is common, UU has applied for consent to the Planning Inspectorate for works on common land. The society believes that the…
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