OSS are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Frances Kerner from Buckinghamshire as our Commons Re-registration Officer.
Frances will be researching lost commons which are eligible for registration as common land under part 1 of the Commons Act 2006. Under Part 1, there is a new opportunity to register lost commons which were provisionally registered in 1967–70 under the Commons Registration Act 1965, but where the registration was subsequently withdrawn or cancelled. It is only possible to do this in certain parts of England* and Wales**, and the work must be completed in some areas by 31 December 2020.
Frances will look first at the opportunities in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen where the society believes there is considerable potential to rescue lost commons.
Once registered the land is protected from encroachment and development, and the public has the right to walk over the entire area. If the land is within a former urban district, it is also open by right to horse-riders.
Frances is well qualified to do this work. She has enjoyed careers in the private and public sector working in health, telecommunications and education. Many years ago, an inspirational history-teacher alerted her to the joy of researching local history. Over time her interest developed into rural history and more specifically, the survival and enclosure of common land. Frances achieved her PhD on Enclosure and Survival: Common Land in the Buckinghamshire Chilterns c.1600 – c.1900.
Says Frances: With my combined administrative experience and historical research skills I feel this is just the job for me, and I am looking forward to enabling the society to re-register common land under part 1 of the Commons Act 2006. This should open up new areas for public enjoyment, on foot and horseback.’
Adds Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘We are excited to have been able to create this new post, thanks to a generous bequest from the late Jack Candy, a long-standing member of the society who was a distinguished defender of commons and open spaces in Southampton.
With less than three years left to discover lost commons the work is now urgent and we are delighted that Frances will be carrying out this research.’
Frances lives in Booker near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. When she is not researching in the archives, she enjoys gardening, walking and spending time with her family. She is chair of Booker and District Local History Group, an informal group that researches local history and delivers an annual talk to residents.
* By 31 December 2020: Blackburn with Darwen, Cornwall, Devon, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and Lancashire.
* By 15 March 2027: Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
** By 4 May 2032: Wales
Hi, How do we check if an area of land never built on is considered to be ‘common kand’? Our Council stated it is designated Public Open Space Land when it suited but now wants to sell it. They allowed it to be contaminated with 800 tonnes of asbestos contaminated waste soil over 3 years ago, all still there, which Council have finally only recently admitted they ‘suspect’ none ever was removed but they knew that all along. It was described by them years before as a vital part of the wildlife corridor for our Country Park formed from old works site with reservoir, but found out some years ago trying to sell it to one chosen developer been secretly negotiating with for several years. Only been contaminated since we campaigned to save it, which stopped the campaign (some of us are being threatened by the perp & had property damaged). It’s been horrendous. We warned Council about asbestos but they ignored us. Now 3 types of asbestos fibres/pieces found after tests (took Council 18 months to test but others done since but won’t let us have copies of the later tests only the first), found all across the land as perp moved it past homes with a JCB causing dust, noise, etc., Then spread it all over. Council had originally (before this happened, eventually issued a legal Notice of intent to sell public open space land, which residents only found out about by accident & tried to fight it but final decision was never made on that. Council & MP refused to meet us but met with developers many times. Now Council may have changed use under the Gtr. Manchester Spatial Plan (?) Are we too late to stop it do you know? The land is much valued/used daily inc. by children yet no warnings about asbestos. Thanks.
Thanks for your comment. In the first instance, please read through the guidance on Protecting Open Space on our website. You do not mention which council area you are in but common land registers are held by the relevant county council or unitary authority. As a small charity with limited resources, we do ask people to join the society if they wish to take advice (in accordance with our casework policy) not available on our website.