It’s time to complete unfinished business on commons and greens

Our call to government on the twentieth anniversary of landmark legislation 

We are marking the twentieth anniversary of the Commons Act 2006 by urging the government to complete the job this landmark legislation began for protecting these vital green areas.  The Commons Act 2006 won royal assent on 19 July 2006. 

The society hailed the Act as a victory for commons and greens, having lobbied for it for 40 years, ever since the last major law, the Commons Registration Act 1965, provided for the registration of commons and village greens throughout England and Wales. 

The society identifies three elements of the Commons Act 2006 which it considers to be particularly significant, and calls on government to make some long-awaited improvements. 

The Act: 

1. allowed for the registration of ‘lost’ commons in Wales and certain parts of England; 
2. clarified the law on works on and exchanges of common land, and gave the public a power to act against unlawful works; 
3. enabled landowners voluntarily to register land as town or village green, thereby protecting it in perpetuity, and giving local people rights of recreation there. 

‘Lost’ commons 

The Open Spaces Society seized the opportunity to re-register ‘lost’ commons, which could be done in England in seven pioneer areas to 31 December 2020, and now in Cumbria and North Yorkshire until 15 March 2027.  It is possible throughout Wales until 4 May 2032.   

Thanks to its commons re-registration officer, Frances Kerner(4), with assistance in Cornwall from campaigner Tomas Hill, the society has re-registered 32 commons, with another ten granted in part, totalling 1,658 hectares (6.4 square miles).  Tomas has registered 260 hectares (one square mile). 

If not already accessible, this land will become available to walkers by right in due course. 

What needs to happen 

The opportunity to re-register lost commons should be rolled out across England, as was the original intention.  At present landowners can apply to remove common land from the register throughout England, until 15 March 2027, but the public cannot register land. 

Clarifying the law on works on common land 

The Commons Act 2006 clarified which commons and which works required the consent of the environment secretary or Welsh minister, and gave the public a new power to take action against unlawful works on commons.  The society is notified of all applications for works on, and exchanges of, common land in England and Wales, and responds to them all, championing the public’s interest in the land. 

What needs to happen 

Local authorities should have a duty to enforce against unlawful works on common land; it should not be left to the public to do this. 

Town and village greens 

The Commons Act gave a new power to landowners voluntarily to dedicate land as town or village green; many landowners have taken advantage of this.  The land is thereby protected in perpetuity, and local people have legal rights of informal recreation there.   

Examples are: Gillotts Field, Freeman’s Meadow, and Makins Field registered by Henley-on Thames Town Council, Oxfordshire; Scorton Parish Council’s registration of land in North Yorkshire; and Maes Glasfryn in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, registered by landowners Malcolm, Andrew, and Stuart Gray.  There are more listed here. 

The act also allowed the registration of statutory recreational allotments as greens, giving them increased protection. 

What needs to happen 

Developers should be required to register open space as town or village green within a development of a certain size or density, otherwise any open space they provide could later be built on, blocking future access there. 

Says Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society: ‘Twenty years ago we hailed the Commons Act, and it has been a great improvement on previous legislation.  But there is still much to be done to protect our precious commons, greens, and open spaces, and that achievement must be this government’s legacy.’ 

Header photo: Open Spaces Society