We celebrate our 150-year struggle for open spaces
We have published our new book, Saving Open Spaces, the story of our 150-year struggle for commons, greens, open spaces and paths. It is written by our general secretary for 31 years, Kate Ashbrook. The society was formed in 1865 as the Commons Preservation Society to rescue London’s threatened commons—Hampstead Heath, Wimbledon Common and Epping…
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Cock-up of Wales
Two years ago the society objected to the planning application for the Circuit of Wales motor-sports development on common land, just north of Ebbw Vale in south Wales. At that time the developer, the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, stated optimistically and inaccurately on its website that ‘planning permission is the final hurdle’. Although…
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We fight plan to replace wind turbines on Cumbrian commons
We have objected to plans by RWE Innogy to replace the wind turbines on common land at Kirkby Moor, Cumbria, with much bigger ones. When the planning consent for the 12 turbines expires in 2018, Pegasus plans to replace them with six turbines which are more than twice the height. Whereas the current turbines are 42.2…
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Norfolk footpath to stay put
We are delighted that, thanks to our objection, a public footpath in Norfolk’s Breckland District will remain on its ancient, direct route. The footpath is at Lyng, four miles south of Reepham. Breckland District Council wanted to move the route which runs past the property Patholme. The council was concerned that the existence of the…
Read MoreWind turbines will rip the heart out of Rochdale common
We have objected most strongly to a planning application from Coronation Power Ltd, to build 12 wind turbines and associated structures on common land north of Rochdale. The proposed development is on Rooley Moor common. It is extraordinary that the applicants should have chosen to construct this development on common land, where both walkers and…
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Decisions for Haven Green common, Ealing
Our member, the Friends of Haven Green (FoHG), is pleased to report two decisions from the Planning Inspectorate concerning Haven Green, Ealing. The first stems from last September’s public inquiry into Ealing Council’s planned changes to the green in preparation for Crossrail. These would have widened the pavements, and created a counter-flow cycle lane on the east…
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The fight to stop green-belt solar farm
We are backing our member, the Mawdesley and Heskin Solar Farm Protest Group, in its fight against a solar farm in the Lancashire countryside. We are objecting to plans from M S Power Projects Ltd (MSP) for a solar farm on green belt land at Heskin, about a mile south of the town of Eccleston.…
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Thames Path to be consigned to a rat run in Maidenhead
We are angry that the Thames Path National Trail is to follow Maidenhead’s Ray Mead Road rat run. On Wednesday 11 February Windsor and Maidenhead Borough’s planning committee approved the creation of a short footpath along Ray Mead Road instead of a riverside route for the Thames Path National Trail. The council had applied to…
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Plaque in memory of Pat Wilson
Meopham and District Footpaths Group in Kent have erected a plaque in memory of their president and our vice-president Pat Wilson. The plaque is at Scratch Arse Corner (GR TQ 653 645), near Chandler’s Hill, site of a path battle which led to the origin of the Meopham group. An early fight, championed by Pat,…
Read MoreWelsh Assembly debates Circuit of Wales
We have sent a briefing to Antoinette Sandbach, shadow Welsh environment minister and Assembly Member for North Wales, who is leading a short debate in the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday 21 January about the controversial Circuit of Wales motorsports development at Rassau in Blaenau Gwent. The debate is called Giving the Circuit of Wales the…
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