Delight at withdrawal of ‘Zipper-mere’ plan
We are highly relieved that Treetop Trek has withdrawn its planning application for a massive zip-wire development across Thirlmere, in the heart of the Lake District National Park. The proposals included eight cables stretching across the lake, with take-off and landing points, gantries, more car-parking provision and buildings. Treetop Trek claims it has withdrawn the…
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Lake District zip-wire approval causes dismay
We are dismayed that the Lake District National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee has approved the Honister zip-wire. The application was made by the Honister Slate Mine for an aerial zip-wire and other structures over the Honister Pass in the Lake District National Park The committee overturned the recommendation for refusal from national park planning…
Read MoreBattle of Knutsford Heath
A new ‘Battle of Knutsford Heath’ is brewing in Cheshire East. TV chef Tom Kerridge plans to present ‘Pub in the Park’ on Knutsford Heath, which is protected common land, from 7 to 9 September 2018. We are calling for Knutsford Heath instead to be kept open to the public for quiet recreation. The society…
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Manchester councillors to debate the future of Nutsford Vale
On Thursday (11 January) Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee will consider the planning application to build a school on open space at Nutsford Vale. This is a council-owned park on the borders of Longsight, Levenshulme and Gorton, in south-east Manchester. The planning application, from the council’s education department, is for a school building,…
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New Northern Forest: great opportunity for public involvement
We have welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that a new Northern Forest is to be created along the M62 corridor, as part of the government’s 25-year Environment Plan. The forest is to span more than 120 miles between the cities of Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. The society is particularly pleased that this will provide…
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The Open Spaces Society slams ‘zipper-mere’ plan
We have slammed plans by Treetop Trek for a massive zipwire development across Thirlmere, in the heart of the Lake District National Park. The proposals include eight cables stretching across the lake, with take-off and landing points, gantries, additional car-parking provision and buildings. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘These plans would make Thirlmere into…
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Doors open to rescue lost commons in Cumbria and North Yorkshire
On 15 December, for the first time in 45 years, the public can win lost commons in Cumbria and North Yorkshire and gain rights to walk, and possibly ride, on them. This could lead to a significant new area of land for public enjoyment. Cumbria and North Yorkshire are to be added to the list of…
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Kirkby Moor turbines must go
We are delighted that South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee has rejected an application to extend the life of the Kirkby Moor wind farm to 2027. The application was made by Innogy Renewables on behalf of Zephyr Investments Ltd. We objected because the turbines are a severe intrusion in a wild landscape, highly visible from…
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We join fight to save Nutsford Vale park, Manchester
We have urged Manchester City Council to reject the proposed development of Nutsford Vale, a council-owned park on the borders of Longsight, Levenshulme and Gorton in south-east Manchester. We have backed our member, the Friends of Nutsford Vale, in opposing a proposed school building, sports hall, car-park and other facilities. The development, occupying about 5.5…
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We fight plan to extend life of wind turbines on Cumbrian commons
We have objected to plans by Zephyr Investments Ltd to extend the life of the 12 wind turbines on common land at Kirkby Moor and High Lowick, Cumbria, for a further eight years and seven months, to 31 March 2027. In 2015, South Lakeland District Council refused permission for the replacement of the existing turbines…
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