Society is on a mission to protect greens and commons
The Open Spaces Society is urging planning authorities in England and Wales to look out for registered commons and village greens threatened by planning applications.
Says Nicola Hodgson, the society’s case officer, said: ‘Commons and greens are vitally important to the public and should be protected.
"Yet planning applications are sometimes granted which adversely affect commons and greens, and the applicant is ignorant of the law governing these precious places.
"So we have written to all the planning authorities asking that, where it appears that a planning application might affect a registered common or village green, they check whether it does.
"If it does, we urge them to take the law of commons and greens into account when determining the application."
The society cites several cases where planning permissions have been granted which threaten common land, including:
• Common land at Headley in East Hampshire Fencing and track adjacent to the common, planning permission granted 2008.
• Common land at Reservoir Cottage, Kentmere, Lake District National Park, Cumbria Wind turbine, planning permission granted 2008, Secretary of State for Environment’s consent not sought.
• Common land at Conistone, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire Connection between buildings and patio, planning permission granted 2006, Secretary of State for Environment’s consent sought for works on common land but application then withdrawn.
"We hope that, as a result of our campaign, planning authorities will be much more aware that commons and greens need protection, and will be wary of granting planning permission for applications which adversely affect them," concluded Hodgson.
