Latest News

Public Right of Way to Crinnis Beach at Carlyon Bay

April 20, 2014

There is to be a Public Inquiry on Tuesday 10th June 2014 starting at 10.00 a.m. To be held in the Council Chamber at St Austell One Stop-Shop, 39 Penwinnick Road, St. Austell PL25 5DR. Cornwall Council has already found that this right exists, to mean high water mark. However, objections to this small, but…

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Circuit of Wales developers withdraw application for works on common

April 17, 2014

The Heads of the Valley Development Company has withdrawn its application for works on Trefil-Las and Twyn Bryn-March Commons at Rassau, Blaenau Gwent.  We were one of the objectors. Last week the Planning Inspectorate called a public inquiry into the works which were proposed ahead of the prospective Circuit of Wales motor-racing development itself.  The…

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Circuit of Wales: public inquiry into development on common land

April 11, 2014

We are delighted that the Planning Inspectorate has called a public inquiry into plans by the Heads of the Valley Development Company Ltd to develop common land at Rassau, Blaenau Gwent. These works are proposed ahead of the prospective Circuit of Wales motor-racing development itself. The company has applied to the Welsh ministers for consent…

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‘Pathfinder Pat’ dies aged 97, still fighting for rights of way in Kent

April 10, 2014

We are sad to report that Pat Wilson, our vice-president and local correspondent, who fought for paths and open spaces throughout Kent and Medway for more than 50 years, has died aged 97 at her home in Kent. Pat was our local correspondent for Medway for 20 years. Before that she served as Ramblers’ footpath…

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Celebrating the South Downs National Park’s fourth birthday

April 6, 2014

‘We won the South Downs National Park just in time.  Without the designation, the park might now be a very different place, with new development not only beating at its door, but trampling all over it.’  So said Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, at a rally organised by the Hampshire Ramblers at Queen Elizabeth Country…

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Common-land champions welcome Natural England’s new focus on commons

April 4, 2014

The Foundation for Common Land and the Open Spaces Society have welcomed the news that Natural England has created a new post of Principal Specialist on Commons with effect from 1 April. The new role will ensure that common land is given a higher profile within Natural England and will bring together the multi interests…

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We present award to Bishop’s Meadow Trust

March 28, 2014

Our chairman, Tim Crowther, has presented a plaque to the Bishop’s Meadow Trust, Farnham, winner of the society’s first Open Space Award in 2012. The ceremony was held in the new community orchard, created for local schoolchildren to care for and harvest. The event was combined with a children’s tree-planting and the Mayor of Farnham,…

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Glastir scheme recognises public benefits of common land

March 27, 2014

We are pleased that the Welsh Government, in the proposed new Glastir scheme for agri-environment payments in Wales, recognises the value of common land in providing public benefit. The government proposes, in the new phase, to introduce a single scheme for common land. This will reduce bureaucracy and administration costs and enable the scheme to…

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Spirit of Kinder celebrations, 26 April 2014

March 26, 2014

The annual Spirit of Kinder event, celebrating Kinder Scout and the 1932 mass trespass, will this year be held in Sheffield on Saturday, April 26. The event, which will also celebrate ten years of the implementation of the CROW Act which gave the right to walk freely in open country, is organised by the Kinder…

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Whitby village green’s fate to be decided by Supreme Court

March 26, 2014

The application to register Helredale playing fields as a village green will be heard in the Supreme Court on Wednesday 2 April. The case could last for two days. We have assisted members of Helredale Neighbourhood Council (HNC) in Whitby, North Yorkshire, with their case. A member of the HNC committee, Mrs Christine Barkas, had…

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