Posts by Abbie Cavendish
Unlawful gates to go
In October 2022 the British Horse Society served two notices on North Yorkshire Council, under section 130A of the Highways Act 1980, for the removal of two pairs of large, ornamental gates. These were obstructing either end of an 800-metre restricted byway in Stanwick St John, a small village about five miles north-east of Richmond.…
Read MoreWe reject power grab for electric bikes
We have criticised government plans to double electric bikes’ power ratings. Responding to a consultation by the Department for Transport,[1] we say that the proposals to enable higher-powered electrically-assisted pedal bicycles (EAPCs) on Britain’s highways are inappropriate and potentially harmful to users of the public rights of way network in England and Wales. Says our…
Read MoreForty fighting years
Today (2 April) Kate Ashbrook celebrates the fortieth anniversary of her appointment as our general secretary. She is the longest-serving chief executive officer among bodies dedicated to the amenities and freedom of the countryside. In her time in office—an attic in Henley-on-Thames—she has worked for and welcomed remarkable changes in the safeguarding of commons, greens,…
Read MoreDon’t kill Kilvey Hill
This was our message to Swansea Council at a rally on Sunday (24 March). Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, joined more than 300 local people on top of Kilvey Hill, north-east of Swansea at a rally against plans by Skyline Swansea Ltd for a vast tourist development, which includes a restaurant and visitor centre, skyswing,…
Read MoreUrban green space report misses trick
We have welcomed the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s letter to the Defra secretary, Stephen Barclay, with its findings on its inquiry into urban green spaces. The committee concluded that ‘these vital parts of communities are under serious threat’ and in need of urgent action to reverse their national decline, despite their immense environmental…
Read MoreCoastal land in Cornwall registered as common
We welcome Cornwall Council’s decision to grant two applications to register common land on the north coast of Cornwall. One of the applications was made by the society and the other by Tomas Hill who has a keen interest in common land. The land, which is owned by the National Trust, comprises just over 170…
Read MoreAccess is a vital element of the Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales
We have responded to the Welsh government’s consultation on the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), whereby money is given to landowners and farmers to deliver public goods. We warmly welcome the SFS and are pleased that it offers landowners and farmers the opportunity to provide improved public access. We believe this public good to be of…
Read MoreLand restored as common on Dartmoor
We welcome the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to grant the society’s two applications to register as common three parcels of rough grassland near Blackdown Common, Mary Tavy, in the Dartmoor National Park. Two of the parcels are adjacent to each other, east and south of Willsworthy car park. Together, these amount to about 33 hectares. The…
Read MorePath-block shock
In January, the BBC revealed the shocking results of its survey on the state of public paths in England and Wales. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, comments on these findings. Paths, it showed, are blocked at 32,000 points, that is one obstruction every four and a half miles—and the problems are growing. Seventy three of…
Read MoreCourt threat causes Cornwall Council to climb down over unrecorded path
We are delighted that Cornwall Council has capitulated in the face of court action, led by the British Horse Society (BHS), against the council’s failure to register applications to add public paths to the official map as required by law. [1] The BHS had applied in September 2023 for a path at Altarnun (11 kms…
Read More