Friends of Coldhams Common celebrate removal of barbed wire fencing
Our member, Friends of Coldhams Common, is celebrating the removal of over 330m of barbed wire fence on the common. The fencing was a serious hazard to dogs and walkers on the common and probably dated from a 1980s City Council grant for tree planting. The barbed wire was erected to protect the trees from…
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We celebrate good news for riders and cyclists at North Lopham, Norfolk
We are delighted that a restricted byway has been newly recorded at North Lopham in south-west Norfolk. Norfolk County Council made a definitive map modification order, following an application made by our local correspondent Ian Witham on behalf of the society, in 2015. The order was confirmed by the council, unopposed, on 1 December 2016.…
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Packed village hall for launch of campaign for Dorchester’s paths and open spaces
The village hall at Dorchester on Thames in Oxfordshire was packed on Tuesday evening (10 January) for the launch of the village’s campaign to preserve the footpaths and open access to the historic Dyke Hills and Day’s Lock Meadow close to the River Thames. Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, and Dorchester resident Becky Waller spoke…
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Fencing rejected on Snettisham Common
The Secretary of State for Environment has refused an application for fencing on Snettisham Common in north Norfolk. Snettisham Parish Council, which owns the common, had applied for retrospective consent for two lengths of fencing on the common, one around the top of a sandpit and the other between the car-parking area and the picnic…
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Saving open spaces and footpaths at Dorchester-on-Thames
Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, and local correspondent for Oxfordshire, Chris Hall, will be speaking at a public meeting in Dorchester Village Hall on Tuesday 10th January as part of a local initiative to preserve footpaths and open access to the Dyke Hills and Days Lock area near Dorchester-on-Thames. Local resident, and OSS member Becky…
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Kent County Council to retain its country parks
We are delighted that Kent County Council (KCC) has decided not to sell its country parks, including Blue Bell Hill picnic site, near Burham on the North Downs. Last February the society objected in response to KCC’s public notice announcing its intention to dispose of the land at Blue Bell Hill. The society argued that…
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Make 2017 the Year of the Village Green
We have called on local authorities and developers throughout England and Wales to make 2017 the Year of the Village Green, by voluntary registering their land as greens. The society urges developers to include registered village greens within their sites so that local people have a guaranteed green space for recreation which is preserved for…
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Happy new year
Our office is closed until 9.30am on Tuesday 3 January, but you will find lots of information on our website. Please take a look. We wish all our website visitors a very happy christmas and new year.
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We deplore Bristol Zoo’s selfish attitude towards the Downs
We have objected for the seventh time to Bristol Zoo’s application to use Bristol’s Downs for car-parking. The society has objected to this use since 1997 and each time the council has granted temporary permission. The current permission expires this month (December 2016). Before 1997 the zoo used the Downs for parking without seeking proper…
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We join the battle against Lake District pylons
We have joined the Friends of the Lake District and other objectors in fighting National Grid’s plan to erect gigantic pylons on the western boundary of the Lake District National Park. The pylons are part of the North West Coast Connections project. National Grid wants to impose them along the Whicham valley and around the…
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