Latest News

We celebrate addition of restricted byway to Norfolk’s path-map 

November 10, 2023

We are delighted that our Norfolk local correspondent, Ian Witham, has succeeded in his application to upgrade a public footpath at Mundesley to a restricted byway, with rights for cyclists, horse-riders and carriage-drivers, in addition to walkers.  The 60-metre path runs roughly south-west to north-east, between the C634 Cromer Road to the clifftop.  The route…

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Barking Tye common: a useful judgment

March 6, 2023

We challenged in the high court the decision of an inspector, appointed by the environment secretary, to grant consent under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006 for works on common land at Barking Tye in mid-Suffolk. Although he dismissed our appeal, the judge, Sir Ross Cranston, provided important clarification on the principles to be…

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Norfolk common saved from electricity development

June 28, 2022

We are delighted that a Norfolk parish council has withdrawn consent for works on the local common, ensuring that the land can remain free and unencumbered. The common is a tiny (one-eighth of a hectare) patch of land south of Broomsthorpe Road in East Rudham, six miles west of Fakenham.  It is owned by the…

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View along the newly recorded route, North Walsham, Norfolk

Ancient highway recorded in Norfolk

October 28, 2021

We are delighted that a public path has been added to the official (definitive) map of Norfolk’s public rights of way, thanks to the work of our local correspondent, Ian Witham. The mile-long route runs between the B1145 road (between North Walsham and Mundesley) to the sea just south of Mundesley.  It has been recorded…

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We save path at Honing and East Ruston in Norfolk

September 30, 2019

A footpath in the parishes of Honing and East Ruston in north Norfolk has been reopened, thanks to the persistence of our local correspondent Ian Witham. In 2012 Ian reported to the highway authority, Norfolk County Council, that part of footpath 15 in Honing and 27 in East Ruston was under water from the construction…

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Norfolk Path Recognised As A Route For Riders, Cyclists And Carriage Drivers

January 3, 2019

A route at Trunch in North Norfolk, which was recorded as a public footpath, has recently been confirmed as a restricted byway with rights for riders, cyclists and carriage drivers as well as walkers. Postle’s Lane, Trunch – south end with signpost Ian Witham, our local correspondent in Norfolk, discovered evidence to show that the 500-metre Postle’s Lane, in…

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Buxton footpath in Norfolk open at last

July 26, 2018

We are pleased that Norfolk County Council has belatedly replaced unlawful stiles with gates on Buxton with Lamas footpath 4, three miles south east of Aylsham. The stiles were in appalling condition and difficult to negotiate, and they had not been authorised on this public path (under section 147 of the Highways Act 1980)(1). The…

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Badley Moor common, Norfolk, accessible at last

May 3, 2018

Dereham Walkers Are Welcome and the society are delighted that Mr Anema, the owner of Badley Moor common near Dereham in Norfolk, has erected a kissing-gate, giving access to the common. After some time when there was no effective access, a stile had been put up, but this failed to meet Natural England’s accessibility criteria…

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Breckland councillors to determine controversial development plans at Dereham, Norfolk

January 10, 2018

On Monday (15 January) Breckland Council’s Planning Committee will determine the planning application to build 291 houses on agricultural land south of Dereham in Norfolk. There are more than 192 objectors, including the society, the Ramblers and five town and parish councils. This development on open countryside will bring no public benefit and no new…

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We persuade Harwich developer to provide new town green

December 13, 2017

We have persuaded M Scott Properties Ltd to provide a town green, 160 square metres in extent, in exchange for part of a town green of the same area which it proposes to take for development. In July M Scott Properties applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for consent…

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