CPRE East of England
Press Releases
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CPRE East of England Press Releases |
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Press Release 19th June 2007
ENVIRONMENT
WORRIES DELAY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Countryside
campaigners have welcomed the news that the publication of the East of England
Plan will be delayed to give the Government time to assess the impact of half a
million new homes on protected European conservation sites. “This level
of housing and economic development, plus all the associated infrastructure,
will significantly impact on our countryside and on the quality of life for the
people of the East of England,” said Sean Traverse-Healy, CPRE’s East of England
Planning spokesman. “At least the
European Habitats Directive will give pause for thought. We await with
interest and optimism to see if the concerns raised by Natural England and the
East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) have brought about significant changes
in policy. However, the delay and any policy changes may have an impact on the
preparation of the local plans (Local Development Frameworks)”. End For
further information or to arrange interviews, please contact: Sean
Traverse-Healy: Tel: 01763 853843. Mob: 07957189558 Background
info: Letter from
Government Office The Government
Office for the East of England is today announcing that it is commissioning
further work to assess the East of England Plan (Draft Alterations to the
Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England) against the requirements of
the European Habitats Directive. This decision is in response to the
points put to us in representations on the original Habitats Directive
assessment work from the Regional Assembly, Natural England and others, and
which we consider need to be considered before we can finalise the Plan. By having this
further work carried out, and considering the need
for changes to the Plan that may flow from it, we aim to ensure that the
final Plan will be fully compliant with the Directive. As you will
realise, this course of action has implications for the timetable for
publication of the East of England Plan. The consultants we are appointing
will need time to complete their work to the necessary standard,
and we may then wish to consult further.
All of this means that the final Plan will not now be published before the
autumn at the earliest. This should
not hold up putting in place higher levels of sustainable growth within the
region, nor should it delay progress on Development Plan Documents. In
March Local Authorities submitted finalised programmes for producing Development
Plan Documents to us. We will expect them to keep to those programmes
notwithstanding these developments in relation to the RSS timetable. Yours
sincerely
Deputy Regional Director, Development and Infrastructure 12 December The Stern Report - Word document June 26 2006
Press
release issued on behalf of CPRE and the Plunkett Foundation
PR24/06 19.06.06
CHOICE IF WE WANT IT - SUPERSTORES IF WE DON'T
There is a stark choice: more superstores...or more local food, shops and jobs linking people with the places and landscapes where they live, a powerful new report launched today (Monday) shows.
The Real Choice report [1] published by CPRE [2] and Plunkett Foundation [3] is based on surveys by Caroline Cranbrook [4] over eight years monitoring a broad area of towns and villages in East Suffolk. It reveals that local foods are flourishing and growing since a planned superstore was turned down.
NOTE FOR EDITORS Six leading chefs, commentators and celebrities from the worlds of food and farming - Richard Benson, Raymond Blanc, Jimmy Doherty, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Prue Leith and Gordon Ramsay - have endorsed this report [5]. Barry Gardiner MP, Minister for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs has written the Foreword.
The benefits have been huge: · small stores prospering with more farm shops and markets; · more businesses adding value and offering choice; · more food people can trace and trust; · local food tourism taking off; · local countryside well-managed and serving the community; · local stores keeping towns and villages alive and people in touch with each other.
The latest survey found the number of local and regional food suppliers in the area had risen from 300 to 370 with a wider range of local products being sold. The overall number of shops had stayed constant at 81 - bucking the national trend of decline - and the local market towns had retained their butchers, bakers, fish shops and fresh vegetable outlets. Numbers of farm shops and farmers' markets had grown.
It has happened in Suffolk: it can happen elsewhere. To achieve this CPRE and Plunkett are calling for change including:
· strategies and policies at national level to recognise the public benefits of local food networks and to reflect their interests; · each local authority to have stronger planning policies and a retail strategy in place to protect the local business community and stipulate local sourcing; · firm action from the Competition Commission to stem the supermarket spread into convenience stores and prevent further distortion of the food retail market; · supermarket chains to stock more local foods and promote them, and to give more flexibility to their outlets to use local supply systems; · support from Government and supermarkets for much clearer food labelling so shoppers know where their food is from and can make informed choices.
The East Suffolk experience of a thriving local food network should inspire action across the country. On current trends, the supermarket onslaught is set to wipe out most independent shops and the local food economies they support. But it doesn't have to be like this.
Tom Oliver, CPRE's Head of Rural Policy said:
'If we want the opportunity to choose, we have to plan and take action consistent with what we want. This report is backed by eight years of real evidence. It is a striking success story for local foods. It shows that there is a viable alternative to being spoon-fed by the supermarkets.
'There is a real choice facing local, regional and national Government: to support a future for local food suppliers, independent stores, their communities and landscapes. If we want, they can thrive alongside national and global businesses. Or we can do nothing and watch them die.'
- END -
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. Copies of The Real Choice: How local foods can survive the supermarket onslaught by Caroline Cranbrook and CPRE are available to the press from the press office (020 7981 2880) as hard copies or pdf files, and to the public from CPRE Publications (020 7981 2866 or publications@cpre.org.uk) price Ł5.00. Copies will also be available to download from our website - www.cpre.org.uk - from Monday 26 June. 2. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.
3. The Plunkett Foundation (www.plunkett.co.uk) improves the livelihoods of people in rural areas through co-operative and social enterprise. It works both nationally and internationally with partners from the public and private sectors to promote and implement enterprise-based self-help approaches to rural problems. The Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA) is an activity of the Plunkett Foundation which promotes and supports the development of community-owned shops as a sustainable solution to the maintenance of essential services in rural communities. ViRSA and CPRE are working together to establish shopwatch, an early warning system which alerts the two organisations to villages which are threatened with the loss of their last village shop.
4. The Cranbrook family have lived and farmed in East Suffolk since 1912. Caroline has a life-long interest in the countryside, its people and also the food it produces. Following her first food web survey in 1997 she has campaigned on a variety of rural issues, particularly the local food chain and the importance of maintaining an economically viable livestock industry linked to local abattoirs. She is a keen gardener and with the help of her family collects rare vegetable varieties, mainly from Eastern Europe. Caroline was awarded an OBE for services to the red meat industry in the East of England in the Queen's birthday honours 2006.
5. Six leading chefs, commentators and celebrities have endorsed The Real Choice: How local foods can survive the supermarket onslaught:
Richard Benson, author of The Farm'This is an urgently important document that will confirm a factual basis for many people's suspicions and fears about large-scale food retailing. Supermarkets trade on myths about free markets and increased choice, but in fact they benefit from state subsidies, and often in the long-term lead to a reduction of local food outlets. This report shows that their dominance can be effectively and sensibly challenged in order to benefit whole communities, and make them more sustainable.'Raymond Blanc, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons'I completely support this initiative and always have. Our growers have been undermined by the large retailers who dictate so much our food chain. In my role as a chef, I try to actively promote and work with farmers within our close community, I find that we both feel enriched as a result of this. I feel we should put pressure on the supermarkets to welcome and allocate space on their shelves for our local producers - if it is possible in Italy then why not in England?'
Jimmy Doherty, TV's Jimmy's Farm'Local food economies are of the utmost importance to the sustainability of rural communities. They bring great benefits to the countryside both in terms of safeguarding rural jobs, sustaining local retailers, providing outlets for local produce and conserving the British countryside. The growth in supermarkets threatens the existence of independent retailers thus killing the heart of the local towns and villages, eliminating enterprise and reducing consumer choice. If we are to ensure the survival of our rural communities and regional food heritage, there is an urgent need to build positive relationships between our local food networks and the global food chain. Caroline Cranbrook has shown, through this report, some of the ways that this may be achieved thus offering a beacon of hope for the future of farming, for rural businesses, local jobs and for the conservation of the countryside as a whole.'
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, River Cottage 'You can't beat the quality of fresh, seasonal, local produce. In a perfect world, it would be at the heart of every household's shopping and cooking habit. This report is encouraging news for all those who would like to see the network of dedicated small producers in this country grow and prosper. It should serve as an excellent and encouraging model for local food communities all over Britain.'
Prue Leith, restaurateur'This report is a further boost for the good food movement, which I approve of because I think shopping, buying, cooking and eating should be pleasurable. And somehow doing all that while supporting local producers is very pleasurable indeed. '
Gordon Ramsay, chef'Local food matters because it's fresh, it's seasonal, it's distinctive and it tastes great. The producers care about the quality of their food, and it matters to them if we don't. The people in CPRE's report are producing and selling great local food and are surviving against the odds. We need more like them and they need our support to succeed.'
6. CPRE is grateful to the Suffolk Preservation Society for their support in producing this report.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
May 2006 ‘SAVE EAST OF ENGLAND FROM DEVELOPMENT OVERLOAD’ SAY CPRE AND NATIONAL TRUST Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] and the National Trust have joined forces to raise a petition demanding that the East of England Plan [2] is ‘greened'. After a mammoth public examination the Plan, aimed at shaping growth and development in the fast-changing East of England over the next two decades, is nearing completion. CPRE and the Trust fear it poses major threats to the region’s environment and heritage. CPRE has placed a full-page advertisement in the National Trust’s magazine, read by millions of Trust members [3]. This warns of the threats posed by the draft East of England plan – and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s potential changes to it. The advertisement asks people to ‘stand up and be counted’ by giving their names quickly and easily. [4] CPRE’s East of England Chairman, Lawrence Wragg said: ‘Now is the time for everyone who cares for the countryside – both individuals and organisations - to make their voices heard. ‘Of course we accept there has to be change, but at the same time we must protect precious things which underpin our quality of life, our environment and heritage. We must act now to save the region’s beautiful open landscapes, woodlands, wildlife, natural resources and historic towns and villages.’ Note for Editors:
Keith Turner, Area Manager for the National Trust, said: ‘With one of the UK’s fastest growing economies, the East of England faces major changes. We need the Plan to guide this process, balance economic growth with protection for our environment and heritage, and offer investment in the future. As it stands, the Plan risks unsustainable amounts of development which will have long-term impacts on internationally important green spaces such as Hatfield Forest, owned by the National Trust. Don’t let it happen - support our campaign to make sure the region gets the plan it needs.’ The draft Plan, drawn up by the East of England Regional Assembly with input from the Government, contains proposals for growth on an enormous scale, including 478,000 new homes by 2021, industrial and business development and 67 road schemes. Alan Richardson, the inspector who chaired the Plan’s examination in public, is now writing a report for the Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Prescott can then propose changes to the Plan – which he will publish some time in the autumn. There then follows a final 12-week period of public consultation, when CPRE will be making a last push to ‘green’ the Plan. CPRE’s plea for support features the Trust’s Hatfield Forest in Hertfordshire, threatened by Stansted Airport expansion. CPRE and the National Trust want the plan to:
NOTES FOR EDITORS 1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. 2. The draft East of England Plan, the Regional Spatial Strategy which will determine development in the region to 2021, has been reviewed through an Examination in Public (EiP), running from November 2005 to March 2006. A panel report from independent planning inspectors is expected in June. Effects could include irreversible damage to beautiful and historic landscapes; development of large swathes of Green Belt land, especially around Harlow, Luton and Cambridge; loss of habitats and wildlife; over-stretched water resources — in the driest region in Britain; vastly increased levels of road traffic, worsening already bad congestion and contributing to climate change; worse air quality; widespread damage to recreation and tourism assets; and irreparable harm to the character of historic cities, villages and towns. 3. A pdf of the advertisement is available from CPRE’s press office (020 7981 2800). 4. CPRE is asking the public to sign up to a petition which says: ‘I’m concerned about the East of England Plan. I believe that any development should respect environmental limits, so we can meet the region’s needs without wrecking its countryside and quality of life.’ The petition is in the May issue of the National Trust magazine and is on CPRE’s website: www.cpre.org.uk. People can also sign up by emailing the Campaigns Team (campaigns@cpre.org.uk) or by telephone – 0800 163680. March 2006 HUGE HOUSEHOLD PROJECTIONS ARE A MASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE
Today’s Government forecasts of the growth in numbers of households over the next two decades represent a massive environmental challenge, countryside campaigners CPRE [1] warn today.
If these projections [2] were translated into new homes built, that would represent more than 16 square miles of countryside disappearing under new housing estates each year. [3]
And with them would come a huge increase in climate changing greenhouse gas emissions, in road traffic and pollution and in consumption of finite natural resources such as water and minerals. [4]
CPRE’s Policy Director Neil Sinden said today: ‘We do need more homes to cope with a growing population.
‘But we cannot use these projections as instructions for the number of new homes that have to be built in England over the next 20 years. [5] We must take into account the environmental impacts of housebuilding, and think about this issue in the same way as we think about the growth in aviation and road traffic.
‘In one of the world’s most built-up, densely-populated developed nations, environmental protection must be part of the equation.’
CPRE points out that the projections are based on a continuation of past trends which influence household formation. Small changes in economic and social factors can make a large difference. Population growth is one critical factor, but so is the trend towards ever smaller average household sizes as people make choices – or find themselves compelled – to spend more and more of their lives living alone.
‘As a nation, we might want to start asking questions about whether the fall in average household sizes is socially as well as environmentally sustainable,’ said Neil Sinden.
The planning system has a critical role to play in securing sustainable development. As we plan the number and location of new homes over the next 20 years, CPRE’s top priorities will be:
· Focussing as much development as possible on derelict or under-used urban sites, thereby encouraging regeneration and protecting the countryside.
· Resisting land-wasting low housing densities for new homes, instead favouring medium densities at which sufficient family homes with gardens can be built, along with the smaller homes required by the rapidly growing number of one person households
· Trying to ensure new housing contributes to more even growth across England’s regions, making better use of derelict sites and buildings in the northern regions, rather than focussing ever more new housing on the ‘hot house’ areas of the South and East.
· Questioning the figures, calling for them to be tested and updated, and demanding that priority is given to meeting the needs of those who suffer the worst housing problems. This means building more subsidised housing for rent or part-ownership by people on lower incomes.
· Making better use of the existing housing stock, reducing the number of empty and under-occupied homes, and converting other types of buildings into homes where appropriate.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.
2. See ODPM Statistical Release 2006/0042 published 14 March 2006.
3. This estimate assumes 40 per cent of 209,000 new homes a year are built on greenfield sites (the Government’s target is for 60 per cent of new homes to be built on previously developed ‘brownfield’ sites) and that these homes are built at an overall density of 20 dwellings per hectare. This density figure assumes that homes continue to be built at today’s density levels, but takes into account the infrastructure that goes with large numbers of new homes – roads, schools, green spaces, health centres etc.
4. According to Government estimates, the building of the average new home is responsible for emissions of greenhouse gases equivalent to 35 tonnes of carbon dioxide, production of 11.25 tonnes of solid waste and consumption of 60 tonnes of mineral aggregates. Once built and occupied, the average house will be responsible for 1.25 tonnes of solid wastes and 4.05 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. It will also consume 180 tonnes of water and produce a roughly equivalent quantity of sewage effluent. These figures are based on a typical 90 square metre new home meeting current Building Regulations and occupied by three people.
5. Launching previous household projections, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said: 'The projections are not forecasts, estimates or predictions. They are based entirely on what might be expected to occur if previous trends continue and are heavily dependent on the assumptions involved. Such trends can and do change...' The Rt. Hon. John Prescott MP on the 1999 household projections, Hansard, 29 March 1999, column 471.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Lawrence Wragg (Chairman,
CPRE East of England)
Nick Schoon (Director –
Communications, CPRE)
Nicola S. Frank (Press
Officer, CPRE) National Trust East of
England Regional Office
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The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.