Joint statement on Permitted Development Rights: England
We, the undersigned, express our deep concern about the latest proposals for the expansion of Permitted Development Rights in England. These proposals[1] will lower housing standards and accessible natural green infrastructure provision, extinguish local democracy, and end public participation. Communities and their local councils have simply lost control of many of the forms of development…
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Blocked path? How to use section 130A to help
Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC local correspondent Jay Kynch helped out a cyclist friend Stephen Lindsay with advice on removing an obstruction in Miskin, near Llantrisant. The blocking of the Miskin path had caused a nuisance for months. Stephen Lindsay, cyclist and blogger, tells his tale. The footpath, Llantrisant 360, that runs past Miskin cricket ground…
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Remembering two friends
We have received generous legacies from two members who we belatedly heard had died. Our general secretary, with much supplementary information from their friends, remembers them with gratitude. Olive Entwistle, 1925-2017 The champion of Chorleywood Common in Hertfordshire, our life member Olive Entwistle, died in June 2017 aged 92. Olive was born in London…
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Our take on the environment secretary’s speech
Last week the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, made an end-of-term speech. It did not inspire confidence. A few bits of new money were promised. For instance, he announced £4m for a two-year pilot to bring ‘green prescribing’ to four urban and rural areas that have been hit the…
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A toothless watchdog?
Our case officer Nicola Hodgson is keeping a close watch on the Environment Bill. This was introduced to parliament on 30 January 2020 with second reading on 26 February. The public-bill committee’s scrutiny was cut short by the covid-19 crisis, and the committee was expected to report to parliament by the end of June, but…
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Extend deadlines to rescue common land and village greens
We have urged the government to extend deadlines to enable the public to safeguard common land and town and village greens. This would be in line with the extension of deadlines to allow development to proceed, under the Business and Planning Bill 2019-21. The society has written to the environment minister, Lord Gardiner. We are…
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How to subscribe to our You Tube Channel
YouTube is a video sharing channel where users can watch, like, share, comment and upload their own and other people’s videos. It works in a similar way to other social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter in that respect. You Tube can be accessed on PCs, laptops, tablets and via mobile phones. We will…
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Ellen’s decade as the hub of our office
We are fortunate that Ellen Froggatt, who was planning to retire in early April, is still with us. She has generously agreed to carry on as office manager part-time until we can return to the office and appoint a replacement. Consequently, Ellen celebrated ten years with the society on 7 June. In her time with…
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Vocal for local
Our general secretary Kate Ashbrook considers life for the Open Spaces Society during lockdown. As lockdown began, I foolishly thought we would have time to catch up with all those long-deferred jobs. I was wrong: we have been busier than ever. Developers are not deterred by a pandemic: open spaces remain at risk, perhaps more…
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Hanwell land-grab
Our member Steven Toft describes the fight by Hanwell residents to wrest their open space from land-grabbers In April 2019, residents of Hanwell in Ealing, west London, were dismayed that part of their park had been fenced off. St Margaret’s open space sits by the Grand Union Canal and is part of Brent River Park.…
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