183:' was included in the Society’s title after it amalgamated with the National Footpaths Preservation Society in 1899. Before the introduction of official maps of public paths in the early 1950s, the public did not know where paths were, and the Open Spaces Society helped the successful campaign for paths to be shown on Ordnance Survey maps. Its work also includes helping to protect common land, town and village greens, open spaces and public paths. It advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and National Assembly for Wales on applications for works on common land. Local authorities are legally required to consult the Society whenever there is a proposal to alter the route of a public right of way. To facilitate part of its charitable aims, the Open Spaces Society is active in other areas; it has representatives on government working parties, national bodies, and more localised bodies. It also has some of its members representing it as local correspondents in various parts of the country.
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The
Moorside Fields Community Group attempted to register the lands in 2016 under the Commons Act. The local authority challenged the registration, wanting to retain control of the lands for future expansion of the nearby Moorside Primary School's playing fields. The council's challenge failed in the
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In 1986, the "Common Land Forum", comprising all the interests in common land, recommended that there should be a public right to walk on all commons in
England and Wales, coupled with management of the land. (All commons have a landowner, ranging from a public body to a private individual.) The then
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The question common to both cases was whether the fact that the land was held by a public body for the performance of its statutory powers and duties (by
Lancashire County Council and the NHS in these instances) made the land incapable of being registered as a town or village green. Registration
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In effect, the
Supreme Court decision left lands owned by public authorities by their statutory powers open to development for any purpose that they deem to be appropriate. This could have far-reaching ramifications in England and Wales, according to the Open Spaces Society.
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Over the last century and a half the
Society has preserved commons for the enjoyment of the public. It has also been active in protecting the historical and vital rights-of-way network through England and Wales. Its early successes included saving
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decision raised concerns at the society. The primary case involved 13 hectares of land in south
Lancaster, the Mooreside Fields, owned by Lancashire County Council. The land had been available for public use for over 50 years. According to the
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I think that this judgment totally redefines the way we understand land held in the public domain," Bebbington said. "It affects every piece of land held by a statutory body, for example by the MoD, the NHS and local
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High Court and then in the Court of Appeal; the registration of the land as a village green could proceed. Lancashire County
Council subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
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government backed the forum’s proposals for legislation and promised to introduce such a law – but did not. More than a decade later, with the Open Spaces
Society's help the right was won under the
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Today, the
Society has its headquarters in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. It has over 2,600 members throughout England and Wales. It publishes a members' magazine
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specified that land designated for planning applications could not be registered as a village green, but that did not apply in the
Moorside Fields case.)
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the Supreme Court overturned the previous judgments. At the same time, the court also ruled against the registration of lands in a separate case in
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requires local people to have used the land for informal recreation for 20 years 'as of right', ie without being stopped or asking permission.
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R (on the application of Lancashire County Council) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Respondent)
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Much of the Open Spaces Society's work is concerned with the preservation and creation of public paths. The word '
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Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century
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To assist local communities so that they can safeguard their green spaces for future generations to enjoy.
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To campaign for stronger protection and opportunities for everyone to enjoy commons, greens and paths.
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The future of a Lancaster village green has been secured after its registration was upheld in court.
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the case has wide implications for land held for statutory purposes by public authorities.
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in 1866 with the aid of 120 people. The society also campaigned for the creation of the
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461:"WBD advises NHS Property Services on Supreme Court win for village green case"
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To defend open spaces against loss and pressures from development.
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UK registered charity championing public paths and open spaces
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Nature conservation organisations based in the United Kingdom
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381:"'Village green' land at risk after ruling by supreme court"
355:"'Village green' land at risk after ruling by supreme court"
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410:"Village Greens In The Balance Warns Open Spaces Society"
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Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society
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Peter Barberis; John McHugh; Mike Tyldesley (2000).
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Environmental charities based in the United Kingdom
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23:is a campaign group that works to protect public
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165:The stated objectives of the Society are:
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544:1865 establishments in the United Kingdom
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188:Open Spaces
33:common land
538:Categories
261:References
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181:footpaths
161:Function
51:Founding
448:UKSC 58
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243:Surrey
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