Latest News

What future for Helredale’s open space?

January 1, 2013

The future of the playing field at Helredale, Whitby, North Yorkshire, is in the balance.  Following a disappointing ruling in the court of appeal in October, Helredale Neighbourhood Council (HNC) is hoping to obtain permission to appeal to the supreme court. Read more about it here.

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Delight at rejection of horse complex in Chiltern valley

December 29, 2012

We are delighted that Wycombe District Council has refused an application for a private equestrian-development in the lovely Skirmett valley, in the heart of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Buckinghamshire. The plan was to demolish the buildings at Stud Farm (now pointlessly renamed Valentine Farm) and replace them with an equestrian complex…

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New ammunition for fighting landowners’ path-diversions

December 28, 2012

Ever since we received a favourable opinion from George Laurence QC on the interpretation of ‘expedient’ in section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 (the section which deals with the diversion of public paths), the Ramblers and ourselves have been looking for a suitable case on which to test this. The case emerged when the…

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Dismay at refusal of village-green status for Cranbrook’s historic meadow

December 21, 2012

We are sorry to learn that the application to register the Long Field, Cranbrook, Kent, as a village green has been rejected following a public inquiry last September. The 5.2-acre Long Field is at the junction of Angley Road (A229) and Quaker Lane on the north-east side of Cranbrook. It is crossed by two public…

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We oppose plans to dig up Swansea’s pearl of a common

December 19, 2012

We have objected strongly to plans by Carrington Moore Estates, in which the former Welsh rugby captain Andy Moore has an interest, to dig up Picket Mead Common at Newton, Swansea. The developers want to bury underground services (electricity, gas, water, telecoms and drainage) and lay grasscrete on the common, in connection with their planning…

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Vital footpath-link at Halling is added to official map

December 18, 2012

We are delighted that a footpath across Halling Marsh close to the River Medway is to be added to the official map of public paths for all to enjoy.  The 580-metre-long path will fill the gap in an attractive circular walk. The decision to record the footpath was made by an inspector from the Planning…

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People vote for village greens with their feet

December 14, 2012

We have countered the government’s claim that applications to register land as a town or village green can undermine the democratically-accountable planning process, by pointing out that people vote for greens with their feet. We have sent a briefing to MPs before the report-stage debate on the government’s Growth and Infrastructure Bill on Monday (17…

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Open space commendation goes to Calderdale’s inspiring individual

December 1, 2012

We have given a special, individual commendation to Jade Smith of Mytholmroyd, Calderdale, for her work on the restoration and improvement of Mytholmroyd’s Memorial Garden. The award was presented on Saturday 1 December as part of Upper Calder Valley’s annual ‘Valley of Lights’ celebration. Jean Macdonald, our vice-chairman, said: ‘We introduced this award last year…

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Call for open space champions

November 28, 2012

We have launched our 2013 Open Space Award and are calling for nominations for open space champions. We want to encourage nominations for projects which support our aims to protect, increase, enhance and champion common land, town and village greens, open spaces and public rights of way in England and Wales, and the public’s right…

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Government failing in ambition to be ‘greenest ever’

November 27, 2012

The Coalition Government is failing on its own commitments to Britain’s natural environment: that’s the public’s view from a survey organised by Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link), a coalition of 39 leading environmental charities. Of those surveyed, less than a quarter (23%) think the Government is doing enough to protect our landscapes and wildlife—on land…

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