Call For Speed Limits On Common Land
We have called for enforced speed-limits on unfenced roads across common land in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. We made this plea in our evidence to the government’s review of England’s national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs), led by Julian Glover. The society emphasises the need to slow traffic…
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Norfolk Path Recognised As A Route For Riders, Cyclists And Carriage Drivers
A route at Trunch in North Norfolk, which was recorded as a public footpath, has recently been confirmed as a restricted byway with rights for riders, cyclists and carriage drivers as well as walkers. Postle’s Lane, Trunch – south end with signpost Ian Witham, our local correspondent in Norfolk, discovered evidence to show that the 500-metre Postle’s Lane, in…
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Seventieth Anniversary Of ‘A People’s Charter’
This year we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Our general secretary Kate Ashbrook, explains what it achieved. This is not just a Bill. It is a people’s charter—a people’s charter for the open air, for the hikers and the ramblers, for everyone who lives to…
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Walking Well In Carmarthenshire
We have recently learnt of a group in Carmarthenshire called Walking Well. It is a Welsh Government initiative designed to help those who want to get fitter, or just to stay fit. Carmarthenshire is extremely rural with a low population, and there are a large number of paths for the poorly-resource county council to deal with. …
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Threat Of Deer Fencing Across Public Path In Chilterns AONB
We have objected to a planning application from Tara Getty for deer fencing alongside and across a public bridleway. The route runs past Mr Getty’s Twigside Farm at Ibstone, in the heart of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Tara Getty is grandson of oil tycoon, J Paul Getty. The Open Spaces Society, Buckinghamshire…
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Dismay At Warcop Commons Recommendation
We are deeply dismayed by the inspector’s recommendation to deregister the extensive Warcop commons, in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This follows a public inquiry at which we appeared as an objector with legal representation. The inspector recommends Cumbria County Council to approve the deregistration of most of Burton, Hilton and Murton…
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We Fight McDonald’s Restaurants’ Unfair Deal For Common Land
Petridgewood Common, South Earlswood © Robin Webster – geograph.org.uk/p/5754682 We have objected to an application from McDonald’s Restaurants to build part of a ‘drive-through’ road on common land at Petridgewood near Redhill in Surrey. McDonald’s has applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, via the Planning Inspectorate, for consent to…
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Our Treasured Landscapes
We shall be submitting evidence to the government’s review of England’s designated landscapes; this nicely coincides with their seventieth anniversary next year. Rydal Water, Lake District On 27 May the environment secretary Michael Gove launched a review of the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs), to be led by author and journalist Julian…
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PINS Determines Proposals For Deregistration From Bridgend County Borough Council
PINS has determined the two proposals made by Bridgend county borough council for deregistration of school sites, at Pencoed School and at Brynmenyn Primary School, both under s.19. We succeeded in objecting to one, and the other was granted without any real objection from us. We objected to both, on the grounds that the council…
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Massive Development At Emmer Green Rejected
A massive development, proposed by Gladman Developments Ltd, on open land north of Caversham has been turned down following a public inquiry. The inspector, Mr Nick Palmer, rejected Gladman’s appeal against South Oxfordshire District Council refusal of planning consent for 245 residential dwellings and other works on land off Peppard Road, at Emmer Green. We…
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