Victory on West Hoathly footpath
A valued public footpath at West Hoathly, near East Grinstead in West Sussex, has been saved from diversion following a public inquiry last April. Paul Brown and West Hoathly Parish Council, both members of the Open Spaces Society, appeared at the inquiry as objectors. The public-inquiry inspector, Mr Michael Aldous of the Planning Inspectorate, refused…
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Community champion praised for inspirational efforts
The singular determination of a Yorkshire woman to inspire her local community and return a memorial garden to its former glory has been celebrated in the inaugural Open Space Award. Judges have awarded Jade Smith a commendation for her extraordinary contribution to Royd Regeneration, a community-driven project in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. Royd Regeneration was one…
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Victory for Surrey campaigners who saved wild meadow
An ambitious community campaign to preserve a threatened 30-acre beauty spot in Farnham has been named winner of the first-ever Open Space Award. The amazing success of The Bishop’s Meadow Trust impressed judges from Open Spaces Society and earned it the top spot, despite strong competition nationwide. Jo Aylwin, chairman of the trust, attended the…
Read MoreWalk the Waterways of Finchley
Our member, The Finchley Society, has organised two walks along the Waterways of Finchley on Sunday 15th July and Sunday 22nd July. Full details are shown on the attached leaflets. Contact for the walks is Mike Gee on 0208 346 5503 Waterways Walk Part 1 6.5mls Waterways Walk Part 2 5.1 miles
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…
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Keep 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…
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Forestry 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…
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