Forestry panel needs horse-riders and cyclists too
While welcoming the establishment of the independent panel on forestry policy in England (read more here), we have pointed out that its recreational representation is too limited. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘While we are pleased that Tom Franklin of the Ramblers is included on the panel, we consider the omission of organisations representing…
Read MorePlans withdrawn for 20 wind-turbines in beauty-spot
Community Windpower Ltd has withdrawn its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to erect 20 wind-turbines on hilltop common land in Lancashire. The withdrawal coincides with the publication of proposals from Natural England that much of the Lune Valley is likely to become a National Park, thus confirming it as among our finest treasures. The 126-metre…
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Honiton green space saved for the community
Campaigners from Honiton in East Devon are delighted that Littletown Green has been registered as a village green. The four-acre field has been enjoyed by local people for informal recreation for decades. With support from us, Rosemary Kimbell (a member of the society), her husband Alan and neighbours Mike Allen and Andy Cox gathered evidence…
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Whitstable beach saved from commercialisation
We have helped to save the lovely West Beach at Whitstable in Kent from commercialisation. Canterbury City Council’s Development Control Committee last night (8 March) unanimously refused plans from the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company to erect a beach café near Coastguard Alley. The society, with the Whitstable Beach Campaign and over 120 others, had objected…
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Gloucestershire benefactor ensures public paths are well marked
The public paths around Cheltenham in Gloucestershire continue to be well marked, thanks to the far-sightedness of Cheltenham benefactor Herbert Lucas Bradbury. Mr Bradbury died in 1959 leaving £1,500 on trust for erecting and maintaining signposts on public paths within a six-mile radius of Cheltenham Post Office. The fund, known as the Bradbury Bequest,…
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Campaign to save Henley green space
We are dismayed that the international land-agents, Chesterton Commercial (Oxon) Ltd, plan to swallow up most of a small green space at Northfield End, Henley. They have applied for planning permission for a new layout for ten parking spaces on the green. We have sent an objection to South Oxfordshire District Council. Says the society’s…
Read MoreDon’t wreck our Sundays
We have urged Torridge District Council not to permit Southdown Adventure Limited to extend its clay-pigeon shooting to Sundays at Yarnscombe, eight kilometres south-east of Bideford in Devon. It was granted permission for shooting in 2009, but not on Sundays and Mondays. Now it wants to shoot on Sundays, and on Mondays instead of Tuesdays…
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Treasured common saved from trashing by wind factory
The Welsh Assembly Government has rejected plans by RWE Npower Renewables to erect 19 wind turbines, with tracks and infrastructure, on Mynydd-y-Gwair, a prominent hill eight miles north of Swansea. The decision follows a public inquiry last summer into RWE Npower’s appeal against Swansea Council’s refusal of planning permission. The inquiry also considered an application…
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We are relieved at Cameron’s about-turn on forest plans
‘At last the government has seen the trees for the wood.’ So we said on learning that David Cameron has abandoned plans to flog off England’s public forest estate, has called an emergency stop to the consultation on its future, and will remove clauses from the Public Bodies Bill which affect the Forestry Commission. Read…
Read MoreOur pledge to fight sale of Nottinghamshire’s forests
Speaking to local historians in Nottinghamshire, our trustee, Jean Macdonald, pledged to help fight the sale of publicly-owned woods and forests in Nottinghamshire. Jean was addressing the first Angel Row Local History Forum on Tuesday evening [15 February] in Nottingham Central Library. The forum is organised by the Nottinghamshire Local History Association and supported by…
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