We urge Welsh environmental body to champion common land
We have urged Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to champion common land and to oppose government plans to weaken the law protecting village greens. The society has responded to NRW’s consultation, Planning our Future. We are concerned that nowhere in the document is there a mention of common land and its crucial role in securing a…
Read More
Last chance to save Dorset village green
We are supporting our member the Society for the Protection of Markham and Little Francis at a hearing in the Supreme Court on Wednesday (15 January 2014). The local society will seek to persuade the court to uphold the registration of the village green on the outskirts of Weymouth, Dorset. This is the last chance…
Read More
DEFRA publishes guidance on authorizing structures
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published its guidance to local authorities on authorizing structures such as stiles and gates on rights of way, and their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. (Click to read) This is the product of a working party on which the society was represented by Chris Beney.
Read MoreMisleading articles about homeowners and ramblers: we put things straight
The society has criticised as muddled, misleading and inaccurate the stories which appeared in the national press on 2 January, with the headlines ‘Homeowners win right to bar ramblers from land’ (The Times) and ‘Homeowners’ victory in battle with ramblers’ (The Telegraph). The stories suggest that, under the proposed Deregulation Bill, landowners will have a…
Read More
Landmark judgment on highway obstruction
A High Court judge has ruled that gates erected across Barcroft Lane by Mr Brian Herrick, owner of the £3.8-million Barcroft Hall at South Petherton in Somerset, are unlawful. They must now be removed. On 17 February Mr Justice Cranston handed down his judgment in Herrick v Kidner and Somerset County Council, which is the…
Read More
Eightieth anniversary of milestone law for walkers and riders
The legal rule that a path becomes a right of way after 20 years’ unhindered public use is 80 years old today (1 January). The Rights of Way Act 1932 came into effect on 1 January 1934 and applied throughout England and Wales. We celebrate the eightieth anniversary of this milestone act of parliament for…
Read More
Planning inspector refuses consent for solar farm in rural Somerset
A planning inspector has refused consent for a solar farm at Doulting, east of Shepton Mallet, in the heart of rural Somerset. Mendip District Council refused permission in January 2013 but the applicant, AEE Renewables, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. The decision by inspector Karen Ridge LLB was published on 19 December. The application was…
Read More
Unbounded freedom
Andrew Humphries, experienced hill-farmer and teacher, writes about the contribution of the Lake District yeomen. Unbounded freedom ruled the wandering scene Nor fence of ownership crept in between To hide the prospect of the following eye Its only bondage was the circling sky. (John Clare 1792-1864) Writing when enclosure and ‘high farming’ were in…
Read More
Welsh Government wants to pave the way for development of green spaces
We have condemned the Welsh Government’s draft Planning Bill in which it proposes to pave the way for development of open spaces by changing the law for registering land as a town or village green. The Welsh Government wants to make it impossible to apply to register land as a green where that land is…
Read More
Natural England’s new chairman jumps to reopen public paths on his land
Andrew Sells, the new chairman of Natural England, the government’s statutory adviser on countryside recreation, has hastily reopened a blocked right of way across his Wiltshire land following his appointment. Mr Sells, who is a venture capitalist and a major Tory party donor, was scrutinised by the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs…
Read More