The Perfect Gift For Outdoorsy People
Looking for a last minute present for Christmas that will give lasting enjoyment? Shopping for a gift for the outdoor fan in your life? Do you want to purchase and send the present without hitting the High Street? Southborough Common OSS membership gift vouchers will be valued by anyone who appreciates our amazing landscapes and path network,…
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Beef Up The Bill
In her Opinion article in the autumn issue of Open Space magazine, our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, writes about the Agriculture Bill. Last summer the Dartmoor Society (a voluntary body) hosted a visit to Gidleigh Common on north-east Dartmoor. Those present were shocked to see the land there smothered in purple moor-grass and gorse, where once there had been…
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Nutsford Vale Open Space, Manchester, Is Saved
Picnic at Nutsford Vale We are delighted that Manchester City Council’s education department has decided not to build a school on the popular open space at Nutsford Vale, despite having received planning permission earlier this year. With our member, the Friends of Nutsford Vale, we opposed the planning application on this council-owned park on the borders…
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Appalling Decision To Allow Wind Turbines On Powys Beauty-Spot
A Welsh Government minister has approved an application for seven wind-turbines at Llandegley Rocks, near Llandrindod Wells in Powys. The decision overturns the recommendation of an inspector at a public inquiry held in March. The Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has rejected the report of the inspector, planner Hywel Wyn…
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Fight to stop major development at Harrow School
We have objected to Harrow School’s appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a new science building and sports hall. The society, which is concerned to protect public paths and open spaces, considers that the development would have a significant impact on Metropolitan Open Land and the attractive, historic landscape of the area, as…
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We call for greater protection of green spaces in cities
We have welcomed the Welsh Conservative Party’s consultation paper Liveable Cities and its support for parks and green spaces and sustainable transport in cities. In responding, the society has made some new proposals. While it welcomes the paper’s recommendation that local authorities should be required to submit plans that highlight land which can be made…
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Support for public access is in the Agriculture Bill
We have welcomed the support for public access to and enjoyment of the countryside in the new Agriculture Bill which was published on 12 September. With the Ramblers, British Horse Society and other outdoor organisations, we lobbied for agricultural payments to be directed to providing more and better access to the public. The Agriculture Bill…
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Unique opportunity
With 54 organisations representing countryside, recreation and wildlife interests we have signed a letter to the Prime Minister, calling for the forthcoming Agriculture Bill to enable farmers to provide benefits to the landscape, public access and animal welfare. We welcome the government’s commitment to develop new farming and land management policies that provide public funds…
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Our clash with the military over threat to Cumbrian commons
We are set to clash with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the forthcoming public inquiry into the government’s application to deregister three large upland commons in Cumbria: Burton & Warcop fells, Murton and Hilton. This would turn the commons into private land and the application threatens to be the largest inclosure of common land…
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Fencing plan for Fylingdales Moor common
We have objected to a proposal to erect over five kilometres of fencing on Fylingdales Moor common in the North York Moors National Park. The application has been made by the Manor of Fyling Court Leet which wants to graze livestock there. Because the fencing is on common land, the applicant must obtain the consent…
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