Forestry panel sees the wood and the trees
‘The Independent Panel on Forestry has done a great job in seeing the wood and the trees.’ So said the society in welcoming the long-awaited final report of the panel which was published today. The panel has declared that the public forest estate should not be sold off, but remain in public ownership and be…
Read MoreDevelopment threat in Kent’s high weald
We have objected to plans from Kent County Council to erect a new primary school on open land at Benenden in the Weald of Kent. The proposed development is to the south of Rolvenden Road. This is a prominent, elevated spot which is visible for miles around. The development will suburbanise this attractive village, and…
Read MoreTurbines could trash Powys common
We have objected to an application from RWE Npower Renewables Ltd for nine wind turbines at Neuadd-goch Bank near Dolfor, Newtown in Powys. The society is particularly concerned that four of the wind turbines would be sited on registered common land, Cwmgwyn and Medwalleth Commons. We are dismayed that the applicants refer to the ‘minor…
Read MoreCornish common reclaimed
Carrine Common, near Kea, south of Truro in Cornwall has been reclaimed as registered common land, using legislation which is being pioneered in Cornwall (part 1 of the Commons Act 2006). Following a hearing in January 2012, planning inspector Mr Barney Grimshaw ruled that the land should be recorded on the commons register. Carrine Common…
Read MoreOur new path-protagonist for Guildford
We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Colin Sandford as our new local correspondent for the Borough of Guildford in Surrey. Colin, who lives in Effingham, has a lifelong interest in horse-riding and this inspired his interest in countryside access. Colin will be our eyes and ears in this area, keeping a close…
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Wealden woodland saved from private car-park plans
Wealden District Council has thrown out plans to build a private, gated car-park on the summit of Crowborough Common in East Sussex. On 31 May nine members of the planning committee voted against Crowborough Beacon Golf Club’s proposals. The Open Spaces Society, Save Our Common and the Ramblers’ High Weald Walkers Group were among the…
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Give more recognition to Wales’s unique common land
The society is concerned that the Welsh Government’s Green Paper, Sustaining a Living Wales, pays insufficient regard to the nation’s superb common land and landscape, and people’s ability to enjoy it. The society has submitted a robust response to the consultation paper, calling for greater recognition of these important features. Says David Bateman, our spokesman…
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New plans for hidden highways
We are pleased that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is today (Monday 14 May) launching a public consultation about plans to make it easier to get England’s official map of public paths up to date. The ‘definitive’ maps of rights of way are lamentably incomplete. There are many public footpaths, bridleways…
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Natural England announces next phase of coastal access
We are delighted that, in the week when the Wales Coast Path was opened, Natural England has announced that it will start work on access to the next five stretches of England’s coast. These are: Durham, Hartlepool and Sunderland (Seaton Carew to South Bents) Cumbria (Allonby to Whitehaven) Kent (Ramsgate to Folkestone) Norfolk (Weybourne to…
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We call for new Wales body to focus on commons, spaces and paths
We have called for the new single environmental body in Wales to focus on common land, open spaces and public paths. The society has responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation paper, Natural Resources Wales. This invites views on the arrangements for establishing and directing a new body for the management of Wales’s natural resources, by…
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