We fight enclosure of Stevenage common
We have objected to a plan by Stevenage Borough Council to fence off part of Norton Green Common on the south-west side of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, immediately to the west of the A1(M). The council has applied to the Planning Inspectorate for consent to erect works on common land under section 38 of the Commons…
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Booker housing plans rejected
We are delighted that planning inspector Christa Masters has rejected plans to build two houses next to Booker Common and a public bridleway in Buckinghamshire. Mr P Wells appealed against Wycombe District Council’s refusal of his application for two detached dwellings next to the former Live and Let Live pub. The developers appeared to ignore…
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Yateley Common fencing-plan withdrawn
Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have withdrawn their controversial plan to erect fencing on Yateley Common. They had applied to the Planning Inspectorate for consent, under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006, to erect 24 kilometres of fencing on the common to enable it to be grazed.…
Read MoreHenley RBL learns about Open Spaces Society
‘The national Open Spaces Society has plenty to keep it busy here in Henley-on-Thames,’ said the society’s case officer, Nicola Hodgson, speaking at a lunch organised by the Henley & Peppard Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL). Founded in 1865, the society celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Nicola told the RBL how the…
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Land at Breaky Bottom open to the public after OSS action
Action by the society’s Local Correspondent, Chris Smith, has resulted in more land at Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Sussex being opened to the public. The society objected to an order which would have continued the restriction. As a result part of the land has been made available for public access. The public access area is shown…
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Outsized development in Chiltern valley
We have objected to a further attempt to redevelop Valentine Farm in the Hambleden Valley. The site is near Skirmett, in the heart of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Buckinghamshire. The applicants, Mr and Mrs Neil Woodford, want to build a two-storey, five-bedroom ‘Arts and Crafts’-style house, with garage store, detached leisure…
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Now you can walk the secret multi-million pound footpaths of Firle
But you will need your wellies on! Open Spaces Society member Chris Smith has created a walk highlighting the secret multi-million pound footpaths of Firle. You can find it on-line here. The Firle Estate, near Lewes in East Sussex, contains some of the most iconic walking landscape in the country, including the Firle Beacon stretch…
Read MoreWe object to abuse of St John’s Lye common, Woking
We have responded angrily to Woking Borough Council’s consultation about car-parking on St John’s Lye Common, south-west Woking, Surrey. Local residents had complained about the inadequate parking after the opening of the new St John’s memorial hall and the council proposed to provide car-parking spaces on the common. The options are for the extension onto…
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New Forest solar farm rejected
The New Forest National Park Authority’s planning committee has unanimously rejected plans for an ugly solar ‘farm’ in the national park. The application was from MTS Exbury Solar Ltd for a solar farm on nine hectares of land east of Lepe Farm, Exbury. The society sent an objection to the national park planning authority urging…
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Thames Path to be consigned to a rat run in Maidenhead
We are angry that the Thames Path National Trail is to follow Maidenhead’s Ray Mead Road rat run. On Wednesday 11 February Windsor and Maidenhead Borough’s planning committee approved the creation of a short footpath along Ray Mead Road instead of a riverside route for the Thames Path National Trail. The council had applied to…
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