Lake District fencing plan conflicts with special Act of Parliament
We believe that plans by United Utilities for 10 kilometres of fencing above Thirlmere in the heart of the Lake District National Park conflict with a special law for the area. Because the land is common, UU has applied for consent to the Planning Inspectorate for works on common land. The society believes that the…
Read MoreRetrospective application for works on Cornish common
We have objected to a retrospective application for works on Pendarves Woods Common, a mile south-west of Camborne in Cornwall. The application from Mr Robert Weedon is for part of a sand-school, parking areas and track, fuel pumps and tank, and post-and-rail fencing. The works were constructed over a period since 2008. Before anyone can…
Read MoreWe fight land swap for Beverley’s ancient common
We have objected to plans by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to swap land on Beverley Westwood Common for a site at Fishwick Mill, to the eastern border of the common. Because commons are special, the law (section 16 of the Commons Act 2006) requires that suitable exchange land is provided when a common…
Read MoreWelsh Committee calls for better protection for village greens in Planning Bill
We are delighted that a National Assembly for Wales Committee is calling for better protection of village greens. The report of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, which is scrutinising the Planning (Wales) Bill, states that ‘the provisions of the Bill in relation to town and village greens, as currently drafted, have caused us some concern’.…
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Plaque in memory of Pat Wilson
Meopham and District Footpaths Group in Kent have erected a plaque in memory of their president and our vice-president Pat Wilson. The plaque is at Scratch Arse Corner (GR TQ 653 645), near Chandler’s Hill, site of a path battle which led to the origin of the Meopham group. An early fight, championed by Pat,…
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Common landscapes
Today a taskgroup of 27 organisations launches its report Landscapes for Everyone (see below) in parliament, calling on politicians to champion our unique British landscapes. We shall be there. Our special message is that we must look after the 2,212 square miles of common land in England and Wales. Do this and we secure a…
Read MoreWelsh Assembly debates Circuit of Wales
We have sent a briefing to Antoinette Sandbach, shadow Welsh environment minister and Assembly Member for North Wales, who is leading a short debate in the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday 21 January about the controversial Circuit of Wales motorsports development at Rassau in Blaenau Gwent. The debate is called Giving the Circuit of Wales the…
Read MoreWe object to further assault on Nuneaton’s old common
We have objected to further plans from Gladman Developments Ltd to build 262 houses on former common land at Plough Hill Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The land is known as Galley Common and is of historical significance. We have repeatedly objected to applications to build on this site and are dismayed that the developers persist with their…
Read MoreThomas Hardy would breathe a sigh of relief
We are delighted that Kingston Maurward College has withdrawn its plans to build 70 houses on parkland at Thomas Hardy’s hamlet of Lower Bockhampton, Dorset. Hardy was born at nearby Higher Bockhampton in 1840. The society was among hundreds of objectors to the development, including the Ramblers, the Thomas Hardy Society and the Lower Bockhampton…
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Pressure groups fight fencing plan in Lake District’s wilderness
We are backing our member the Friends of the Lake District in fighting a plan by United Utilities to erect fencing on common land in the heart of the Lake District National Park. United Utilities has applied to erect nearly ten kilometres of new fencing at the South Western end of Thirlmere, enclosing 866 hectares…
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