Only ten years left to record our public paths
‘There are only ten years left before we could lose thousands of public highways.’ So warned Phil Wadey, our vice-chairman, at a meeting organised by the Gatliff Trust in London on 24 October. Phil is an expert in recording public paths on the definitive maps of rights of way. Says Phil: ‘On 1 January 2026,…
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We mourn the death of Michael Meacher
We are sad to learn of the death of Michael Meacher, the veteran MP for Oldham West and Royton. Michael helped to win the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, giving the public greater freedom to roam on open country and common land in England and Wales. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary who…
Read MoreWe fight threat to Neatherd Moor common, Dereham, Norfolk
We have objected strongly to a planning application from Taylor Wimpey for 62 houses and associated works on land next to Neatherd Moor, an ancient common on the east side of Dereham in Norfolk. Our local correspondent, Ian Witham, has protested to Breckland Council. Says Ian: ‘We object strongly to this proposal because of the…
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150th anniversary of Nottingham Forest recreation ground’s inclosure oak
On Sunday, 18 October, we joined Nottingham citizens in celebrating 150 years of the Nottingham Forest recreation ground. In the year of the Open Spaces Society’s foundation, 1865, the first oak-tree, the Inclosure Oak, was planted close to the Mansfield Road entrance to the Forest recreation ground. This was to celebrate the grant of 122 acres of…
Read MoreWe defeat Barmby Moor village green swap
The Planning Inspectorate has rejected an application from Barmby Moor Parish Council to swap part of the village green, near Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The parish council wanted to allow a private vehicular-access across the green. We were the sole objector. We considered that the swap was unfair, since the proposed exchange…
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We fight renewed attempt to destroy Swansea commons
We have sent another strong objection to plans to build 16 wind turbines with associated infrastructure on Mynydd y Gwair and adjoining commons, eight miles north of Swansea. RWE Innogy UK Ltd has planning permission for the development but, because it is to be sited on registered common land, the developer needs the additional consent…
Read MoreAgden solar development
We have objected to a planning application for a solar farm at Agden in Cheshire, close to the Shropshire border. The application from Lightsource SPV 34 Ltd threatens 40 acres of open countryside close to a number of public rights of way. This industrial development will wreck people’s enjoyment of the public paths in the…
Read MoreWe fight loss of Lyde Green common on Bristol’s fringe
We have objected to plans from NORFT Ltd to sacrifice Lyde Green Common near Pucklechurch, north-east of Bristol, and replace it with inferior land some distance away. NORFT has applied to the Planning Inspectorate to deregister and exchange Lyde Green. We have objected because the proposed replacement land is of inferior quality to the common…
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150th anniversary of midnight raid to free Berkhamsted Common
The National Trust is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the great battle to save Berkhamsted Common, Herts. The common was freed from enclosure on the night of 6 March 1866. The National Trust is staging an exhibition and commemorative walk on its Ashridge Estate. The exhibition opens on Saturday 10 October at the visitor centre…
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We challenge Windsor & Maidenhead Council’s ‘path-improvement’ plan
We have challenged Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council for treating the new roadside footpath by Ray Mead Road north of Bridge Gardens as a permanent solution to the gap in the Thames Path National Trail beside the river bank. We were responding to the borough’s consultation on the updated Public Rights of Way Management and…
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