Our path claim enables cyclists to use Itchenor ferry, West Sussex
Thanks to our local correspondent Chris Smith, the ancient way between Bosham and the Itchenor ferry, west of Chichester in West Sussex, has been added to the official map of public rights of way, enabling cyclists to gain access to and from the ferry. For many years the ferry across Chichester Harbour between Bosham and Itchenor has carried pedestrians and cyclists. It is a popular journey. But the route between…
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We win back common land in Hertfordshire
We are delighted that land in Hertfordshire has been registered as common, giving it protection, and the public rights of access there. The land failed to be registered as common land when the registers were first opened under the Commons Registration Act 1965 (the 1965 Act) for a three-year period. Hertfordshire County Council has granted two of the society’s applications for land just…
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We help to save valuable footpath at Wimbish, Essex
We have helped to save the attractive 463-metre footpath, south of Wimbish Green, six kilometres south-east of Saffron Walden, in Uttlesford District, Essex. The path, known as Wimbish footpath 70, runs through the grounds of three residential properties. The owner of one of them, Midfield, applied to close the route under section 118 of the Highways Act…
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Bicentenary of Eton lammas lands
Two hundred years ago, on 1 May 1826, the lammas lands of Eton and Eton Wick were saved for the people. These commons extend between the two settlements in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. In 1826 the then lord of the manor, John Penn, who had already inclosed his land in Stoke Poges,…
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New greens celebrated at Dorchester on Thames
With residents of the Oxfordshire village of Dorchester on Thames, we have celebrated the erection of plaques on the new village greens at Dyke Hills and Day’s Lock Meadow. The greens were the subject of an intense battle ten years ago when the then owner of Bishops Court Farm fenced off the land and barred local people from exercising their customary rights…
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Our new watchdog for paths and green spaces in Essex
We have appointed Katherine Evans as our local correspondent to watch over the public paths, commons, greens, and other open spaces in Essex. Katherine lives in Braintree District in north-east Essex. She says: ‘I volunteered to be the Open Spaces Society’s local correspondent for Essex because I care about keeping our public rights of way…
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Goodbye to blocked byway in East Sussex
Following pressure from Chris Smith, our local correspondent for Lewes district in East Sussex, the Firle Estate has reopened a blocked byway. This is an old, two-kilometre-long route, shown on some eighteenth-century maps. It runs between Newelm, west of Firle, westwards to the A26 road at The Lay in Beddingham parish. It was probably first…
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Our new representative in Spelthorne Borough, Surrey
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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Waterstock industrial development rejected
We are delighted that South Oxfordshire District Council has refused an application from Greystoke CB Ltd to build a science park at Waterstock golf course, about seven kilometres west of Thame. Our general secretary joined two walks in protest at the development and, when the application was published, we objected, in support of local members. …
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Seven-year fight saves Blackbushe aerodrome as common land
After a seven-year saga, Blackbushe aerodrome is to stay as part of Yateley Common. That is the final pronouncement of an inspector who has determined the application of Blackbushe Airport Ltd (BAL), made in November 2016, to remove nearly half a square kilometre of airfield from the Hampshire register of common land. We celebrate the…
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