Posts by Daniel Cregin
Our campaign challenges for the year ahead
‘We should never forget that the Open Spaces Society is a hard hitting, agile and quick reacting campaigning organisation, able and willing to be controversial, radical and perhaps at times unpopular in pursuit of its charitable objects.’ So said Tim Crowther, our chairman, in moving the adoption of the society’s annual report at our annual…
Read MoreKendal village green saved from golfing development
South Lakeland District Council has refused planning consent to Kendal Golf Club for a covered driving-range on Kendal Fell, a Cumbrian village green. The planning authority rejected the application principally because it would be visually intrusive and over-prominent in the landscape, and it would be detrimental to the public’s use and enjoyment of the land.…
Read MoreKentish green space saved
A lovely green space at Wittersham in south Kent has been protected for all time. We welcome the decision of the Planning Inspectorate to allow the correction of a mistake on the register of town and village greens. One and a half acres at Poplar Farm Field and Pond, Wittersham, Isle of Oxney in Kent is…
Read MoreKeep the ‘national’ in National Trails
The 13 National Trails are among England’s finest assets. Government must continue to invest in them and promote them because they provide health and happiness to millions of people and are well worth every penny. So says the society which has responded to Natural England’s consultation on the future management of the National Trails. We…
Read MoreForestry panel sees the wood and the trees
‘The Independent Panel on Forestry has done a great job in seeing the wood and the trees.’ So said the society in welcoming the long-awaited final report of the panel which was published today. The panel has declared that the public forest estate should not be sold off, but remain in public ownership and be…
Read MorePublic inquiry for contentious land swap at Westfield Common, Woking
Woking Borough Council’s proposed land swap at Westfield Common, Woking in Surrey is the subject of a public inquiry which opens on Wednesday (27 June) at the H G Wells conference centre in Woking. Woking council wants to deregister part of the common to enable an access road to be built, serving a proposed housing…
Read MoreDevelopment threat in Kent’s high weald
We have objected to plans from Kent County Council to erect a new primary school on open land at Benenden in the Weald of Kent. The proposed development is to the south of Rolvenden Road. This is a prominent, elevated spot which is visible for miles around. The development will suburbanise this attractive village, and…
Read MoreTurbines could trash Powys common
We have objected to an application from RWE Npower Renewables Ltd for nine wind turbines at Neuadd-goch Bank near Dolfor, Newtown in Powys. The society is particularly concerned that four of the wind turbines would be sited on registered common land, Cwmgwyn and Medwalleth Commons. We are dismayed that the applicants refer to the ‘minor…
Read MoreCornish common reclaimed
Carrine Common, near Kea, south of Truro in Cornwall has been reclaimed as registered common land, using legislation which is being pioneered in Cornwall (part 1 of the Commons Act 2006). Following a hearing in January 2012, planning inspector Mr Barney Grimshaw ruled that the land should be recorded on the commons register. Carrine Common…
Read MoreOur new path-protagonist for Guildford
We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Colin Sandford as our new local correspondent for the Borough of Guildford in Surrey. Colin, who lives in Effingham, has a lifelong interest in horse-riding and this inspired his interest in countryside access. Colin will be our eyes and ears in this area, keeping a close…
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