Access bodies launch Lancashire project to rescue lost commons
The Open Spaces Society and the British Horse Society have launched a joint project to rescue thousands of acres of lost common land and record them for public use. We are funding Steve Byrne to research land in the Lancashire area that was omitted from the commons registers in the late 1960s and early 1970s…
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Long-service award for Peter Newman
The society’s trustees have made an award to Peter Newman for achieving 25 years on our board. They presented Peter with a blotter at their meeting this week, to thank him both for his long service to the committee and as a campaigner for public paths in the Welsh Marches. Peter lives and works in…
Read MoreEssex footpath saved from glasshouse development
Epping Forest District Council has refused consent for a massive glasshouse development across a public footpath, Nazeing footpath 10, in Essex. We were among the objectors to the planning application, from Valley Grown Nurseries, Paynes Lane, Nazeing, to erect 87,119 square metres of glasshouses plus an ancillary warehouse. The development would have required Nazeing footpath…
Read MoreThreat to South Wales beach path
Neath Port Talbot Council proposes to close the public footpath known as Longlands Lane (footpath 92) which leads to Morfa Beach, Margam, and to move the path (footpath 93) from its route along the edge of the dunes onto a disused railway. The extinguishment and diversion orders are made under the Highways Act 1980 and…
Read MoreGo Ape gets go-ahead at Lever Park
Chorley Council has given retrospective consent to Adventure Forest Ltd for a Go Ape development in the historic Lever Park at Rivington in Lancashire. The consent is for two zip-wire landing sites in the park which were constructed without the necessary planning permission. We opposed the development because it conflicts with the Liverpool Corporation Act…
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Fighting a horsey development in Chiltern beauty spot
We have joined the protestors against proposed development in the lovely Skirmett valley in the heart of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Buckinghamshire. The society, with the Bucks Ramblers and many others, has submitted to Wycombe District Council a strong objection to plans to demolish the buildings at Stud Farm (now pointlessly…
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Our open day at Northwick Park
On Saturday 3 September the society held its open day at Northwick Park, in the London Borough of Brent. It was hosted by our feisty Northwick Park Group at St Cuthbert’s Hall and 34 people attended. Margaret Roake from the Northwick Park Group gave us a short history of Harrow. She spoke of how Harrow became popular as commuter…
Read MoreGovernment’s ‘red-tape challenge’ focuses on environment
Please respond to the government’s red-tape challenge which, until 21 September, focuses on the environment. You can comment here . Government is consulting on the abolition of regulations which crucially affect our work on open spaces and paths, such as those relating to commons, open access, public rights of way, national parks and areas of outstanding…
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Ellonby Common saved from damaging development
We are relieved about the rejection of a development which would have damaged Ellonby Common, five miles north-west of Penrith in Cumbria. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has rejected an appeal from Mr J Wilson for a bungalow in a field next to Gill Forge, Ellonby. The site adjoins the common…
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We fight wind turbines in the beautiful Waveney Valley
We have objected to the appeal, by Stamford Renewables Ltd, against Waveney District Council’s refusal of planning permission for wind turbines and associated paraphernalia at Laurels Farm, Barsham, near Beccles in Suffolk. The society has argued that the development would result in the widening and destruction of the ancient Clarke’s Lane which follows a narrow,…
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