Unlawful works on common land at Epsom
We have deplored the unlawful construction of a cycle track on registered common land at Fair Green beside West Hill, Epsom in Surrey. Contractors for Crest Nicholson, Galliford Try and Linden Homes have built a cycle track on the common, pre-empting the organisations’ application for consent for the works. We objected to the application. It…
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Lake District threatened by the largest planned electricity infrastructure project in the UK
The Open Spaces Society is one of a number of organisations* that are supporting Friends of the Lake District’s campaign against National Grid’s proposals for a 24km long powerline using 50m tall pylons in the west of the Lake District National Park. This would be a huge infrastructure project anywhere in the UK, but to…
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United Utilities withdraws controversial Lake District fencing scheme
We are delighted that United Utilities (UU) has withdrawn its controversial application for 10 kilometres of fencing on common land above Thirlmere in the heart of the Lake District National Park. A public inquiry was due to open on 17 November. UU wants to carry out further consultation about its plans in the hope of…
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Protest over Clapham Common quagmire
Clapham Common has again been left resembling a sea of mud following the latest huge music event. We are writing to Lambeth Council to protest. A vast swathe of the common has again been devastated, only a year after the same area of the common was left like a quagmire by the same Lock N…
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Bucks common freed of unlawful fence
We are delighted that unlawful fencing has been removed from Pinner Green common, near Latimer in Buckinghamshire. In 2013 it was reported that a local landowner had erected barbed-wire fencing around the small piece of common land which adjoins Blackwell Hall Lane, to prevent fly-tipping. The land is owned by Chiltern District Council. The fencing…
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New interpretation-board celebrates ancient Warwickshire meadow
On Tuesday 1 September, the Open Spaces Society, Warwick District Council and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust unveiled a new, interpretation-board on Parliament Piece. This is a 15-acre meadow to the west of the A429 road at Kenilworth. Parliament Piece is believed to be the site of the second-oldest parliament, held by Henry III. The land was given…
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Refusal of access track across historic Cumbrian common
We are delighted that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has refused to allow an access track to be driven across ancient common land at Newbiggin, near Penrith in Cumbria. The common is known as Public Watering Place and has a number of springs with a series of ancient stone troughs…
Read MoreMixed decisions on Hackney Marshes developments
We are pleased that plans by the London Borough of Hackney to site a car-park on Hackney Marshes (East) have been refused, but concerned that a pavilion and car-park on Hackney Marshes (North) have been allowed. The Planning Inspectorate has determined applications for these works on common land, on behalf of the Secretary of State…
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Unlawful building on Clapham Common must stop
Lambeth Council has been unlawfully permitting large structures to be built on Clapham Common and the practice must stop. We have been provided with advice from an eminent QC confirming that Lambeth Council has been flouting legislation designed to protect the borough’s parks and open spaces. Over recent years the council has allowed a…
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We fight threat to Guildford’s unique commons
We have written to Guildford Borough Council’s head of development, Barry Fagg, calling on the council to abandon its plan to use three areas of common land close to Guildford in Surrey as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG). This is proposed to compensate for development close to the Special Protection Area (SPA) of Whitmoor Common…
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