Village greens in the balance warns Open Spaces Society
‘Our green spaces are under unprecedented threat as the law on town and village greens is in the balance.’ So declared the Open Spaces Society’s chairman, Chris Beney, at the society’s annual general meeting in London on Thursday (11 July). ‘Only recently the courts ruled that 380 square metres at Vowley View, Wootton Bassett in…
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Urban commons – Brighton conference update
Nicola Hodgson, will be speaking tomorrow at Brighton University at a one day conference on “methodologies for engagement and four urban commons”. The day will bring together representatives, stakeholders and users of urban commons with experts in open space management and methods of public engagement. It is part of the “ Wastes and Strays project” …
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Blackbushe airport ruling could put many commons under threat
We are dismayed that a planning inspector has ruled that part of Yateley Common in Hampshire should lose its common-land status. Mr Alan Beckett was the inspector at the public inquiry in April into Blackbushe Airport Ltd’s application to deregister nearly half a square kilometre of common land covering the airport. He has said that…
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Seven Sisters secured
We have welcomed East Sussex County Council’s proposal to transfer ownership of Seven Sisters Country Park to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). This follows nearly five years of uncertainty. Said our local representative, Brendan Clegg: ‘This is excellent news and a huge relief to all those who cherish this wonderful place. We are…
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East Sussex steps up to replace missing signposts
We are pleased that East Sussex County Council has responded to pressure from path campaigners and has replaced missing signposts on many public paths in the county. Our local correspondents and other members reported missing signposts early in 2018, as part of the campaign to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Countryside Act 1968 which…
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Help Celebrate The Ninth Birthday Of South Downs National Park
The Hampshire Area & South East Hants Group of the Ramblers are organising an event to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the South Downs National Park. All are welcome. It is at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park Centre, near Petersfield in Hampshire (grid reference SU 719 186) on Saturday 30th March at 10.30 am. Join us in the marquee at the…
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New Track Would Desecrate Naphill Common
We are dismayed that Wycombe District Council has approved development, which includes a new track across Naphill Common in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The consent is for three houses in place of one at Heatherlands on Downley Road. Naphill is about three miles north-west of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Naphill Common We…
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We Save Bridleway Across School Grounds
We have helped to save a 935-metre-long section of public bridleway across the grounds of Christ’s Hospital School, near Horsham in West Sussex. Our local correspondent, Paul Brown, and society member Ruth Fletcher (of the Horsham District Cycling Forum) were among the objectors who fought the change at a public inquiry—and won. The existing bridleway…
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Call For England Coast Path To Extend Up The Hamble Estuary
We have called on Natural England to extend the England Coast Path up the Hamble estuary in Hampshire to cross at the A27 bridge. Tn Natural England, which is defining the route of the path, proposes to rely on the Hamble-Warsash ferry to provide a suitable crossing point. It has not proposed to extend…
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McDonald’s ‘Drive-Thru’ On Surrey Common Refused
We are delighted that McDonald’s Restaurants has been refused consent to build part of a ‘drive-thru’ road on common land at Petridgewood near Redhill in Surrey. McDonald’s applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, via the Planning Inspectorate, for consent to construct the drive-thru on common land. Works on common land require…
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