Latest News

Beauty-spot blot

January 4, 2010

We have objected to a retrospective planning application for a high, galvanised-steel ‘gate’ at Turville, Bucks, on a hilltop in the heart of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Michael and Carol Clare of Turville Court, part of a 22 million-pound estate, erected a green metal structure, nearly three metres high and five metres…

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We slate Thanet’s plan to sell beauty spot

December 18, 2009

We have objected strongly to plans by Thanet District Council to sell its land below Ramsgate’s West Cliff in Kent.  Thanet Council has consulted local people about this and we are backing the objection by our member, Pegwell and District Association, and many individuals. This lovely area of wild greenspace, at the far end of…

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Village Greens review is unnecessary and premature

December 18, 2009

‘The proposed review of the process for registering new town and village greens is unnecessary and premature.’ This is our response the recently-announced review by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).(1) Says our case officer, Nicola Hodgson: ‘The current process for registering land as greens in England only took effect in April…

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Sixty years on, path protectors challenge councils to ‘put themselves on the map’

December 16, 2009

Councils across England and Wales are today challenged to ‘put themselves on the map’, by the Ramblers and Open Spaces Society, on the 60th Anniversary of royal assent of the Act which the created official maps of public paths (the definitive map). The visionary 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, passed 60…

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Fight against blot on Bowland

December 15, 2009

We are fighting to stop the erection of 20 wind-turbines on common land in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Lancashire.  The site is Claughton Moor and Whit Moor, seven miles north-east of Lancaster. The society has objected to a planning application from Community Windpower Ltd, and to an application for…

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Green ruling for Burton’s Wood

December 14, 2009

A hectare of land known as Burton’s Wood, at Burton’s Lane, Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire, has been registered as a village green. Says our case officer Nicola Hodgson:  ‘This is a wonderful outcome.  Buckinghamshire County Council’s Rights of Way Committee followed the recommendations of the Head of Planning, Environment and Development, and Head of Legal…

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An evening of adventure

December 8, 2009

The Campaign for National Parks (CNP) is holding a one-off event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on 31 March 2010 at 7pm, when mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington and adventurer Ben Fogle will discuss with Libby Purves ‘What makes an adventurer?’ Click here for more details and to book tickets. All proceeds go to…

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Council halts Cissbury downland sale

December 7, 2009

We are delighted that Worthing Borough Council’s Cabinet decided on 3 December to withdraw from sale its downland at Cissbury in West Sussex, following strong representations from the Open Spaces Society, Stop Cissbury Sell-Off and countless other organisations and individuals.  However, now we need to ensure that the land’s long-term future is secured. We wrote…

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Haslemere Society shares common roots with Open Spaces Society

December 2, 2009

‘The Open Spaces Society and the Haslemere Society(1) have common roots—and they are embedded in the Surrey commons, said our general secretary Kate Ashbrook, who was guest speaker at the Haslemere Society’s annual general meeting on Friday 27 November.  ‘Robert Hunter, who was the honorary solicitor of the Commons Preservation Society soon after its formation,…

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