Lancashire County Council threatens to abandon its countryside service
We are dismayed that Lancashire County Council has said that it will cease to provide and maintain its countryside sites in two years’ time. We have responded to the council’s consultation on the future of the countryside services beyond April 2018. Of course we understand that the council faces massive cuts, stated to be £262…
Restore Fawley’s Walnut Tree pub for walkers
We have backed an application to Wycombe District Council to rebuild and restore the Walnut Tree pub at Fawley in Bucks. The site is at the hub of a number of public rights of way in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is passed by countless walkers, riders and cyclists. The pub closed…
Threat to Cornish bridleway
We have objected to an application to station 91 residential-park dwellings on land close to a public bridleway and common land, at Quintrell Downs, Colan, north Cornwall. The new residents would have to drive along the bridleway to gain access to the A392 road to the north. We oppose the development because it will generate…
Member Feedback
Chris Peat, Carlton, Leicestershire A formal opening ceremony was held in Carlton recently to open an improved footpath. Over the last two years Carlton Parish Council has worked with the County and Borough Councils and the Carlton Footpath Group to install 13 gates and kissing gates in place of stiles on two local footpaths, and…
Safe crossings for Poole pedestrians
We have helped secure four crossings over the busy Shore Road at Poole, to enable walkers to get safely from the beachfront to the harbourside, using a popular footpath. These were achieved by our local correspondents Harry and Aimee Alexander who pursued the campaign for ten years. Says Harry: ‘After more than a decade of…
We fight damaging development in New Forest National Park
We are opposing an ugly solar ‘farm’ in the New Forest National Park. Last year the national park authority rejected a planning application from MTS Exbury Solar Ltd for a solar farm on nine hectares of land east of Lepe Farm, Exbury. The applicants have appealed and the hearing is to be held at Lymington…
Tweet of the day about major events in our 150-year history
Throughout 2015 we issued a ‘tweet of the day’, with hashtag #saveopenspaces150, highlighting an event in our history, and have reproduced the tweets here with a little more information where relevant. The list grew daily to build up a picture of what we have done in our 150-year history. Day 1: OSS founded on 19 July 1865,…
Ministers’ neglect threatens vital common land
We are calling on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and on the Welsh Government to finish the job on common land. Ten years ago the Commons Act 2006 provided for accurate and up-to-date registers of commons and commons councils to manage the commons. But the Act has not yet been fully brought…
Our fight against beauty-spot wind turbines in Powys
We have sent a further objection to plans for seven 110-meter-high wind-turbines in the quiet countryside five miles east of Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Hendy Wind Farm Ltd has put in minor amendments to its application to Powys County Council for planning permission. The amendments do not mitigate any of our concerns. The turbines will still…
Anglesey Council plans to dispose of public park
We are dismayed that the Isle of Anglesey County Council has published plans to dispose of Holyhead Park in South Stack Road. The public has six weeks, until 19 January 2016, in which to object to the plans. Thereafter, the council will invite expressions of interest for two weeks until 2 February, from anyone wishing…