Barratt’s backs down over future of Leigh Common, Dorset
We have prevailed in a High Court action to halt further development of Leigh Common. Leigh Common is a 9-hectare woodland and grassland nature reserve in Colehill, near Wimborne—the first in Dorset to be registered in 1967 and given permanent protection. In 2016 developers Gleeson Developments Ltd applied to Dorset County Council to deregister Leigh…
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We save path at Honing and East Ruston in Norfolk
A footpath in the parishes of Honing and East Ruston in north Norfolk has been reopened, thanks to the persistence of our local correspondent Ian Witham. In 2012 Ian reported to the highway authority, Norfolk County Council, that part of footpath 15 in Honing and 27 in East Ruston was under water from the construction…
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A hand up from Glover
The report of the English landscapes review, led by Julian Glover, was published on 21 September 2019. We submitted evidence in 2018. The review covered national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs). It recognises the great importance of these landscapes and the affection for them, while noting that their founding mission has been…
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Changes to Cornwall’s common-land register
We are delighted that a planning inspector has granted two of the society’s applications to restore parts of Cornwall’s commons to the register. These are Cosgarne or Twelveheads Common near Chacewater and Maenporth Beach at Falmouth. The grounds of the applications were that both areas should have become finally registered at the time of the…
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The Canyons are saved
We are delighted that the popular Canyons, near Pontypool in Torfaen, have been saved from devastation. The Minister for Housing and Local Government in Wales, Julie James, has refused an appeal from Peakman Ltd for the extraction of aggregates and construction of an access road. This would have required the removal of part of Mynydd…
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Lambeth council bows to pressure over events on open space
A London council has bowed to pressure over its controversial policy of allowing major events to be held on its parks and open spaces. Lambeth Borough Council, which has come under fierce criticism for making money out of allowing damaging commercial events, has at last agreed that in future it will seek permission from the…
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Our application to register land as common at Carn Brea, Cornwall
We are aware that local people are concerned at our application to re-register a small area of land at Carn Brea in Cornwall as common land. In fact, registration of the land as common will have no adverse effect on Carn Brea castle, the restaurant or people’s use or enjoyment of them. The registration will…
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Unlawful fence removed from Nottinghamshire common
Nottinghamshire County Council has persuaded a householder to remove an unlawful fence from Hanging Hill Lane common, Normanton-on-Trent. We urged the council to act after the environment secretary rejected a retrospective application for works on common land. The common is a long strip, consisting of Hanging Hill Lane and a broad verge on either side.…
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Finsbury Park is vital for our health and well-being
‘Finsbury Park, and other open spaces in London and beyond, are vital for our health and well-being.’ So said Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, at celebrations to mark Finsbury Park’s 150th anniversary. Kate was taking part in a discussion group, with Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, and Hugh White, chair of the…
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Viscar Common, Cornwall, restored to commons register
We are delighted that Cornwall Council has granted our application to restore Viscar Common, in the Cornish parish of Wendron, to the common-land register. The half-hectare common is north-east of the lane leading to Viscar, and is owned by Wendron Parish Council. The application was made by Tomas Hill, one of our consultants who are…
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