A COUNTY peer spoke up this week in the House of Lords during a debate on the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester said that when he sold his house on Castlemorton Common, he had to pay a charge to Malvern Hills Conservators for proof of rights of access across the common.
He said: "I'm not alone in facing that difficulty. There are hundreds of houses around the Malvern Hills that abut on to common land and the owners have not the faintest idea that they are acting illegally by driving in and out of their driveway across the common land."
The peers were discussing part of the Act which says landowners must charge between one and three per cent of a house's value for providing the proof or "easement". Malvern Hills Conservators previously tried to get permission from the Charity Commisioners to waive the fee but were turned down.
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