Lancashire County Council should respect footpath at Waterfoot
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
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…
Read MoreThreat to Bowland
The environment secretary has approved a plan to erect a temporary meteorological mast on Whit Moor Common in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Lancashire. The mast is 50 metres high and its purpose is to assess the wind levels on the moor, as a precursor to building 20 wind turbines…
Read MoreFencing go-ahead for Wolstanton Common
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…
Read MoreNew path is won at Emmer Green
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…
Read MoreWarlingham village green wins protection
A new village green has been registered in Surrey and saved from development. The green, known as The Back Green, is in Sunnybank, near Warlingham. We have congratulated the applicant Lee Fishwick, and those in the community who supported the application. Surrey County Council, the registration authority, agreed on 16 December 2009 to register the…
Read MoreThanet’s plans to sell off open space
We have deplored plans by Thanet District Council to sell off open spaces, which will be discussed at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on 20 May. The cabinet will hear from members of the public on its ‘potential asset disposal sites’ and will take a decision on the sell-off at a later date. There are plans…
Read MoreFencing plan for Kingwood Common
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
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…
Read MoreOxford green spaces walk on Sunday 27 June
The Oxfordshire Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England is organising a sponsored circular walk around Oxford’s green spaces, visiting Trap Grounds and Warneford Meadow, which have been registered as greens, and Oxpens Meadow which is pending. Details are on www.cpreoxon.org.uk
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