New edition of A Common Purpose out now
We are delighted that A Common Purpose, a guide to seeking agreement on England’s common land, has been published in a revised edition on the Foundation for Common Land’s website. This follows endorsement by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ National Common Land Stakeholder Group which consists of all the principal organisations with…
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Objectionable developments on Clapham Common
We have objected to plans to use part of Clapham Common, Lambeth, for filming Sky One’s ‘Got to Dance’. The society was founded in 1865 initially to protect the London commons from development, and we consider that this current proposal needs special common-land consent as well as planning permission. We are particularly angry that the development…
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‘No-fence’ solution for Litcham Common
We are delighted that the removal of roadside fencing across Litcham Common, seven miles north-east of Swaffham in Norfolk, has begun. With help from the Open Spaces Society, Litcham Common Management Committee persuaded Norfolk County Council to install two cattle-grids on Dunham Road, where it crosses the common boundary. This means that fencing alongside the…
Read MoreThreat to Charlton Common
Redrow Homes South West wants to build a wide access road across Charlton Common in South Gloucestershire, north of Bristol. The developers have applied to the Secretary of State for Environment for consent for works on common land, and we have objected. The plan is to realign and widen the existing access road, Charlton Lane,…
Read MoreNo land swap at Mynydd Lliw Common
An application for the exchange of common land has been rejected by the Welsh Government. DKT Planning Associates applied on behalf of Mrs Elizabeth Jones and Mr Ieuan Mainwaring to swap 1,200 square metres on the north-east side of Mynydd Lliw Common, Grovesend, Swansea, which is close to residential properties for a similar-sized area some…
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Win at Westfield Common, Woking
A public-inquiry inspector has thrown out plans by Woking Borough Council for a land swap at Westfield Common, Woking in Surrey. The council wanted to build an access road across the common to the potential housing development nearby. The proposal was rejected by inspector Mrs Helen Slade following a public inquiry last June. This is the council’s second…
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Fencing plan rejected on Telscombe Tye Common
A public-inquiry inspector has rejected Telscombe Town Council’s application for fencing of parts of Telscombe Tye Common, north of Peacehaven in East Sussex. The inquiry was held in June this year into the council’s application, under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006, for works on common land. The objectors included the British Horse Society. …
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Meopham’s ‘model’ path-campaign group
‘Meopham and District Footpaths Group is a model for local action groups throughout the country.’ So said our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, at the Meopham Footpath Group’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations today (Saturday 18 August). ‘For the last 50 years the group has combined campaigning for its local paths with an excellent walks programme. The Open…
Read MoreOctavia – open spaces champion
Octavia Hill was an activist and committee member of the Open Spaces Society 20 years before she helped to found the National Trust. She campaigned for open spaces and public paths for the benefit of the public. We celebrated the centenary of her death on 13 April, and Radio 4 had a programme about her life.
Read MoreAncient Warwickshire landscape under threat
Developers A R Cartwright Ltd propose to build 130 houses on fields at Galley Common, south-west of Nuneaton in Warwickshire. The houses will destroy the route of the promoted Centenary Way and an ancient ridge-and-furrow landscape. We have objected to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. Says our local member, Mark Hood: ‘I am opposing this…
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