Latest News

Government rides roughshod over rights of local people

October 18, 2012

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill has today been introduced in the House of Commons. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, ‘It contains damaging measures which will severely restrict the opportunity for local people to register rights they have established over a twenty year period (1), where they have used land for recreation, and to have…

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OSS again recommended as appointing body to National Trust Council

October 10, 2012

The Open Spaces Society is a current appointing body to the National Trust Council. A ballot is held every six years for the election of 26 organisations which will have the right to appoint someone as a member of the Council. Our appointee is Beverley Penney who has done an excellent job for us. We…

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Threat to Charlton Common

September 3, 2012

Redrow Homes South West wants to build a wide access road across Charlton Common in South Gloucestershire, north of Bristol. The developers have applied to the Secretary of State for Environment for consent for works on common land, and we have objected. The plan is to realign and widen the existing access road, Charlton Lane,…

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Chippenham Mead village green saved from development

August 30, 2012

The Welsh Government has not given consent for an application from Monmouth Sports Club to erect a large covered shelter on Chippenham Mead village green, Monmouth, in connection with the sporting activities there.. The club applied to the Welsh Government for permission to construct the works on the village green having obtained planning permission. Mr…

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Meopham’s ‘model’ path-campaign group

August 18, 2012

‘Meopham and District Footpaths Group is a model for local action groups throughout the country.’  So said our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, at the Meopham Footpath Group’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations today  (Saturday 18 August). ‘For the last 50 years the group has combined campaigning for its local paths with an excellent walks programme.  The Open…

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We oppose land swap in Rhondda village

July 30, 2012

We have objected to plans to swap part of the village green, at Chapel Street, Blaencwm, to allow development. Glaister Russell Developments Ltd has applied to the Environment Minister for permission to deregister 238 square metres of the green and to provide land in exchange, under section 16 of the Commons Act 2006. Says Jay…

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Community champion praised for inspirational efforts

July 12, 2012

The singular determination of a Yorkshire woman to inspire her local community and return a memorial garden to its former glory has been celebrated in the inaugural Open Space Award. Judges have awarded Jade Smith a commendation for her extraordinary contribution to Royd Regeneration, a community-driven project in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. Royd Regeneration was one…

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Victory for Surrey campaigners who saved wild meadow

July 12, 2012

An ambitious community campaign to preserve a threatened 30-acre beauty spot in Farnham has been named winner of the first-ever Open Space Award. The amazing success of The Bishop’s Meadow Trust impressed judges from Open Spaces Society and earned it the top spot, despite strong competition nationwide. Jo Aylwin, chairman of the trust, attended the…

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Kendal village green saved from golfing development

July 11, 2012

South Lakeland District Council has refused planning consent to Kendal Golf Club for a covered driving-range on Kendal Fell, a Cumbrian village green. The planning authority rejected the application principally because it would be visually intrusive and over-prominent in the landscape, and it would be detrimental to the public’s use and enjoyment of the land.…

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Our campaign challenges for the year ahead

July 11, 2012

‘We should never forget that the Open Spaces Society is a hard hitting, agile and quick reacting campaigning organisation, able and willing to be controversial, radical and perhaps at times unpopular in pursuit of its charitable objects.’ So said Tim Crowther, our chairman, in moving the adoption of the society’s annual report at our annual…

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