Campaign to protect rural england

[Covenant]

The consultation stage of new planning proposals are drawing to a close. On the cards is a complete new system based on the most economic use of land and not on the principle of protecting that which we all love.
I quote from the CPRE website:
‘The Government is committed to ensuring that the planning system does everything it can to support sustainable economic growth. A positive planning system is essential because, without growth, a sustainable future cannot be achieved. Planning must operate to encourage growth and not act as an impediment. Therefore, significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth through the planning system.”
If you dont want urban sprawl but want sensible use of brownfield sites visit the CPRE website where you can petition the government and your local M.P
http://www.cpre.org.uk/
Personally I dont think there is anything more important than preserving the unique qualities of our countryside. Sorry if this is a tirade, I feel so strongly about it.

[Rare Bird]

We have a problem where they are wanting to build on green belt in our area, I hear but i'm not intrested one single bit about why they wanna do this.

we don't want anymore people in, we don't want our open land area destroying, not to make it a shyte-hole like the town is just outside our village. The open land is what makes our area so nice.

What we need (NOT THEM) is our small butchers & village shops back, farm shop etc so we can be more insular, we don't want mini-markets, idiots from nearest towns coming into our village boozing & causing trouble nor do we want prickz tear arsing up the road in their stupid little cars, music full blast..

No their proposals need shoving where the sun don't shine, all they will do is drag the place further & further down into the crap hole it's slowly becoming.. :steam:

[Covenant]

Do it now then Andre-get on the CRPE website and petition your MP.
In America they have a weak planning system and as a result there is massive urban sprawl, we haven't got the land available that they have. Yet there are massive amounts of developed land that is not being used.

[Rare Bird]

:)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8188556.stm

[The Grand Wazoo]

The new proposals essentially make it that anything goes as long as it is sustainable.
There's no definition of sustainable.
There's no thought to what is in effect the mining of our countryside - the only truly sustainable resource we have.

[aquapiranha]

Done, let's hope it is successful like the one about selling off the forests..

[DaveK]

I'm with you all the way on this Jerry - both letters sent. Lets hope we can make 'em rethink. We're losing countryside and gaining population that don't value it like past generations have done and continue to do, both at far too rapid a rate IMHO.
Thanks for highlighting it.
Does make you wonder about our chances of success though when the 'leading light' of the CPRE is a yank. I love his books and his sense of humour but how come we can't find an equally well knownEnglishman to lead the fight.
Dave.

[Covenant]

I actually think Bill Bryson is a good choice to lead the campaign. He lives here out of choice and knows what has happened with regard to over development around his home town of Des Moines. He has probably seen more of England than you or I have Dave!
That 'sustainable' word is open to such broad interpretation. I bet the developers are already sitting down and planning the wholesale rape of our countryside. Our planning system may be over complicated but it has proved its worth time and time again.
If its not broken dont fix it!

[colinB]

Part of the problem is the growing population, most of which dont give a shit about our green and pleasant land. The other big problem is total lack of respect for the farmers that look after the land, partly i think after the envy of farmers subsidiaries that had a lot of media backlash some years ago.
Now of course they are being forced to either give up or take up modern practices that are not beneficial to the land. No one gives a toss about the guardians of our land , all they want is cheap milk and bread and the likes of tesco are devaluing food to keep their customers happy and screwing the farmers.
I thought the one good thing about tory goverment is that they have good green policy but they are intent on selling the land just as they sold our industry.

[DaveK]

Hi Jerry,
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Mr. Bryson and I think he is doing a good job, I just think that statements from the head of the CPRE would carry more weight coming from a prominent and well respected English man rather than a prominent and well respected American (or is it actually 'ex-American' now?)
Dave.

[Welder]

Done :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Don't think that the idea of selling our forestry & woodlands off has gone away either, folks. They tried it the easy way, now it'll be done by the back door. The Forestry Commission is undergoing a major shake up as we speak & it will soon be known as The Forest Service.