Developers must heed common land and public paths
‘Developers must be aware of registered common land and public paths on their land before they finalise their plans—or they will have to face big hold-ups.’ This is our response to the Penfold Review of Non-Planning Consents (Department of Business, Innovation and Skills). The aim of the review is ‘to explore whether the process for…
Read MoreWe speak out to save Kensington’s Athlone gardens
‘Catastrophic’ is how we have described the effect of the proposed redevelopment of Wornington Green Estate, London W10, on the adjoining Athlone Gardens (1). Our London representative, Bernard Selwyn, has written to Kensington and Chelsea Council to object to the Kensington Housing Trust’s planning application because of its effect on Athlone Gardens. Says Bernard: ‘The…
Read MoreMountain-top wind factory
We have welcomed the recommendation from Swansea’s planning officers to reject the application from N Power Renewables Ltd to erect 19 wind turbines on Mynydd y Gwair Common, a beauty-spot eight miles north of Swansea.. Swansea’s planning committee meets on Thursday (21 January) to determine the controversial application. We are delighted that the officers are…
Read MoreThink again West Sussex!
Countryside organizations have today welcomed the recommendation that West Sussex County Council should reconsider its position on rights of way in the South Downs National Park. The recommendation was made by the County Council’s environment committee which said they felt the South Downs Society, the Access Forum, parish councils and other county councils should be…
Read MorePressure for call-in for Davidstow wind-turbines
We have written to the Government Office for the South West urging the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to call in the planning application for 20 wind-turbines at Davidstow Wood, near Camelford in Cornwall. Cornwall Council’s planning committee approved the turbines, against its officers’ advice, last October. However, the Government Office for…
Read MoreCentenary of ‘landmark law’
This year marks the centenary of the Finance Act 1910, a landmark law which has proved valuable in claiming routes as public paths for the definitive (official) map of rights of way in England and Wales. David Lloyd George’s Finance Act 1910 introduced a tax on land, but landowners could apply for a reduction in…
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Beauty-spot blot
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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Village Greens review is unnecessary and premature
‘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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We slate Thanet’s plan to sell beauty spot
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…
Read MoreSixty years on, path protectors challenge councils to ‘put themselves on the map’
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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