Last chance to save Dorset village green
We are supporting our member the Society for the Protection of Markham and Little Francis at a hearing in the Supreme Court on Wednesday (15 January 2014). The local society will seek to persuade the court to uphold the registration of the village green on the outskirts of Weymouth, Dorset. This is the last chance…
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We fight commercial use of public open space in Dulwich
We have opposed a planning application for a commercial children’s day-nursery on Dulwich sports ground at Turney Road in Southwark. The application has been made by Southwark Community Sports Trust to provide revenue for the trust to maintain the sports ground. There are many local objectors including the Friends of Belair Park. We consider that…
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Landmark judgment on highway obstruction
A High Court judge has ruled that gates erected across Barcroft Lane by Mr Brian Herrick, owner of the £3.8-million Barcroft Hall at South Petherton in Somerset, are unlawful. They must now be removed. On 17 February Mr Justice Cranston handed down his judgment in Herrick v Kidner and Somerset County Council, which is the…
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Planning inspector refuses consent for solar farm in rural Somerset
A planning inspector has refused consent for a solar farm at Doulting, east of Shepton Mallet, in the heart of rural Somerset. Mendip District Council refused permission in January 2013 but the applicant, AEE Renewables, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. The decision by inspector Karen Ridge LLB was published on 19 December. The application was…
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Welsh Government wants to pave the way for development of green spaces
We have condemned the Welsh Government’s draft Planning Bill in which it proposes to pave the way for development of open spaces by changing the law for registering land as a town or village green. The Welsh Government wants to make it impossible to apply to register land as a green where that land is…
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Natural England’s new chairman jumps to reopen public paths on his land
Andrew Sells, the new chairman of Natural England, the government’s statutory adviser on countryside recreation, has hastily reopened a blocked right of way across his Wiltshire land following his appointment. Mr Sells, who is a venture capitalist and a major Tory party donor, was scrutinised by the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs…
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Open space at Longbenton, North Tyneside protected as village green
The Fusilier Field at Longbenton in North Tyneside has been registered as a village green, and can be enjoyed by local people for ever more. The application to register was made to North Tyneside Council by Christine Kay and Alasdair & Dorothy Wilson with support from the Fusilier Field Action Group, a member of the…
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Our Caerphilly activist wins Environmental Champion Award
Maggie Thomas, our local correspondent for Caerphilly, has won the Environmental Champion prize in Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Pride in your Place award, for her work in defending public paths and open spaces. Maggie, who lives in Crosskeys, is also membership secretary for Islwyn Ramblers. Says Maggie: ‘I was thrilled to receive this award on…
Read MorePlan to desecrate Hammersmith Park
We have objected to plans by Playfootball Ltd to build football pitches with a pavilion and car park on Hammersmith Park in west London. Playfootball has submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council. We are concerned that the development will take more than one-third of the public park which…
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Environment Committee tells government it must update the common-land registers
We are delighted that the influential Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee has told the government that it must update the common-land registers or implement legislation to ensure that there are accurate registers of common land for making payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The committee’s report, Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy…
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