Campaign to Protect Rural England

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Campaign to Protect Rural England The Dorset Review Campaign to Protect Rural England In this issue • 80th Anniversary • Housing White Paper • Dorset Local Food Producers • Open Day at Langham Winery • District Group updates Spring 2017 Branch News Issue 108 CONTENTS CHAIR’S REPORT 80th Anniversary not gone as far as pursuing 2 Chair’s Report their objections to building This year we celebrate our 80th in the AONB through a 3 Open Day at Langham Wine Anniversary, the first meeting was held Judicial Review, several hundred Estate on April 16th 1937. The meeting was houses would have been built in the attended by 400 people and chaired 4–5 The Sherborne and District Kent AONB. But whilst taking all these by Lord Shaftesbury, Lord-Lieutenant of Society aspects into consideration, we must the County. Sir Kingsley Wood, Minister not forget under any circumstances of Health, (the Ministry was at that time 6 Housing White Paper that large tracts of Dorset countryside at least was concerned with housing as is unprotected, and Dorset CPRE must 7–9 Dorset Local Food Producers with health) wrote that the proposal to do all in its power not to forget that form a branch was “singularly opportune,” 10 East Dorset Group reality in our defence of the Dorset since the whole of the county, with the countryside. 11 Millhams Recycling Centre exception of the Portland urban district, had recently under the leadership 12 West Dorset Group of the county council been brought Shaun Spiers, CPRE’s 13 Annual Report & Accounts within the scope of the Town and Chief Executive Country Planning Act. “An important Shaun will be leaving CPRE in May to 14–15 North Dorset Group factor in the preservation of amenity,” join Green Alliance as executive director. continued Sir Kingsley, “is to secure 15 CPRE Awards & Photo Shaun was guest speaker at our Branch Competition that the buildings which are erected AGM held last November and opened are in harmony with their surroundings a discussion on the ‘Urbanisation of 16 Green Space and Health and with each other.” Lord Ilchester Dorset’. On behalf of the branch I would proposed “That a county branch of the like to thank him for all his hard work 17 Poole and Purbeck Group Council for the Preservation of Rural over the past 12 years and wish him 18 Minerals and Waste in Dorset England be established in Dorset.” Unity success in his new job and have written would be strength, and that was why to him expressing our thanks.. 19 Environment Conference 2017 he was asking those attending to pass the resolution. This was seconded by 20–21 A Dorset Farm that values the Looking to the future environment Lord Rockley. The resolution was carried Of course, as an organisation that looks unanimously. to the future and preservation of the 22 Flooding When you are next in Dorchester countryside, CPRE is aware of the need why not visit the Dorset History Centre 23 Litter Campaigns for more housing, especially affordable to view the Dorset CPRE records. housing for local residents. But we must 24 CPRE Recent Publications The documents have been split into also ensure as an organisation that the two batches and have the collection ‘Urbanisation of Dorset’ is not allowed 25 Obituary reference D/PRE. The service is free, but to continue as of late, which in turn will there is a charge for photocopying. 25 Leaving a Legacy only encourage urban sprawl and the increasing infrastructure required to 26–27 Membership Housing White Paper service a growing population. Here of As I write, we are responding the 28 Contacts course we must not forget our farming Housing White Paper consultation. I community. They face a difficult future, recently represented the Dorset CPRE especially in dairy farming, and we Branch at National Office to discuss the must listen carefully to their concerns, ‘One CPRE’ response to the Housing especially given it is they who have been White Paper. The meeting was both responsible for creating the countryside productive and informative and we so enjoy today. However after taking Protecting Dorset concluded that a single, consensus- Campaign to Protect Rural England such aspects into consideration, the based consultation submission from role of Dorset CPRE, whilst accepting The contents of this publication are intended CPRE National Office, its branches and as guidance and general interest. It does not these real challenges, sees its position constitute legal advice and can be no substitute regions would have most impact on as one that does all in its power to for considered advice on specific problems. government thinking as compared to defend what is so wonderful about the Although every effort has been made to ensure a larger number of varied submissions the accuracy of the information printed in this Dorset countryside and that without publication, Campaign to Protect from across the country. However, there it, the tourist economy would collapse Rural England cannot accept is still real concern as to the future of and be of little or no benefit to either liability for errors and omissions. both the Dorset Green Belts and the local residents, the farming community The views expressed in this Dorset AONB. It would seem that in the publication are not necessarily or the businesses that increasingly rely those of CPRE. Housing White Paper, Green belts could so heavily on tourism. be subject to a 5 year review, and given Front Cover image – View of Lankham Bottom Nature Reserve with distant views of the experience of other counties, will Cattistock Village. leave many Green Belts under threat. As RichardChair Nicholls of Trustees to AONB’s, if for example, Kent CPRE had 2 DORSET Campaign to Protect Rural England – Protecting Dorset OPEN DAY AT LANGHAM WINE ESTATE We hope you will come and join us for our Open Day for members on Tuesday 13th June. It will be primarily a Dorset Food and Drink Event this year to be held at the Langham Wine Estate, Crawthorne, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7NG (clearly signposted off the A354). The event will include Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour. We are also having a few quality local food producers whose products complement Langham’s excellent wine. Vines at Langham Winery Dedicated to producing world-class sparkling wine, Langham Wine Estate lies just a 10 minute drive from the centre of Dorchester. The 30 acre vineyard is solely planted with the classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier. Everything is grown and made at the single site allowing the owners to take control of the production process from grape to bottle. Please visit their website for more information www.langhamwine.co.uk. Winners of ‘The Most Outstanding English Sparkling Wine’ 2015 and 2016. Wine tasting at Langham Winery Please return the enclosed A4 booking form. Shaun Spiers Langham Winery vineyard Campaign to Protect Rural England – Protecting Dorset DORSET 3 THE SHERBORNE AND DISTRICT SOCIETY Local Plan Review Housing target Sherborne and Lyde Roads are dealt with in advance. Such a scheme needs sensible Many of you will know that the day after The Review sticks with the housing dialogue with South Somerset and a real the Society’s AGM our hard-working need target for the plan period of 775 understanding of the interdependent Secretary John Newman had a heart houses per annum for the whole area: factors in the local economy. Certainly, attack whilst on a visit to London. I the current figure. This is excessive and if any such development ever took place am happy to report that following a needs to be recalculated in accordance in the future it must be against the successful bypass operation he is making with new standardised criteria which will West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland a good recovery and already back in emerge from the Dept. of Communities allocation not for South Somerset. harness with the major contribution to and Local Government. In the interim In Sherborne there is land designated our submission on the Local Plan Review we think 589 is a better figure but still as employment land and the Review (LPR). probably too high. asks whether there is enough. We The consultation period in relation Where the housing is located is vital believe there is and call on the planners to the first phase of the review is now so our generation do not despoil Dorset. to be flexible in its use given the change completed. I know many of you visited in commerce over the last 50 years. one of the roadshows and also attended Finally, on retail development in the AGM when the details of the Review WDDC must not ignore the Sherborne, we call on WDDC, the Town were discussed. I hope some of you development of brownfield Council and Dorset to implement the made your views known to the Councils. sites which should be seen policy that has been in place for many John Newman has produced a detailed years of town centre expansion. The report which was adopted by your ‘‘ as a first priority. land is there (owned by WDDC and Committee and has been submitted as Dorset) to the East of Cheap Street and our contribution to the debate. I have They get no mention, WDDC should is now tarmac car parks. It is ripe for included here some of the executive encourage with policy their development redevelopment, of a suitable type. summary for your information and if particularly that owned by Dorset, anyone wishes to see the full report I am WDDC, HMG and other Governmental’’ Sherborne Hotel Site happy to supply an e-copy on request.
Recommended publications
  • West Dorset Landscape Character Assessment, February 2009, West
    West Dorset Landscape Character Assessment February 2009 Working for West Dorset 2 West Dorset Design Guidelines - Landscape Character Assessment February 2009 INTRODUCTION showing the location and distribution of important landscape designations and features, Background: Landscape Character and previous landscape characterisation work. Assessment for West Dorset. (vi) Landscape description units were then identified, which are small pockets of landscape (i) The landscape of West Dorset is very varied, with common attributes in terms of geology, dramatic and rich in wildlife. It is a working landform and natural features, rock type, soils and living landscape with mixed farmland and a and associated habitats, attributes relating to rich historic and built heritage. Over 70% of settlement, farm type and field boundaries, tree the district falls within the Dorset Area of cover and associated landuses. Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Even outside the AONB, there is a considerable (vii) Draft landscape character areas were then variation in landscape character in the district. traced by grouping together landscape description units of common character. The (ii) In 1996 the former Countryside Commission draft character area boundaries were tested (now Natural England) produced a map of Joint and refined by field surveys. The field survey Character Areas for the whole of England1. work was carried out from a viewpoint Following this, a more detailed landscape recorded within each landscape description character assessment for West Dorset was unit. In addition to refining the character area undertaken2. In 2002 a revised approach to boundaries, the survey also recorded the assessing landscape character was agreed aesthetic and perceptual qualities of the nationally3, meaning that the work previously landscape and the condition of landscape undertaken should be reviewed, so that it elements that was not always discernable from would continue to form robust guidance locally.
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  • A Survey and Assessment of Soil Ph and Nutrient Status on Sites of High Botanical Value, 2014
    A survey and assessment of soil pH and nutrient status on sites of high botanical value, 2014 Report to Natural England 04 May, 2016 Philip J. Wilson & Belinda R. Wheeler Survey of soil nutrient status on sites of high botanical value, 2014 Philip Wilson & Belinda Wheeler Dr Philip J Wilson MIEEM – lead author. Pennyhayes, Shute, Axminster, Devon. EX13 7QP. 01297 552434 / 07803 126929. [email protected] Dr Belinda R Wheeler MIEEM Cloudstreet, Brentor Road, Mary Tavy, Tavistock, Devon. PL19 9PY. 01822 810013 / 07801 011150. [email protected] 2 Survey of soil nutrient status on sites of high botanical value, 2014 Philip Wilson & Belinda Wheeler Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 5 Summary ................................................................................................................... 6 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 9 2 Methods ............................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Vegetation survey ......................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Soil sampling ................................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Condition assessment ................................................................................................... 13
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    Dorset Countryside No 173 August - October 2015 Volunteers Reg Charity No 1071723 www.dcv.org.uk Who we are, what we do, where, why and how . DCV is . A DCV day lasts . • A practical conservation group run by volunteers • 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. approximately including since 1972 doing practical work in the breaks for drinks (which are supplied) and lunch countryside that would not otherwise be done (please bring your own lunch) • Volunteers are male and female, from all walks of life and from all over the county FINDING DCV . • Work is seasonal, e.g. woodlands in winter - hedgelaying, coppicing; in summer dry stone walling, clearing ponds, footpath work • Maps with the task programme (at the back of this newsletter) show the locations of task sites • Organisations we work for include: Dorset Wildlife Trust, Heritage Coast Project, Natural • DCV website dcv.org.uk England, Amphibian Reptile Conservation Trust • Facebook • We work at weekends throughout Dorset • Look for DCV’s yellow arrows near the worksite or the DCV information board may show an • No super-human strength or special skills needed, or attendance on every task or even for explanatory note the whole weekend - any time is a bonus for us • If unsure of the worksite try to arrive by 10.00 to and for you! meet other volunteers. The worksite may be some way off. Lost? give us a call on 07929 961532 DCV offers . (after 10.00 a.m.) FOOD & DRINK • Practical care for the environment • Opportunity to learn new skills - training given • Use of all necessary tools • Please bring your own lunch • Beautiful countryside, social events, fun & • DCV provides free hot/cold drinks and biscuits companionship during the day - bring your own mug if you wish • Occasionally DCV may hold a shared lunch or YOU should bring .
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  • West Dorset Sites
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  • Rampisham Down Former Radio Transmission Station
    Rampisham Down former radio transmission station Rampisham Maiden Newton Dorset DT2 0HS n Approximately 4.04 Ha (10 acres) commercial land n Existing commercial buildings 6,156 sq m (66,264 sq ft) n Potential for a variety of uses subject to planning n Potential to access to significant levels of cost effective green power from adjacent solar park n Freehold for sale: Guide Price £800,000 gth.net Location: Rampisham Down is located in a rural part of West Dorset approximately 9 miles southeast of Crewkerne, 12 miles northwest of Dorchester and 15 miles south of Yeovil. The A356 runs along the northern boundary of the site. Description: The site has an approximate area of 4.04 Ha (10 acres). The main access to the site is off the A356. The front of the site extends to approximately 10 acres and includes a number of buildings totalling approximately 6,156 sq m (66,264 sq ft). The balance of the 10 acres has been used for open storage purposes for many years. The main building with accommodation over basement, ground and first floors was historically used as the main transmission centre for the BBC World Service. Equipment has been decommissioned and is ready for clearance. Outbuildings have been used for workshop and storage purposes. Within the site are two electrical substations held by SSE on long leasehold basis. Access rights are reserved to the substations. The Vendor will reserve an option on approximately ½ acre in the western front corner of the site for battery storage purposes. Accommodation: The existing buildings contained with
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  • Weymouth & Portland – New S106 Agreements Completed from April
    West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland and North Dorset Community Infrastructure Levy and S106 Planning Agreements Monitoring Report - June 2018 CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 What Are Section 106 planning obligations? ................................................................................................ 1 What is the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)? ....................................................................................... 1 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland Only .................................... 2 CIL Liability Notices Issued – April 2016 to April 2018 .................................................................................. 2 West Dorset – CIL Liability Notices Issued April 2016 to April 2018 ....................................................... 2 Weymouth & Portland – CIL Liability Notices Issued April 2016 to April 2018 .................................... 18 CIL Payments Received - April 2016 to April 2018 ...................................................................................... 25 West Dorset – CIL Payments Received April 2016 to April 2018 ........................................................... 25 Weymouth & Portland – CIL Payments Received April 2016 to April 2018 .......................................... 28 CIL Neighbourhood Proportion - Money transferred April 2016 to April 2018 ........................................
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  • NCA Profile:134 Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase
    National Character 134. Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase Area profile: Supporting documents www.naturalengland.org.uk 1 National Character 134. Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase Area profile: Supporting documents Introduction National Character Areas map As part of Natural England’s responsibilities as set out in the Natural Environment White Paper,1 Biodiversity 20202 and the European Landscape Convention,3 we are revising profiles for England’s 159 National Character Areas North (NCAs). These are areas that share similar landscape characteristics, and which East follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision-making framework for the natural environment. Yorkshire & The North Humber NCA profiles are guidance documents which can help communities to inform West their decision-making about the places that they live in and care for. The information they contain will support the planning of conservation initiatives at a East landscape scale, inform the delivery of Nature Improvement Areas and encourage Midlands broader partnership working through Local Nature Partnerships. The profiles will West also help to inform choices about how land is managed and can change. Midlands East of Each profile includes a description of the natural and cultural features England that shape our landscapes, how the landscape has changed over time, the current key drivers for ongoing change, and a broad analysis of each London area’s characteristics and ecosystem services. Statements of Environmental South East Opportunity (SEOs) are suggested, which draw on this integrated information. South West The SEOs offer guidance on the critical issues, which could help to achieve sustainable growth and a more secure environmental future.
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  • Winter 2019/20
    2 Chairperson's Chat 3 The Secretary's Blog – Award to Jill Sumner 5 Collections & Library & Archive Going Home 7 Snippets From the past 11 A Family From St. James Street 16 Christmas Cards 19 The “Confidence” of Edmund Goodenhow 22 Shaftesbury Miller Meets Unfortunate End 1 Chairperson’s Chat The society is ending the year on a high note: although at the AGM we lost our highly qualified and hard-working Education Officer to the Abbey Museum’s SAVED project (for which she must be hugely congratulated and applauded), we elected another well-qualified, in museology no less, trustee and last month co-opted two new trustees who will be responsible for buildings and fund-raising. This is particularly good news on both counts as our tenanted premises, The Beadster, is in a poor state of repair and we’re currently spending an estimated £8,000 in remedying it. It was my pleasure last month to escort our long-serving volunteer, Jill Sumner, to the Dorset Museums Association AGM and Conference at Poole Museum to receive a well-deserved Volunteer of the Year Award. She is regular steward, doing at least two shifts per week, as well as working weekly in the garden throughout the year and always cheerfully. During the conference we were shocked to learn that the new Dorset Council has not budgeted for arts and culture. We had been hopeful that North Dorset would benefit from the amalgamation as previously West Dorset was much more generous to this sector so this is quite a blow. Apart from the obvious contribution that we make to tourism, it is known that the Heritage Lottery Fund is more sympathetic to requests from Local Authority supported organisations.
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  • Rspb.Org.Uk Working to Give Nature a Home Around the World
    Mr Jeffrey Penfold National Planning Casework Unit 5 St Philips Place Colmore Row Birmingham B3 2PW By email: [email protected] By email: [email protected] 3 February 2015 Dear Mr Penfold Request for call-in under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) Planning application reference: 1/D/12/001664: Construction of circa 24MW solar park at Rampisham Down Radio Transmission Station, Rampisham, Dorchester DT2 0HS. We write to request that the Secretary of State issues a direction under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (TCPA 1990) requiring West Dorset District Council (the Council) to refer the above application to him for his own determination. The application would result in the direct loss of approximately 40.5ha of lowland acid grassland, equating to over half of the Rampisham Down Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The RSPB is extremely concerned about the implications of allowing development which would contravene national planning and wildlife protection policies. We support the detailed comments made by Natural England and the Dorset Wildlife Trust in relation to the unacceptable level of damage on the nationally important Rampisham Down SSSI and the scope for siting this solar farm application on an alternative less ecologically harmful site. The RSPB is in no doubt that this application raises important issues of national significance, which should be scrutinised at a public inquiry conducted by an independent Inspector before being decided by the Secretary of State. There are many parallels with the development proposals at the Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI in Kent, and damaging a large proportion of a SSSI clearly involves matters of significant national interest and is in breach of the Government’s own policy.
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  • Report of an Excursion to Bridport, Beaminster and Crewkerne
    47 REPORT OF AN EXCURSION TO BRIDPORT, BEAMI NSTER AND CREWKE RNE. APRIL 9TH TO 14TH (EASTER), 1914. By L. RI CHARDSO N, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., D irector 0/ the E xcursion. APRIL 9TH. CH IDEOCK Q UA RRY HI LL AN D SnIONDSnUI{y, THE official party travelled from Paddington by the 10.30 a.m. train and arrived at Bridport at 1.55 p.m. Here a num ber of Members from oth er parts joined those from town. Headquarters were at the Bull Hotel, Bridport. Mr. Douglas Leighton acted as Secretary of this excursion. The excursion was to be held in one of the prettiest parts of Dorset, but rain had fallen continuously for many days, and when the Members entered the district at Maiden Newton prospects of fine weath er app eared very remote inde ed. H ow­ ever, at 2.30 p.m., when a start had to be made for Chideock Quarry H ill, the rain had ceased, a strong wind had arisen, and sunlight penetrated between the scurrying clouds, light ing up portions of the diversified landscape of western Dorset. From the Bull H otel the Memb ers walked westwards along the Lyme Ro ad. The conical Colmer's Hill, which is so con­ spicuous when lookin g westwards down West Street, Bridport, and at once attracts the attention of newcomers to the town, was remark ed on at an early stage of the walk. It was explained that its conical portion was composed of Bridport Sands, and that the hard capping of Inferior-Oolite rocks had, geologically speaking, only just been removed.
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  • 103093 Ridge & Westcombe Farms SP.Indd
    Ridge & Westcombe Farms Hooke, Dorset Ridge & Westcombe Farms Hooke, Beaminster, Dorset DT2 0HX A ring-fenced 523 acre dairy farm set in the beautiful chalk hills of the Dorset Downs Beaminster 4 miles, Yeovil 11 miles, Dorchester 13.5 miles, Southampton 66 miles Ridge Farm: 3 Bedroom bungalow | Livestock and general purpose agricultural buildings Westcombe Farm: Purpose built milking parlour | Covered yard, cubicles and general purpose buildings | Staff accommodation| Planning consent for a farmhouse Grass and arable land | Woodland | Pheasant and partridge shoot About 523 acres (212 ha) in total. For sale as a whole (property only) or as a going concern. Situation The farms are situated in the undulating Upper Frome Valley, on the Hooke and Rampisham Down equidistant from Beaminster and Rampisham. Ridge Farm extends south from the Dorchester/ Crewkerne Road (A356) connecting to Westcombe Farm which continues further down the valley to the small village of Hooke. Together they form a compact, ring-fenced property. Beaminster is 4 miles west of the farms. This attractive small town has a range of independent shops, both a primary and secondary school and a number of cafes and pubs. A larger selection of amenities and facilities, including train stations are available in both Yeovil and Dorchester. From Dorchester there are major road connections that feed onto the A31 and M27/M3 at Southampton. Ridge & Westcombe Farms Ridge and Westcombe Farms were formerly part of the Hooke Estate. Since the vendor bought both farms in 2000, they have continued to operate a commercial dairy enterprise, with the principal stock buildings and dairy at Westcombe Farm.
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