South West commons conference
The biennial conference of the South West Uplands Federation is being held at Exeter Racecourse on Friday 19 October 2012, hosted by the Dartmoor Preservation Association. The conference will focus on the grazed commons of Bodmin, Exmoor and Dartmoor, the day-to-day practicalities of commons management and the implications of CAP reform and other policy changes.…
Read MoreThreat to Charlton Common
Redrow Homes South West wants to build a wide access road across Charlton Common in South Gloucestershire, north of Bristol. The developers have applied to the Secretary of State for Environment for consent for works on common land, and we have objected. The plan is to realign and widen the existing access road, Charlton Lane,…
Read MoreWe oppose Somerset sun-factory
We have objected to an application from AEE Renewables for 22,000 solar panels, security fencing and associated equipment on fields in rural Somerset, close to public footpaths. In the application it is called a ‘solar farm’. The site is about a mile east of Shepton Mallet in the parish of Doulting. The planning application will…
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Painting of Hound Tor, Dartmoor, Devon
We are pleased to offer this unique opportunity to own an original painting and thereby support the work of the Open Spaces Society. Our local correspondent, Bob Milton, has kindly offered his original painting of Hound Tor on Dartmoor, Devon, for auction to raise funds for the society. Please send sealed bids to: Ellen Froggatt,…
Read MoreCornish common reclaimed
Carrine Common, near Kea, south of Truro in Cornwall has been reclaimed as registered common land, using legislation which is being pioneered in Cornwall (part 1 of the Commons Act 2006). Following a hearing in January 2012, planning inspector Mr Barney Grimshaw ruled that the land should be recorded on the commons register. Carrine Common…
Read MoreUnlawful track on Gloucestershire common
We have urged Gloucestershire County Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council to take legal action against a track which has been constructed on common land. The track is on Brockeridge Common, near Twyning, Tewkesbury. The landowner, Mr Ewan Reynolds, was refused planning permission but has built the track anyway, and the borough council has issued a…
Read MoreWind turbines in Gloucestershire countryside
We have objected to two wind turbines in south Gloucestershire, near the village of Kingswood. The Resilience Centre has applied to Stroud District Council for permission to erect one turbine near Cherry Rock Farm and another near Mounteneys Farm. We have backed local members and objected to both turbines. There are public footpaths in the…
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Tony Drake, path protector, 1923-2012
We are sad to report that our long-standing member Tony Drake has died aged 89. Tony was a walker and mountaineer; for decades he campaigned for public paths, especially in his home county of Gloucestershire and in Wales. Tony was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the only child of Leslie and Gladys Drake. He inherited the…
Read MoreChippenham Mead village green should be treasured not trashed
We have objected to an application from Monmouth Sports Association to erect a shelter on Chippenham Mead village green, Monmouth, in connection with the sporting activities there. The club has applied to the Welsh Government for consent for works on the village green. We are concerned that the shelter will intrude on the open space,…
Read MoreNew coastal access starts this summer
We are delighted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the first stretch of the England Coastal Path will be open this summer. The first section of route starts at Rufus Castle in Portland and will end at Lulworth Cove, both in Dorset, and covers 32km of coastline along…
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