Latest News

Path-block shock

February 22, 2024

In January, the BBC revealed the shocking results of its survey on the state of public paths in England and Wales.  Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, comments on these findings. Paths, it showed, are blocked at 32,000 points, that is one obstruction every four and a half miles—and the problems are growing. Seventy three of…

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Court threat causes Cornwall Council to climb down over unrecorded path 

February 21, 2024

We are delighted that Cornwall Council has capitulated in the face of court action, led by the British Horse Society (BHS), against the council’s failure to register applications to add public paths to the official map as required by law. [1] The BHS had applied in September 2023 for a path at Altarnun (11 kms…

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The disposal of open space on Swansea’s Kilvey Hill

February 19, 2024

Swansea Council advertised notice of disposal of open space on Kilvey Hill, under section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972, in anticipation of the council granting planning permission for the massive Skyline leisure development on the hill.  The Open Spaces Society was among many objectors, arguing that the disposal was contrary to the council’s…

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We help to save Mucklewick Hill, Shropshire, from disfigurement 

February 14, 2024

We are delighted that Shropshire Council’s planners have rejected an application for a 15-metre-high telecommunications mast with ancillary equipment on Mucklewick Hill in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.  The hill is 15 miles south-west of Shrewsbury, and six miles north-east of Bishops Castle in south Shropshire.  The society, the Shropshire Area of the Ramblers, and…

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Our new representative in Spelthorne Borough, Surrey 

February 9, 2024

We have appointed Ashley Redsell as our local correspondent to watch over the commons of Spelthorne Borough in Surrey.  Ashley will keep a close eye on developments in Spelthorne, and where attempts are made to take over common land, he will work with the borough and county councils, and local residents to prevent this destruction. …

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Where are the new public spaces? We challenge government pledge 

February 1, 2024

The 31 January was the first anniversary of the government’s pledge, in its Environmental Improvement Plan, that (within five years) ‘the public will benefit from a new commitment to access green space or water within a 15-minute walk from their home, such as woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers’.  A year on, we question what is…

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Manifesto for the London mayor

January 31, 2024

The society is a member of the More Natural Capital coalition of 19 organisations which has set out its top ten priorities for the London mayoral election on 2 May 2024. We are particularly pleased that the manifesto supports our Open Spaces Charter and our call for new town and village greens. We urge our…

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New watchdog in Ceredigion

January 25, 2024

We have appointed Richard Price as our local correspondent for west Ceredigion.  Richard will be the society’s eyes and ears here, keeping a close watch on paths, commons, greens, and open spaces.  He shares the county with Gerald Davies who covers east Ceredigion.  Richard’s background is in financial services, having been an independent financial adviser…

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Land at Nesfield, North Yorkshire, restored as common 

January 16, 2024

We have welcomed the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to grant the society’s application to register as common approximately one third of a hectare of land in the village of Nesfield in North Yorkshire (just over two miles north-west of Ilkley).  The land comprises two pieces of grassland separated by a path which leads from Gill Lane…

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Public rights of way blocked in 32,000 places

January 14, 2024

We’re shocked that walkers are finding public paths in England and Wales blocked in nearly 32,000 places—that’s one obstruction every four and a half miles, and they are getting worse. As Britain’s oldest national conservation body, we’ve been campaigning to protect footpaths, bridleways and byways – as well as other open spaces – since 1865,…

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