News

A new public footpath has been recorded in Bourne End, Bucks, after a long battle by the society’s member, the Bourne End Residents’ Association.
The 360-metre route runs along the old railway line from Cores End Road to Willows Crossing in Bourne End.  It will be added to the official map of public rights of way [...]

 We have told BAA Ltd that we oppose its plans to route the new Heathrow Airtrack railway through Staines Moor, common land north of Staines.
Staines Moor is of exceptional value to the public and it would be an outrage if it were to be devastated by the proposed railway.
The Moor dates back to medieval times [...]

We are backing our member, Bournemouth resident Mrs Jean Scovell, in her bid to register land at Slades Farm, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth as a new green.
Local people have submitted evidence to Bournemouth Borough Council, the registration authority for town and village greens, that they have used the land for recreation for 20 years, without being [...]

We have objected to plans by Neath Port Talbot Council to erect fencing on Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Penlle’rfedwen and Mynydd Uchaf commons in the community of Cwmllynfell, ten miles east of Ammanford.
The council has applied to the National Assembly for Wales for consent to erect fencing along Bryn Road, to prevent livestock from straying onto [...]

In Bristol Crown Court on Monday (9 February), His Honour Judge Longman ordered that the intimidating gates across an ancient droveway, Barcroft Lane, in the village of South Petherton, Somerset, must be removed, together with the central supporting pillar.  The gates were erected across the public highway by Mr and Mrs Brian Herrick of Barcroft [...]

We have deplored the statement, issued jointly on 27 January by the defence minister Kevan Jones and the environment minister Huw Irranca-Davies, about the future of military training in the Dartmoor National Park. This condemns Dartmoor to a further 21 years of military live-firing, with no opportunity to review military need in the meantime.
Ministers have [...]

We are furious that Wokingham Borough Councillors are being recommended to approve the closure of the Thames Path National Trail through the Henley Festival site, not only for this year but for every year, without reference back to the councillors.
The recommendation is being made to the meeting of the council’s executive on Thursday evening, 29 [...]

We were delighted that an open day, organised at Odiham’s Cross Barn on 24 January, proved so popular and demonstrated that many local people want to be involved in plans for the future of Odiham Common in Hampshire.
The day was organised by Hart District Council Countryside Services with support from Odiham Parish Council, the Odiham [...]

We have added our weight to Belvoir Locals Oppose Turbines (BLOT) in opposing an application for eight wind-turbines at Palmers Hollow, near Bottesford in Leicestershire. The application has been submitted by Ridgewind, shortly after an application from Infinergy on nearby land was rejected last November, following a ten-day public inquiry.
Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: [...]

We are deeply disappointed that the Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal by Mr Kevin Lewis, against Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s refusal to register land at Coatham Common, Redcar, as a new village green.
Explains Nicola Hodgson, our case officer: ‘Mr Lewis applied to the High Court early last year against the council’s refusal [...]