Jerry Pearlman: fighter for commons and paths
Our world of paths and commons would be very different but for the work of Jerry Pearlman who has died aged 84 on 9 March 2018, writes our general secretary. Jerry was honorary solicitor for the Ramblers for more than 30 years; he took on countless path battles and campaigned for freedom to roam on…
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We welcome Lords’ call for more funds for public access
We are delighted that a House of Lords Select Committee has recommended greater independence and resources for Natural England, the government’s adviser on conservation, landscape and public access. Last autumn we submitted evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. We expressed our concern at Natural…
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Freshwater, Isle of Wight, sets fine example in protecting green space
We have congratulated Freshwater Parish Council for designating land as Local Green Space (LGS) in its neighbourhood plan. Freshwater, on the western side of the Isle of Wight, is a largely rural parish. The parish council has identified and designated 15 LGSs* which meet the government’s criteria. The council created a checklist against which to…
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We fight loss of open space in Bolsover
We have joined the campaign against a development on land north of Clowne, at Bolsover in Derbyshire. The society has objected to an outline planning application from Waystone Ltd for mixed-use development, including employment land, 1,800 residential dwellings, a retirement village, hotel and much more. We have backed CPRE Derbyshire and others in opposing the…
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We urge Powys Council to reject damaging development in Glasbury
We are concerned that Powys County Council’s principal planning officer has recommended approval of an outline planning application for 12 dwellings and associated works in the village of Glasbury on the River Wye in Powys. The application will be determined by the Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way Committee on Thursday 15 March. The…
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We speak at international congress on rural paths
Hugh Craddock, one of our case officers, is speaking today (7 March) at a congress* in Barcelona on paths in rural areas. Hugh will explain the importance of rural ways in England and Wales for informal recreation. There are probably more than 200,000 kms of rural ways in England: footpaths, bridleway, carriageways, cycle paths and…
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Progress on Portsmouth harbour quayside road
Portsmouth campaigners, with our support, have made a big stride forward in getting a path around Camber Dock, at the mouth of the harbour, recognised as a public right of way. In 2014 Kenneth Bailey and Anna Koor of the Camber Action Group applied to Portsmouth City Council to add the route of approximately 575…
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We slate new Solihull road-scheme for neglecting walkers
We have objected to Highways England’s plans for the M42 junction 6 improvement scheme in Solihull. The junction is between the M42 motorway and the A45 and it serves Birmingham International station. The society is concerned about the loss of public access on foot as a result of the scheme. The proposal is for a…
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We call for new open space designation in Wales
We have called on the Welsh Government to introduce a statutory designation for open space, to ensure that it is properly protected and can be enjoyed by local people. The society has responded to the Welsh Government consultation on changes to town and village green legislation in the Planning (Wales) Act 2015. Town and village…
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Public inquiry into common-land swap at Therfield Heath, Royston
A public inquiry is being held on Tuesday (30 January) into the exchange of common land proposed by the Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens in Hertfordshire. We have submitted an objection. The conservators wish to swap 1.65 acres of common land off Sun Hill at Royston in Hertfordshire for the same area of woodland…
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