Governments should recognise the ‘secret gems’—our common land
‘The governments in England and Wales should recognise that common land matters.’ So declared Paul Clayden, our vice-president, who chaired our annual general meeting on 6 July. ‘Commons are the secret gems in our landscape, ancient places which have remained largely unchanged through history. We are dismayed that the Westminster government is so dilatory about…
Read MoreBelvoir wind turbines rejected
Plans for eight wind-turbines at Palmers Hollow, Bottesford, Leicestershire, have been rejected by a government inspector. The developer, Ridgewind, appealed because Melton Borough Council failed to determine the planning application within the statutory period, and the case was heard by inspector Chris Frost at an 11-day public inquiry. We objected to the application, along with…
Read MoreGreens review rejected by experts’ gathering
The national seminar on common land and town and village greens on 1 July, at the University of Gloucester, rejected the notion of a wholesale review of the laws for the registration of new greens. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, proposed the motion This seminar believes that little change is needed…
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Our founder honoured on Hightown Common
We joined the National Trust and the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Footpath Society on 29 June in marking the restoration by the trust of an important seat on Hightown Common in the New Forest. We toasted the society’s founder, Lord Eversley, in whose memory the 40-acre common was acquired in 1929, the year after his death.…
Read MoreConservation not cuts
We are calling on the government to recognise in its spending review the value to the nation of green spaces, lovely places and public paths and access. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, was speaking at an open day at Netley Abbey, Hampshire, organised by the Bursledon rights of Way and Amenities Preservation Group and opened…
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Brent should reopen blocked golf-course path
We have called on Councillor Ann John, chairman of Brent Council’s General Purposes Committee, to resolve to reopen the blocked path across Northwick Park golf course, rather than persist in trying to close it. The committee will consider a recommendation from its Director of Environment and Culture tomorrow (29 June) to remake the flawed order…
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Chailey Commons to be fenced
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has permitted East Sussex County Council to fence the Chailey Commons at North Chailey, two miles south-west of Newick.(3) The application, to which we objected, was considered at a public inquiry in March 2010, at which the inspector was Mr Peter Millman. The council applied…
Read MorePublic inquiry into path closure at site of Swansea’s historic slip-bridge
A public inquiry opens on Tuesday (22 June) into Swansea Council’s plan to close the public footpath over the former slip-bridge on the seafront in Swansea. We are among the objectors to the proposals. The council has made an order to close the path on the grounds that it is not needed for public use…
Read MoreWe fight common-land swap on unique Staines Moor
We have objected to plans by Heathrow Airport Ltd to take common land and open space at Staines Moor in Surrey for the construction of a new rail-link. The promoters are offering land in exchange, but we consider this to be grossly inadequate. Staines Moor is a unique, medieval landscape, surviving as a previous wilderness…
Read MoreTop ornithologist condemns ‘crass’ action by council in Oxfordshire woodland
We are pressing North Hinksey Parish Council to drop its plans to make ‘improvements’ in the wooded part of the Louie Memorial Fields.(1) The council’s plans are not known in detail because they have not been divulged to the public, but among other things, the intention is to hard-surface the path through woods, a charming…
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