Claim our commons now, call from our vice-president
‘We have less than five years in which to claim our commons. The Open Spaces Society is leading the campaign to ensure that all common land is registered and available for the public to enjoy’ so declared our vice-president, Paul Clayden, at the society’s annual general meeting in London on Thursday (7 July). Throughout its…
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Quarry threat to Lincolnshire footpath
We have objected to plans by Breedon Aggregates to extend South Witham quarry in south Lincolnshire and destroy the route of a much-loved public footpath. The path runs between the villages of South Witham and Thistleton and is on the edge of the proposed quarry extension. The developers want to move the path around three…
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Phenomenal volunteer effort has saved two Welsh gems
We have congratulated the Elenydd Wilderness Hostels Trust on its phenomenal volunteer effort. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, spoke at the trust’s tenth anniversary lunch in Tregaron on Saturday (2 July). Said Kate: ‘Not only have the trust’s activists saved two hostels in the remote heart of Wales from closure and sale, but they have…
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Greater protection for public paths when land is sold
We welcome the introduction of new rules which ensure public paths are identified before property is sold. The Law Society’s new conveyancing form CON29 comes into effect on Monday 4 July. It will be compulsory for the local authority to report the existence of public rights of way across or adjoining land which is for…
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Dereham, Norfolk, becomes a Walkers Are Welcome town.
We have congratulated the people of Dereham in Norfolk on achieving the status of a Walkers Are Welcome town. Dereham has joined the family of over 100 towns in England, Scotland and Wales which give an overt welcome to walkers and display the Walkers Are Welcome logo, showing that businesses are pleased to see walkers…
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A big welcome to West Yorkshire
On Saturday 25 June a new long-distance path, the Welcome Way, will be opened in Otley, West Yorkshire. The 28-mile circular walk is unique because it was created through the collaborative effort of three West Yorkshire Walkers Are Welcome towns: Otley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Baildon, linking all three. There is an additional nine-mile loop taking in…
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Abbey Road Open Space at Steyning is a village green
West Sussex County Council has agreed to register four and a half acres of open space at Abbey Road, Steyning, as a village green. The Friends of Abbey Road Open Space applied to register the land as a green on 23 July 2015, on the grounds that local people had used the land for 20…
Read MoreThreat to Clerkenwell Green, Islington
We have objected to Islington Council’s plans to mutilate Clerkenwell Green, by replacing the historic, underground, public conveniences with a café. The open space has traditionally been used for public assemblies. The toilets, designed by George Jennings, are of considerable historic interest. The Open Spaces Society was founded 151 years ago initially to fight for…
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Public footpath must be protected during Henley Regatta
We are anxious that Henley footpath 14, on the west bank of the River Thames, should remain undisturbed during the Regatta. The society has responded to the Regatta’s application for a licence to use the area for entertainment and to control entry. The area which is included in the licence takes in the route of…
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Moorside Fields, Lancaster are a village green
The High Court has ruled that Moorside Fields in south Lancaster are a village green. This means that they will be protected from development and can be enjoyed by the community by right for informal recreation. Local resident Janine Bebbington, acting for the Moorside Fields Community Group, applied to register five fields as a green…
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