Latest News

Cornwall’s flagship footpath illegally blocked

November 8, 2010

We have called on Cornwall Council to act swiftly in reopening the illegally-blocked section of the South West Coast Path at Carlyon Bay, near St Austell in Cornwall. The route has been partially blocked by fencing and a portacabin, erected in connection with Commercial Estates Group Ltd’s multi-million-pound development, and our member Gloria Price has…

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Plymouth Council drops Plymstock path-change plan

September 22, 2010

Plymouth City Council has decided not to proceed with a plan to alter the route of a public footpath across open farmland north of Hooe Lane, Plymstock. The landowner had applied to move the footpath from across the field to the field edge, around two sides of a triangle, on grounds which included avoiding conflict…

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Bodmin Moor saved from monstrous turbines

July 29, 2010

We are delighted that Cornwall Council’s planning committee has rejected the application for 20 wind turbines at Davidstow Wood, adjoining Bodmin Moor, at its meeting on 22 July. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘We opposed the application because of the disastrous effect these monstrous turbines and their associated development would have on the beautiful,…

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New step in campaign for Yeovil Rec

June 7, 2010

Somerset County Council has agreed that there will be a public inquiry into the application to register Yeovil Rec (Mudford Recreation Ground), Yeovil, as a town green. The council has resolved to hold an inquiry at which barrister Leslie Blohm QC will act as inspector. The inquiry will be held over the summer. We have…

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Beauty-spot footpaths saved

May 4, 2010

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has ruled that two popular and well-used footpaths at the fifteenth-century Sudeley Castle, near Winchcombe in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will remain public rights of way. Welcoming the decision, our local correspondent, Gerry Stewart, said, ‘We were delighted to support the many…

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Hardy heritage under threat

April 23, 2010

We have objected to a plan to move the historic footpath leading to the cottage where Thomas Hardy’s fictitious heroine, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, was born and brought up. Dorset County Council has received an application from the owner of Tess Cottage (formerly Barton Cottage) to move Marnhull footpath 25, which currently follows an historic…

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New green in Highworth

March 22, 2010

Local campaigners have won a new village green at Barra Close, Highworth near Swindon.  However, approximately 5,000 square feet of the land had been fenced off during a neighbour dispute, and this part of the land still has to be registered as village green.  This week the fences were removed and now local campaigners are…

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We question Bristol’s green credentials

February 2, 2010

We have today questioned Bristol’s claims to be a ‘green capital’. Objecting to an application by Bristol Zoo to continue to use one of the best parts of the city’s famous Downs as a large car park on the finest days of the year, Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary said: ‘This is the fifth time…

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Beauty-spot path on Cornish coast to be reopened at last

January 29, 2010

The claimed footpath at Carlyon Bay, St Austell in Cornwall is at last being reopened, after being submerged by development.  The society’s members Gloria and Peter Price have led the campaign to win back the path. The Prices claimed the route, from Beach Road to the former Coliseum Building, for the official map of public…

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Pressure for call-in for Davidstow wind-turbines

January 11, 2010

We have written to the Government Office for the South West urging the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to call in the planning application for 20 wind-turbines at Davidstow Wood, near Camelford in Cornwall.  Cornwall Council’s planning committee approved the turbines, against its officers’ advice, last October.  However, the Government Office for…

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