Reopening of blocked footpath at Little Hautbois, Norfolk
The blocked Buxton with Lammas footpath 1 has been reopened. The path, which runs past the Tudor mansion Hautbois Hall, had been blocked to a narrow width with fences and gates. We lobbied Norfolk County Council to reopen it and now this has been done. …
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Friends of Panshanger Park campaign to save Repton’s Broadwater
Our member, The Friends of Panshanger Park, is campaigning to save Humphry Repton’s design for the Broadwater in Panshanger Park which is in danger of being destroyed for gravel extraction. Repton’s Broadwater at the western end of the park has been retained more or less intact but the owners, Lafarge Tarmac, now propose to destroy…
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We slate Network Rail’s blocked paths in Ely
We have complained to Cambridgeshire County Council about the unlawful closure of public paths by Network Rail. Our local correspondent, Alysoun Hodges, was dismayed to discover that Network Rail has closed footpaths in Ely where they cross the railway line. While Network Rail is carrying out a consultation on the closure of path crossings over…
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Ian Mercer, giant of the national-park movement, dies aged 83
Ian Mercer, the first Dartmoor National Park Officer and the first chief executive of the Welsh Government’s advisory body, the Countryside Council for Wales, has died aged 83 after a long illness. He was also the first warden of Slapton Ley Field Centre, the first county (Devon) conservation officer in England and Wales, and the…
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Cotswold path saved from closure
We have saved a 250-metre public footpath at Oddington from closure. Oddington is two miles east of Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire. The owner of Brans Cottage which adjoins the path applied to the highway authority, Gloucestershire County Council, to close the path. We were the sole objector. The extinguishment order was referred to the Planning Inspectorate…
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We fight development on Norfolk common
We have objected to a planning application by the Woodlands Caravan Park to extend the caravan park on registered common land at Upper Sheringham in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Woodlands Caravan Park has used the common for this purpose for many years without obtaining the required consent from the Secretary of…
Read MoreDismay at consent to deregister part of Barmby Moor village green
The Planning Inspectorate has approved an application from Barmby Moor Parish Council to deregister part of the village green, near Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The parish council wants to allow a private vehicular-access across the green to enable residential development to take place to the north. As the leading organisation concerned with…
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Lake District heartland saved from commercial development
We are delighted that plans for the commercial development of Lake District common land have been rejected following a public inquiry. Jim Lowther of the Lowther Estate wanted to build a ‘visitor hub’ at White Moss, on the A591 near Grasmere in the Lake District National Park. The development included an events venue, retail outlet,…
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Speak up for open spaces and parks in Brighton
Our local correspondent, Chris Smith, is urging Brighton residents to speak up for open spaces and parks such as Stanmer Park and the surrounding downland. Brighton Council wants to make cuts to the amount it spends on parks and open spaces. It is holding a consultation about this because it is legally obliged to. You…
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PM back from alpine hike to walkers’ warning
When Prime Minister Theresa May returns from her hiking holiday in the Alps today (Wednesday) she will find a letter from the society. We express delight that the Prime Minister enjoys walking, but urge her to look into the state of public paths in England and Wales which, due to continuing local authority cuts, are…
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