New activist for South Derbyshire
We have appointed Barry Thomas, of Melbourne, south of Derby, as our local correspondent for South Derbyshire. Barry will be our eyes and ears in this area, keeping a close watch on the state of the paths and reporting any problems to Derbyshire County Council, the highway authority. Barry is a retired Derby teacher, where…
Read MoreAdd your campaign for open spaces and paths to the Piece-by-piece website
The Guardian has launched its Piece-by-piece campaign. The aim is to publicise threatened places and spaces and to enable local activists to exchange information and advice, and to build a powerful alliance against developments which threaten our natural environment and people’s enjoyment of it. Click to add your campaign to Piece-by-piece.
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We condemn plan to flog off part of unique Crystal Palace Park
The London Development Agency’s plan to flog off part of Crystal Palace Park, in the London Borough of Bromley, has been approved, following a public inquiry last summer. The plans from the LDA form part of an ambitious regeneration scheme for the park, with disposal of parts of the park for private housing helping to…
Read MoreThanet open spaces win reprieve from sale
Thanet District Council in Kent has resolved not to sell off the Chine at the Western Undercliff in Ramsgate, and to reconsider the other proposed asset disposals. The Chine is an immensely important site, for public enjoyment and for wildlife. We are thrilled that Thanet District Council has recognised its public value and resolved to…
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Closure of Waterfoot path
An inspector acting for the environment secretary has ruled that Rawtenstall public footpath number 237 should be closed, to enable Lancashire County Council to build a new Waterfoot Primary School. There were nine objections, from the Open Spaces Society, Rossendale Ramblers and others, to Lancashire County Council’s plan to stop up the path, and a…
Read MorePlans for Picket Mead Common rejected
Swansea Council’s South West Area Planning Committee has rejected an application from Carrington Moore Estates, in which the former Welsh rugby captain Andy Moore has an interest, which threatened Picket Mead Common at Newton.(2) The planning application was for five detached dwellings and associated works at Picket Mead House, Murton Lane. The officers recommended approval…
Read MorePublic inquiry opens into mountain-top wind factory
‘The unique landscape of Mynydd y Gwair should be treasured not trashed.’ So says the Open Spaces Society(1) as the public inquiry opens into RWE Npower Renewables’ application to build 19 wind turbines on the lovely mountain top of Mynydd y Gwair, eight miles north of Swansea. The inquiry started on Tuesday 20 July. We…
Read MoreDon’t cut the countryside!
England’s conservation organisations have joined forces to paint a grim picture of a countryside starved of money by budget cuts. On the 30th anniversary of the Wildlife and Countryside Link, of which the Open Spaces Society is a member, its members have issued an unprecedented warning about what the future would hold should the Government…
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Governments should recognise the ‘secret gems’—our common land
‘The governments in England and Wales should recognise that common land matters.’ So declared Paul Clayden, our vice-president, who chaired our annual general meeting on 6 July. ‘Commons are the secret gems in our landscape, ancient places which have remained largely unchanged through history. We are dismayed that the Westminster government is so dilatory about…
Read MoreBelvoir wind turbines rejected
Plans for eight wind-turbines at Palmers Hollow, Bottesford, Leicestershire, have been rejected by a government inspector. The developer, Ridgewind, appealed because Melton Borough Council failed to determine the planning application within the statutory period, and the case was heard by inspector Chris Frost at an 11-day public inquiry. We objected to the application, along with…
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