New green in Highworth
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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Barratt’s pre-emptive strike
We have deplored Barratt Homes’ action last week to bulldoze The Ditches, a much-loved children’s play area, at Merton Green in Caerwent. The Merton Green Action Group has applied to register the open space as a village green. Monmouthshire County Council, the greens registration authority, will consider the application next week and there is likely…
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Oppressive fence to go
South Oxfordshire District Council has refused retrospective planning permission to a close-boarded fence, nearly two metres high, alongside the public footpath at Deanacre, off Deanfield Road in Henley-on-Thames. Mr Philip Turner, of 2 Deanacre applied to the council to legitimise the fence which was erected unlawfully, without planning permission, last year. It replaced a lower,…
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Liveliest Village Green in 2010
The society is delighted to be working with TruGreen Professional Lawn Care and the Sunday Telegraph in promoting the first-ever ‘Liveliest Village Green’ competition. All three of us invite you to join our celebration of our wonderful village greens. If you think your village green is the liveliest in the UK, all you have to…
Read MoreBattle to save West Durrington Greenspace
We are backing local campaigners in their fight to save ancient woodlands from development, at Titnore Lane, West Durrington near Worthing in West Sussex. We have written to Paul Yallop, leader of Worthing Borough Council, and James Appleton, head of planning, urging them to reject the plans for 1,250 houses and other buildings there. The…
Read MoreWe question Bristol’s green credentials
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…
Read MoreAnger at West Sussex County Council’s decision on National Park
Countryside organizations have today reacted angrily to the news that West Sussex County Council has ignored pleas from the public, environmental organizations and even its own Environment Committee about public paths in the South Downs National Park. The County Council has announced it will definitely take back the maintenance of rights of way and countryside…
Read MoreWe speak out to save Kensington’s Athlone gardens
‘Catastrophic’ is how we have described the effect of the proposed redevelopment of Wornington Green Estate, London W10, on the adjoining Athlone Gardens (1). Our London representative, Bernard Selwyn, has written to Kensington and Chelsea Council to object to the Kensington Housing Trust’s planning application because of its effect on Athlone Gardens. Says Bernard: ‘The…
Read MoreThink again West Sussex!
Countryside organizations have today welcomed the recommendation that West Sussex County Council should reconsider its position on rights of way in the South Downs National Park. The recommendation was made by the County Council’s environment committee which said they felt the South Downs Society, the Access Forum, parish councils and other county councils should be…
Read MorePressure for call-in for Davidstow wind-turbines
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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