Haslingden footpaths saved
We are delighted to have helped save two public footpaths which cross Helmshore Primary School’s playing-fields at Haslingden, Lancashire. Lancashire County Council, the landowner, wanted to move the paths out of the way. They were only added to the official map of public paths in 2011 and have been blocked ever since by the school’s…
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International accolade for OSS
We have won a prestigious international award for our work on common land. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, will receive the first-ever Elinor Ostrom Award at a global conference in Japan next month. The award was established by 15 institutions in memory of the renowned academic expert on commons, Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University, who…
Read MoreThree projects short-listed for national Open Space Award
Three community-based projects, in Bucks, Newcastle upon Tyne and Surrey, have been short-listed for the Open Spaces Society’sprestigious Open Space Award. The Grange Area Trust has saved Widmer Fields at Widmer End, Hazlemere, near High Wycombe in Bucks from development. The trust, which was established with the aim of conserving the 16-hectare site as a…
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Our new activist for Cambridgeshire
We have appointed Mrs Alysoun Hodges of Ely as our local correspondent for Cambridgeshire. Alysoun was until last year the definitive map development manager for Cambridgeshire County Council, having worked on public rights of way for almost 22 years. During that time she initiated and led the county council’s ‘lost highways project’ which resulted in…
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Crystal Palace challenge refused
We are dismayed that the challenge by the Crystal Palace Community Association (CPCA) in the Court of Appeal, against the approval of the Crystal Palace Park masterplan for development of the park, has been rejected. Three Lords of Appeal found against the CPCA at a hearing on Tuesday 23 April 2013. They rejected the submission…
Read MoreFight to save Cornish rail-crossing
We have joined the campaign to save the Mexico Inn rail crossing, at Long Rock near Penzance in Cornwall, from closure. The pedestrian crossing provides an important short-cut for walkers. If it is closed the alternative route is nearly a kilometre long. Cornwall Council and Network Rail want to close the crossing on alleged safety…
Read More‘Greenest government ever’ stamps on village greens
The self-styled ‘greenest government ever’ has passed a law which will prevent communities from claiming their local open spaces as village greens and thus saving them from development. Yesterday (25 April) the Growth and Infrastructure Act received royal assent, banning applications to register land as a green in England if it has been identified for…
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Celebrating the spirit of Kinder
On Saturday 27 April the first Spirit of Kinder Day will be held, at New Mills Town Hall in Derbyshire, from 2.30pm. The event is to celebrate the massive contribution to the access movement of the brave trespassers on Kinder Scout, on 24 April 1932. Five of the trespassers were imprisoned. The speakers at the…
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The greens law has changed
The Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 has now received royal assent. This means that, in England, it is no longer possible to apply to register land as a village green if it has been earmarked for development. However applications which have already been submitted will be processed. Before applying to register land as a green…
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Somerset ‘sun farm’ near nursery-rhyme hill
We have joined the battle against a solar farm at Kilmersdon, near Radstock in Somerset. The Pegasus Group has recently confirmed the development boundary for the 35-acre site at New Tyning Farm, for 25 years. The development will be an eyesore in this lovely area. The site is close to Jack and Jill Hill, named…
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