Latest News

Lancashire County Council should respect footpath at Waterfoot

May 26, 2010

Lancashire County Council plans to start building the new Waterfoot Primary School at Rawtenstall before the route of the public footpath which crosses the site has been determined. The council applied to move Rawtenstall footpath 237 in order to enable it to build the new school.  However, there were many objections, from ourselves and Rossendale…

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Faircote Hall fiasco

May 24, 2010

Wealden District Council has given retrospective planning consent for a riding arena at Faircote Hall and stud, Hartfield in East Sussex, and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has refused the society’s request to call in the controversial application.  The arena had been built unlawfully, without planning consent. Furthermore, it crosses a…

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Fencing go-ahead for Wolstanton Common

May 21, 2010

The environment secretary has approved a plan to erect fencing on common land at Wolstanton, Newcastle under Lyme. The application was from the headteacher of May Bank Infants School (Staffordshire County Council) for consent, under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006, to fence off an area of common land adjoining the school. There will…

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New path is won at Emmer Green

May 18, 2010

Our member Paul Gallagher of the Emmer Green Resident’s Association, and local residents, have succeeded in claiming a footpath, from Russet Glade to Jefferson Close, Emmer Green, Reading, for the definitive map of public paths. This follows a four-year campaign, culminating in a public inquiry in April at which there were three objectors.  Mr Gallagher…

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Fencing plan for Kingwood Common

May 14, 2010

We have objected to the proposed fencing of Kingwood Common, near Nettlebed in Oxfordshire.  The society is consulted by law on all applications for works on common land, under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006. The society has written to the Planning Inspectorate to object to the plans submitted by the Nettlebed and District…

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Development which threatens ‘Poohsticks path’ should be called in

May 10, 2010

We have called on the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to call in the controversial application for a riding arena across a public footpath at Hartfield in East Sussex.  The path is used by walkers heading to the famous Poohsticks Bridge in Ashdown Forest.  Wealden District Council’s Planning Sub-Committee North is due…

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Beauty-spot footpaths saved

May 4, 2010

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has ruled that two popular and well-used footpaths at the fifteenth-century Sudeley Castle, near Winchcombe in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will remain public rights of way. Welcoming the decision, our local correspondent, Gerry Stewart, said, ‘We were delighted to support the many…

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We fight microlights in North Bucks countryside

April 28, 2010

We have objected to a planning application for retrospective consent to fly microlight aircraft from Bernwood Farm, Botolph Claydon, in north Buckinghamshire.  Botolph Claydon and its surroundings are extremely tranquil and unspoilt, unusually so for Buckinghamshire.  The microlight aircraft, which are being flown here unlawfully, without planning permission, destroy the peace of the area.  In…

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Hardy heritage under threat

April 23, 2010

We have objected to a plan to move the historic footpath leading to the cottage where Thomas Hardy’s fictitious heroine, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, was born and brought up. Dorset County Council has received an application from the owner of Tess Cottage (formerly Barton Cottage) to move Marnhull footpath 25, which currently follows an historic…

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Englefield Green village green is saved

April 16, 2010

We are celebrating the decision by Helen Slade of the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the environment secretary, to refuse consent for works on Englefield Green village green in Surrey. The land is widely used by local people, and the inspector confirmed that the public have the right to enjoy the green for air and…

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