Latest News

We fight loss of open space in Bolsover

March 19, 2018

We have joined the campaign against a development on land north of Clowne, at Bolsover in Derbyshire. The society has objected to an outline planning application from Waystone Ltd for mixed-use development, including employment land, 1,800 residential dwellings, a retirement village, hotel and much more. We have backed CPRE Derbyshire and others in opposing the…

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We urge Powys Council to reject damaging development in Glasbury

March 13, 2018

We are concerned that Powys County Council’s principal planning officer has recommended approval of an outline planning application for 12 dwellings and associated works in the village of Glasbury on the River Wye in Powys. The application will be determined by the Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way Committee on Thursday 15 March. The…

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We speak at international congress on rural paths

March 7, 2018

Hugh Craddock, one of our case officers, is speaking today (7 March) at a congress* in Barcelona on paths in rural areas. Hugh will explain the importance of rural ways in England and Wales for informal recreation.  There are probably more than 200,000 kms of rural ways in England: footpaths, bridleway, carriageways, cycle paths and…

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Powys wind-turbine inquiry imminent

March 7, 2018

On the eve of the public inquiry into Hendy Wind Farm’s appeal against Powys County Council’s refusal of planning permission for seven wind-turbines near Llandegley Rocks, we have renewed our call for rejection of the plans. We are backing the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and many other organisations and individuals who oppose…

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Progress on Portsmouth harbour quayside road

March 5, 2018

Portsmouth campaigners, with our support, have made a big stride forward in getting a path around Camber Dock, at the mouth of the harbour, recognised as a public right of way. In 2014 Kenneth Bailey and Anna Koor of the Camber Action Group applied to Portsmouth City Council to add the route of approximately 575…

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We slate new Solihull road-scheme for neglecting walkers

March 5, 2018

We have objected to Highways England’s plans for the M42 junction 6 improvement scheme in Solihull.  The junction is between the M42 motorway and the A45 and it serves Birmingham International station. The society is concerned about the loss of public access on foot as a result of the scheme.  The proposal is for a…

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Fencing allowed on Betws Common, Ammanford

March 5, 2018

We are disappointed that Welsh ministers have approved an application from Betws Common Holdings for nearly one mile of new fences on Betws Common, near Ammanford in Carmarthenshire. Because the fence comprises works on common land which will prevent or impede access, the applicant needed the consent of Welsh Ministers under section 38 of the…

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We call for new policy in London Plan to save green spaces

March 1, 2018

In our response to the London Mayor’s draft new London Plan we have called for London boroughs to dedicate their green spaces as town greens. The society has proposed the inclusion of a new policy: ‘Boroughs should dedicate any green spaces in their ownership as town greens, under the Commons Act 2006. This will protect…

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Protests over abuse of Clapham Common

February 27, 2018

Our local correspondent Jeremy Clyne has written to Lambeth Council to protest against the exploitation of open space in the borough, and the damage caused. The situation has become so critical that local people are saying the flagship Clapham Common might be better renamed ‘Clapham Commercial’. A large swathe of the common is still fenced…

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Delight at withdrawal of ‘Zipper-mere’ plan

February 21, 2018

We are highly relieved that Treetop Trek has withdrawn its planning application for a massive zip-wire development across Thirlmere, in the heart of the Lake District National Park. The proposals included eight cables stretching across the lake, with take-off and landing points, gantries, more car-parking provision and buildings. Treetop Trek claims it has withdrawn the…

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