Kinder 80 – celebrating the trespass
The Open Spaces Society will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass which took place on 24 April 1932. Our general secretary Kate Ashbrook is speaking at the launch event on Tuesday 24 April and the society has contributed to the programme. Says Kate: ‘There is nothing like the right to…
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Four-mile fence on Brecon Beacons common land
We have objected to an application from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to retain a four-mile fence across open country in the heart of the national park. The fence was erected on common land as an emergency measure during the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001 and it should have been removed by 2006. When 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…
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Unlawful fence across Brecon Beacons commons must go
The Welsh Government has refused retrospective consent for a four-and-a-half-mile-long fence across common land in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The fence runs from near Pontsticill Reservoir in the south, crossing the hillside via Upper Neuadd Reservoir, passing just to the east of the famous summits of Pen y Fan and Cribyn and then cutting…
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Welsh government rejects damaging fencing on Cwmllynfell common land
The Welsh Government has rejected an application from Neath Port Talbot Council for fencing on common land adjacent to Bryn Road, Cwmllynfell, ten miles north of Neath. The council wanted to erect 1,223 metres of stock-proof fencing, with gates and cattle-grids, along the edge of Penlle’rfedwen and Mynydd Uchaf Common to prevent livestock straying into…
Read MoreThreat to South Wales beach path
Neath Port Talbot Council proposes to close the public footpath known as Longlands Lane (footpath 92) which leads to Morfa Beach, Margam, and to move the path (footpath 93) from its route along the edge of the dunes onto a disused railway. The extinguishment and diversion orders are made under the Highways Act 1980 and…
Read MoreConsent for private works on Pembrokeshire common
The Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development has approved an application for an extension to a property on common land in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The society objected to the application for works on Cyffredin Common, under section 194 of the Law of Property Act 1925, from Mr G Price of New House, Cyffredin,…
Read MoreCaldicot school path saved
Monmouthshire County Council’s plan to close part of the footpath which crosses the grounds of Castle Park Primary School, Caldicot, has been thrown out by Welsh ministers. A planning inspector, Heidi Cruickshank, ruled on the proposal on behalf of the ministers. The footpath, number 28, is enclosed by fencing and runs across the school playing-field.…
Read MoreMumbles developers must observe common-land law
We have written to John Bollom, the managing director of Amusement Equipment Co Ltd which has consent for a major development on the headland and foreshore at Mumbles. The society has reminded Mr Bollom of his company’s obligations regarding common land. The society was among the numerous objectors to the luxury hotel, apartments and associated…
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We fight wind turbines on Carmarthenshire commons
We have objected to an application from RES UK & Ireland Ltd to erect 21 wind turbines, with access tracks, road-widening and buildings on two prominent hills in the quiet Carmarthenshire countryside. The site is roughly ten miles south west of Lampeter. The proposal affects two areas of common land, Mynydd Llanllwni and Mynydd Llanfihangel-rhos-y-corn.…
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