Defra study of Women’s Institute Survey on Town and Village Greens
Please click on the link below to download a copy of Defra’s study of the character of greens based on a semi-randomised representative sample (200) of information gathered by the Women’s Institute across England. Please click here
Read MoreBritish Bike Association on rights for cyclists
There are an increasing number of cyclists in the United Kingdom. This is because bicycles provide economic, ecological and environmental benefits over other forms of transport. Bicycles are used for travelling to and from work, for recreational use and even for delivery purposes. Many cyclists are afraid of vehicular traffic, so choose to cycle on…
Read MoreFriends of the Lake District – Our Green Heritage
Friends of the Lake District are offering a new opportunity for communities to take part and receive dedicated help for their green space. They are inviting communities to participate in a 3 year funded project focusing on local heritage green space. This is a follow on to the highly successful Our Green Space project. What…
Read MoreOpen Spaces Society fights gating order for Hove path
The Open Spaces Society,(1) Britain’s oldest national conservation body, has opposed Brighton and Hove Council’s plan to make a gating order for Farman Street, Hove. (2) The council wants to lock people out of the street between 9pm and 8am, claiming that the route is associated with crime and anti-social behaviour. Says Kate Ashbrook, the…
Read More
Our open day
OSS members enjoyed the society’s open day, at Netley Abbey in Hampshire, on 26 June. The event was hosted by our member, the Bursledon Rights of Way and Amenities Preservation Group which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. There were talks and discussion about open spaces and paths in the morning, with a choice…
Read MoreTen-point plan for candidates in Westminster election, May 2010
We published our ten-point plan for candidates in the general election, and asked them to sign up to it. Action plan 1. A right of appeal, and a requirement to provide suitable alternative land, before public open space is taken for another purpose 2. Law change to give county and unitary authorities a duty to…
Read More
Plan to alleygate popular Luton footpath
Luton Borough Council plans to erect locked gates across the popular Beech Hill footpath. The path provides a direct and useful link between Dunstable Road and Ash Road, and to Beech Hill Community Primary School. In 2008 the council abandoned its plan to close the route, which was illegally blocked and, with the Bedfordshire Rights…
Read More
Maulden footpath reopened at last
The long-blocked Maulden footpath 28, seven miles south of Bedford, has at last been reopened for the public. Maulden footpath number 28 had been illegally blocked by a fence, animal shelter, heap of animal dung, gate, fence and brick wall. (2) Alan Bowers, the owner of land crossed by the path, built a house, number…
Read MoreLancashire County Council should respect footpath at Waterfoot
Lancashire County Council plans to start building the new Waterfoot Primary School at Rawtenstall before the route of the public footpath which crosses the site has been determined. The council applied to move Rawtenstall footpath 237 in order to enable it to build the new school. However, there were many objections, from ourselves and Rossendale…
Read More
Faircote Hall fiasco
Wealden District Council has given retrospective planning consent for a riding arena at Faircote Hall and stud, Hartfield in East Sussex, and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has refused the society’s request to call in the controversial application. The arena had been built unlawfully, without planning consent. Furthermore, it crosses a…
Read More