Campaigners are welcoming a new law which gives increased protection to village greens.
From tomorrow, Good Friday, a section of the Commons Act 2006 comes into force, limiting one of the ways landowners can thwart registration of land as a green.
Nicola Hodgson, the Open Spaces Society’s case officer, said: “This clarification of the law will make it easier for people to apply to register land as a town or village green, thereby saving it from development and securing its enjoyment by the local population.
“The new provisions limit the ways in which a landowner can defeat an application.
“They provide a period of grace after the use of land, as of right, has been ended by a landowner, during which an application can be made. Before now, the use had to continue right up to the date of registration, which meant that landowners could thwart an application by erecting a notice saying ‘keep out’.”
The law says that if land has been used for ‘lawful sports and pastimes’ for 20 years, it can be registered as a green. The term has been taken to mean ordinary recreation.
Periods of enforced closure such as when there is an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease will be disregarded in considering the 20-year use rule.
The Open Spaces Society, which campaigns for the protection of commons, open spaces, greens and public footpaths, is also encouraging landowners to dedicate areas as village greens, which the new Act allows for the first time.
Guest
06 April 2007My group has been waiting for this day before even beginning to gather evidence for a new green. Ten years ago when another group put in an application on a different open space, the local council immediately dug ditches and put up private signs. It was keeping the land for development. A small child fell into the water in the unguarded ditch and became very ill, but the council wouldn't admit liability. Now, it seems that we can launch a new campaign on our little spot of green. Well done Nicola Hodgson and Open Spaces Society. Where are they and will they support us? Bill Bide
Kate at Open Spaces
08 April 2007Yes, we'll help you Bill. We normally require people to join the society first as we are a small charity. Send us an email with your postal address and brief details of your case and we'll send you our information and start helping you. Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary, Open Spaces Society
grough editor
09 April 2007The Open Spaces Society can be contacted via the Links button on our left-hand menu.
Brian Wright
09 April 2007Hi Bill I hope you will join the Open Spaces Society as a group and as individuals. In my view, the society has in recent years been most at its most effective in helping local campaigners to protect village greens. However, your campaign will still be time consuming and complex and I would like to offer my assistance regarding the preparation of evidence and presentation. I have been involved in a number of village green applications. I am a former public rights of way officer and I was Assistant Secretary of the Open Spaces Society some years ago. The Ramblers' Association is also interested in protecting open spaces and I hope that the RA will in the future co-ordinate with the OSS in this important area of access work. You can contact me via the Oxfordshire Ramblers Association (raoxon@yahoo.co.uk) My best wishes Brian Wright RA Oxfordshire Publicity Officer
Guest
05 May 2007THE LATE BILL BIDE The Chairman reported the recent death of Bill Bide who had been the Rights of Way Manager until his retirement in 1991. The Panel stood in silence as a mark of respect. Is the above a message from the other side or a sick pseudonym ??