Bad dreams for bed magnate
Michael Clare, founder of the Bed emporium ‘Dreams’, and his wife Carol must remove a high, galvanised-steel ‘gate’ which they erected without planning permission on their £22-million estate, Turville Court. They then sought retrospective consent from Wycombe District Council, which has been refused. The matter is now in the hands of the council’s enforcement officer.…
Read MoreBattle to save West Durrington Greenspace
We are backing local campaigners in their fight to save ancient woodlands from development, at Titnore Lane, West Durrington near Worthing in West Sussex. We have written to Paul Yallop, leader of Worthing Borough Council, and James Appleton, head of planning, urging them to reject the plans for 1,250 houses and other buildings there. The…
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Prison-like fence must go
The society has objected to a retrospective planning application for a close-boarded fence, nearly two metres high, alongside the public footpath at Deanacre, off Deanfield Road in Henley-on-Thames. Mr Philip Turner, of 2 Deanacre, has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council for consent for the fence which was erected without planning permission last year, replacing…
Read MoreWe question Bristol’s green credentials
We have today questioned Bristol’s claims to be a ‘green capital’. Objecting to an application by Bristol Zoo to continue to use one of the best parts of the city’s famous Downs as a large car park on the finest days of the year, Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary said: ‘This is the fifth time…
Read MoreBeauty-spot path on Cornish coast to be reopened at last
The claimed footpath at Carlyon Bay, St Austell in Cornwall is at last being reopened, after being submerged by development. The society’s members Gloria and Peter Price have led the campaign to win back the path. The Prices claimed the route, from Beach Road to the former Coliseum Building, for the official map of public…
Read MoreAnger at West Sussex County Council’s decision on National Park
Countryside organizations have today reacted angrily to the news that West Sussex County Council has ignored pleas from the public, environmental organizations and even its own Environment Committee about public paths in the South Downs National Park. The County Council has announced it will definitely take back the maintenance of rights of way and countryside…
Read MoreDevelopers 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…
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