Common land and Town or village greens
As a Commons Registration Authority under the Commons
Registration Act, 1965 – Bedford Borough Council is responsible for
maintaining the registers of Common Land and Town or Village Greens
which members of the public can inspect free of charge.
This currently includes updating the registers when ownership of
common rights change, or where rights are apportioned (although the
circumstances in which we can amend the registers are limited). We
amend the registers when we are notified by the Land Registry of
changes in ownership of land and we can amend the registers in some
instances to show changes in address.
The Commons Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 19 July 2006 and will
repeal the 1965 Act at a later date. The new Act will give Commons
Registration Authorities new responsibilities.
Bedford Borough Council carry out searches of the Common Land
and Town or Village Green Registers. Normally, a Commons Search is
carried out when a property is being bought or sold and usually via
your solicitor. Search certificates will reveal whether land is
registered as common or village green, if there are rights of
common, and whether or not ownership is
registered.