Schedule2
Commons Bill [Lords]
3:45 pm
David Drew (Stroud, Labour)
We are running out of time, so I shall be quick. I have not tabled the amendment just to get the board of conservators into the Bill. The amendment is important. It applies to those open spaces that were provisionally registered by their public body owners in the knowledge that that was not strictly correct, because all rights of common had been acquired and extinguished many years previously—nevertheless, no objection was raised and the registration became final. It is believed that that was done to perpetuate the memory of historic status. The amendment applies largely to urban centres, particularly London, where there are still a number of metropolitan commons as defined under the Metropolitan Commons Act 1866.
I move the amendment on behalf of the Open Spaces Society. I shall read the final sentence of its submission:
“It would be mischievous pedantry for this to be reopened now with no benefit to anyone, and the amendment would prevent this.”