Since 2017, volunteers from Hemp Garden Community Association have worked to transform a neglected green space into a thriving community park. Elvet Green in Durham has been transformed from a rubbish-strewn area, to a community park with flowers and trees – all free of charge for the council. The association says that they have cleared rubbish and hazardous waste, repaired grassed areas, planted flowers, shrubs and trees, improved pathways and organised regular community work days. Now Durham County Council has sent them a letter ordering them to cease their activities and remove their equipment from the site. The council threatens legal action…

Our report Banned from the Beach – The crackdown on Community Sport, showed how councils are charging absurd amounts to small groups to do yoga or qigong in parks or on beaches. Bristol and Thanet were councils with particularly restrictive rules, and we have written them asking them to change their policies. See our letters below: Also see video interviews with affected yoga teachers…

This guidance is based on the Manifesto Club report, Gatekeepers: How Councils are Controlling Access to the Public Square, which found that restrictions on political stalls are now the norm across England and Wales. This guidance is to help councils work towards a more liberal approach to local campaigning, which encourages local engagement and democracy as well as respects free speech. The importance of the public square Public squares, pavements and pedestrianised areas have traditionally been venues where citizens, campaigners, political parties, community groups and others can engage with the public, hand out leaflets, show banners, run street stalls and talk with…