Unfinished business for national parks is complete at last
Today (1 August) 188 square miles, an area larger than the Isle of Wight, are embraced by the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks following a long campaign by amenity groups. The Open Spaces Society, Britain’s oldest national conservation body, welcomes the inclusion of these fine landscapes in the two national parks. The Lake…
Read More
We fight increase in parking on Hackney’s common land
The London Borough of Hackney is recommending that its Planning Sub-Committee approve the council’s plans to relax the conditions for parking on Hackney’s North Marsh. The committee meets next Wednesday (27 July). We objected in 2014 to an application from the council to build a pavilion and associated car park here, on registered common land,…
Read More
Welsh Government approves trashing of Mynydd y Gwair Common
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has approved a controversial application by RWE Innogy UK Ltd to erect wind turbines and associated infrastructure on Mynydd y Gwair and adjoining commons north of Swansea. The society, represented by Clare Moseley, was among the many objectors at a public inquiry in February; this…
Read More
We call for more broadleaves, and more discussion, on Dartmoor’s forest estate
We have called for greater replacement of conifer trees with native broadleaves in the Dartmoor forests, clearance of trees from ancient monuments, and an open debate about the future of the forest estate. We were responding to the Forestry Commission’s consultation on its Dartmoor Forest Plan, 2016-2026. We deeply regret that we were not informed…
Read More
Rejection of fencing on Westerdale Common
We are delighted that the environment secretary has rejected plans for more than half a mile of fencing on Westerdale Common in the North York Moors National Park. Last year the Graziers of High Blakey Moor applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, via the Planning Inspectorate, for consent to…
Read More
Threat to Anglesey common goes to appeal hearing
On 19 July the Planning Inspectorate will hear an appeal against Anglesey Council’s refusal of a planning application for a new dwelling at the rear of Penmarian Mawr, Llangoed. The development would be in the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and includes a new access across registered common land. We have objected to…
Read More
Claim our commons now, call from our vice-president
‘We have less than five years in which to claim our commons. The Open Spaces Society is leading the campaign to ensure that all common land is registered and available for the public to enjoy’ so declared our vice-president, Paul Clayden, at the society’s annual general meeting in London on Thursday (7 July). Throughout its…
Read More
Greater protection for public paths when land is sold
We welcome the introduction of new rules which ensure public paths are identified before property is sold. The Law Society’s new conveyancing form CON29 comes into effect on Monday 4 July. It will be compulsory for the local authority to report the existence of public rights of way across or adjoining land which is for…
Read More
Space invaders
Public funding is being cut and our green spaces exploited to fill the gap. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, considers the threat to our open spaces and national parks. In London, communities fight motor racing in Battersea Park, and festivals on Acton Green, Clapham Common and Finsbury Park—among countless battles. But we have a new…
Read More
Better access to Ford Common, Dorset
We have helped to achieve an excellent outcome from SITA UK’s plans to extend its Binnegar Quarry, close to Puddletown Road three miles west of Wareham in Dorset. Because the development would affect Ford Common, owned by SITA, the company had to offer land in exchange for the common land it wished to quarry. SITA…
Read More