The campaign to save the view from Richmond Hill
We have joined campaigners fighting to save the magnificent view from Richmond Hill. This view is threatened by a high-rise residential block as part of the redevelopment of Twickenham station. The objectors include the Twickenham Residents’ Action Group, TRAG. Richmond Council has accepted a proposal from Network Rail and Solum Regeneration for this development. The…
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We call for recognition of Natural History Museum’s open space
We have backed our member the Kensington Society and other local societies(1) in calling for the council’s planning guidance to recognise the land surrounding the Natural History Museum as a local green space that is open to the public. We sent the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea a strong submission that the council’s Supplementary…
Read MorePath campaigners relieved at new deal for ‘Poohsticks Path’
We are relieved that a development which threatened the footpath leading to the famous Poohsticks Bridge in Ashdown Forest is to be removed. Mr and Mrs Ben Van Praagh of Faircote Hall and stud, at Hartfield in East Sussex, had been given retrospective planning permission for a new riding arena which crossed the public footpath…
Read MoreAshton Vale green goes to High Court
We welcome the news that the High Court will review Bristol City Council’s decision to register only part of the 42-acre site at Ashton Vale, Bedminster, as a town or village green. The application for judicial review was made by the Save Ashton Vale Environment (SAVE) group. Bristol City Football Club wants to build a…
Read MoreOutdoor groups blast Stowe School’s golf course plans
We are challenging Stowe School’s golf course plan. With the Bucks, Milton Keynes and West Middlesex Ramblers, we have objected to the posh public school’s scheme to move its existing north Bucks golf course onto land crossed by public paths, and have submitted our objections to Aylesbury Vale District Council, the planning authority. The proposed…
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Crucial Henley greenspace
We have opposed plans by the Secretary of State for Transport to stop up a 26-metre width of public highway adjacent to 94-102 Bell Street in Henley-on-Thames. The proposed highway-closure is to enable Chesterton Commercial to construct parking spaces here. We were among the objectors to the plans for car parking on the green space,…
Read MoreThe fight for Bromley’s Italian Garden
Bromley Council plans to sell the unique Italian Garden, an open space on the south side of Queen’s Gardens, so as to build restaurants there. We are backing our member, the Friends of Bromley Parks and Gardens, in opposing the scheme. Says our South London representative, Mark Green: ‘If the land is sold and restaurants…
Read MoreOur emails are working again
Apologies for the failure with our emails, they are now working. We may not have received any emails sent between midday on Wednesday 21 December and midday Friday 30 December, so please resend them to be sure. Happy new year.
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‘Get a green’—our new-year call to communities
We have called on communities throughout England to ‘get a green’ as part of the new neighbourhood planning system. This year communities throughout England will be developing their new neighbourhood development plans under the Localism Act 2011. This involves identifying where development should and should not take place. However, the law prevents development on land…
Read MoreWe commemorate our path pioneer, Octavia Hill
The year 2012 marks the centenary of the death of Octavia Hill, an early activist of the Open Spaces Society. Octavia became involved in the society in about 1875 shortly after her unsuccessful campaign to buy the fields between Swiss Cottage and Hampstead in west London. She joined the committee of the society, urging it…
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