Voice Summer 2016

CPRE Cambridgeshire and is our local branch of CPRE, a national charity. We speak up for the English countryside: to protect it from the threats it faces, and to shape its future for the better.

Inside this issue:

Chairman’s 2 message Discover Your 2 Countryside 90 Years of CPRE: 3 Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Joint CPRE and 3 ACRE neighbourhood planning conference report

Peakirk: 1,000 4 years of living on the edge of the Fen

Peterborough City 5 Council Local Plan update

Planning news and 6 updates from across the county Water voles and 7 wind farms Contacts 8 Additional 8 information

“CPRE as guardian of our rural heritage must continue to argue that our countryside, valued for its own sake, is a unique and wonderful asset vital to our health and well-being” Page 2 Cambridgeshire Voice

A word from your chairman

It’s been a busy old time “devolution to combined Molesworth, due to be for CPRE at all levels. authorities”. In our area an released by the USAF) or Nationally we have been agreement for East Anglia may require unacceptable tackling the government’s (Norfolk, Suffolk, transport infrastructure latest attempts to Cambridgeshire and (RAF Wyton, which may weaken... er... sorry, Peterborough) was trigger the need for a new “reform” the planning announced with a flourish road across the Great Ouse system. Key messages on as part of the valley). our response to the government’s budget. Er, consultation on changes to yet this deal excluded And then there is the the National Planning Cambridge city (surely a emerging suggestion that a Policy Framework include pretty important part of new growth corridor should that although planning the local economy?) and be established in a permissions are up, since then Cambridgeshire crescent from Cambridge housebuilders are not County Council has voted to Oxford with an building out the against the deal. Oh – and expressway road and east- permissions they have the East Anglian deal west rail. While these (land banking is rife). included a proposal for a transport projects in While making more land new “garden city” in either themselves may be worthy, available for housing might Fenland or West Norfolk. I our fear is that they could seem the way forward, our think what this actually lead to increased pressure evidence suggests that meant was the for even more more permissions do not regeneration of Wisbech, development. speed up building. On that which we could support, front we are now promised but why wrap it up in All this requires a level of houses at the new town of confusion? resource which we struggle Northstowe “next year”, to provide. Fortunately our yet this has been in the Even more locally we are Eyes and Ears volunteers planning pipeline for more also following carefully the are giving tremendous help years than I can remember. progress of our councils’ in alerting us to proposals We also argued that rural local plans, particularly the which we might otherwise exception sites for proposed housing numbers miss. However, given the affordable housing in rural and growth locations. The scale of the challenge I am areas should not be made government is keen to top concerned we may not be to include starter homes up its coffers through the able to tackle some of for purchase instead of sale of public land for these matters as truly affordable homes for housing. Very effectively as we would local people priced out of commendable, but some of like. the market. these sites are redundant airfields or military bases Michael Monk More locally we have been which may not be in Chairman following the saga of sustainable locations (RAF Discover Your Countryside You may have forgotten the country where you can The 2016 members’ guide that, as a member of CPRE, get discounted entry with can be downloaded via you can enjoy discounted CPRE membership in http://tinyurl.com/CPREgu entry to over 200 of Discover your Countryside. ide2016. 's most splendid houses and gardens, either for half-price or as two visitors for the price of one.

In Cambridgeshire that includes Cromwell’s House in Ely, Elgoods Brewery Gardens in Wisbech and The Manor in Hemingford The photograph on the Grey, and we hope to front cover, taken by feature these in future Nicholas Jackson, shows the view eastwards from editions of Cambridgeshire just outside . It Voice. Or go further afield, pictures the canalised flowing and visit more distant towards , at the attractions on holiday. Cambridgeshire- border. The lakes are Deeping Lakes Take a look at a few of the SSSI. attractions from around Page 3

90 Years of CPRE: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

CPRE East Midlands and East of Reynolds DBE and Oliver Hilliam, representatives from other England invite you to this special CPRE Senior Communications and organisations. event, taking place on Information Officer, and co-author Wednesday 6 July 2016, from of 22 Ideas That Saved the English A programme will be available 10am to 4pm, at The Fleet, Countryside. shortly. There is no charge for Peterborough. attending and lunch and There will also be a choice of refreshments are included. There Members and volunteers of workshops: Raising your branch’s is ample, free on-site parking and branches in the profile; Balanced communications: transport will be provided from and East Midlands regions are strategic techniques to improve Peterborough station to the venue invited to join us to celebrate 90 your organisation and its free of charge. years of CPRE, reflect on our reputation; Planning in the future: achievements, and consider how does CPRE still have a voice?; and To register your interest or book a we go forward. This event will Effective campaigning: what place, please contact Tracey enable us to share information, makes a successful campaign? Hipson at learn from each other, get to know [email protected] or by each other and find out more There will be plenty of phoning 01480 396698. Places will about CPRE, how we work and our opportunities to meet members be allocated on a first-come, first- priorities. and volunteers from other CPRE served basis. branches and staff from CPRE’s The day will include presentations national office, as well as from keynote speaker Dame Fiona

Joint CPRE and ACRE neighbourhood planning conference report

In March, the Cambridgeshire branch of CPRE and Cambridgeshire ACRE held a joint conference on neighbourhood planning at The Maltings in Ely, which was funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government. It was well attended by nearly 120 delegates, largely drawn from parish councils across Cambridgeshire. Speakers outlined the advantages – and problems – of preparing a neighbourhood plan and the support, both financial and technical, which is available. There were also two case studies highlighted, one of which was Peakirk in Peterborough, which has been led by Sally Jackson who is a CPRE committee member.

The event was chaired by Michael Monk, Chairman of CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, who commented: “Our present government is pretty anti- planning, which it sees as an obstacle to growth. Neighbourhood planning is the one bright spot – the government is enthusiastic about this new layer of planning. I hope the conference will encourage the creation of more neighbourhood plans as our county has been a bit slow off the mark compared with others. It is an opportunity to demonstrate to the government that people wish to take more control over how their communities develop and how they wish to protect valued environmental assets.” Page 4 Cambridgeshire Voice

Peakirk: 1,000 years of living on the edge of the Fen

the Monasteries caused the neglect of the channels which took away the floodwater, resulting in a general flooding of the ‘Great Level’, which remained the case until the 1630s when Dutch drainage engineer Cornelius Vermuyden was commissioned to plan the drainage of Deeping Fen4.

In 16535, using Scottish and Dutch prisoners of war, the River Welland from Deeping St James to Spalding was widened and deepened to reinforce the North Level [the north part of the Great Level] and reclaim the land for agriculture. By 1700 the land was again flooded as the drains and sluices were not properly maintained, leading to the appointment of local commissioners to improve and maintain the main roads and commons and drain the fen Peakirk from the air, looking west across the Peterborough-to-Spalding railway line. marshes to win new agricultural land. They were greatly helped by Peakirk is a small rural village of the sister of St Guthlac of the advent of the windmill and 450 residents in the Welland Crowland, reputedly lived as an horse mill pumps7. Valley, five miles northeast of anchoress in Peakirk, on the site of Peterborough. It is currently the current chapel. It comprises a The Inclosure Act of 1809 made it within Peterborough City Council’s 13th-century chancel and a 19th- possible to enclose the open fields administrative boundaries, but century nave. and common land around Peakirk historically it was part of the ‘Soke including Peakirk Long Meadow and of Peterborough’ an administrative The earliest documented Peakirk Moor. The allotment of district of Northamptonshire settlement in Peakirk was land to individuals was recorded on created in 18891 which was recorded 1,000 years ago, by the the Inclosure map of 18196. The traditionally associated with the granting of a charter by King landscape changed as paths or City and Diocese of Peterborough. Edmund II, Edmund Ironside, to baulks between open fields were It covered about 30 parishes in the the church in 1016. rerouted and the open landscape north-eastern corner of the county was replaced by hedges and from Kings Cliffe to Crowland1 and Since the establishment of the hedgerow trees surrounding small was merged with Huntingdonshire monasteries, draining the land fields. in 1965. This area has also been around Peakirk had been a called the Liberty of Peterborough priority. In 1539 the Dissolution of The Industrial Revolution brought or the Nassaburgh Hundred2.

There is considerable archaeological evidence to confirm that the area around the present village of Peakirk has been continuously inhabited for about 4,000 years. Like the nearby parishes of , Northborough, Maxey, Etton and Glinton, Peakirk is located on the Fen edge.

The Roman-excavated Carr Dyke, which roughly follows the five- metre contour, is immediately to the north and east of the settlement. It was an important Roman watercourse. It may also have formed the boundary between land held by the Iceni tribe led by Boudicca in the east and a Roman estate centred on Castor in the west3.

In the early 8th century St Pega, Peakirk from the air, looking south towards Peterborough Page 5

Peakirk: 1,000 years of living on the edge of the Fen cont. steam power to the area in 18207, employment in Peakirk, 39 of Ancient District, A Vision of Britain through Time. The boundary was the Catswater which made possible the whom were farmers or labourers. Drain which flowed under Crowland Bridge, excavation of deeper drains, such In 1881 there were 124 people in but Crowland Abbey held land in as South Drain and North Drain. employment, of whom 27 worked Peterborough too. These could be cut and in agriculture8. 2.The English Hundred names Olof S Anderson. LUNDS UNIVERSITETS ARSSKRIFT. mechanically maintained, finally N. F. Avd. 1. Bd 30. Nr 1 leading to the reliable draining of Modern-day Peakirk is largely a The Nassaburgh Hundred was first recorded the fenland. commuter village with a large in the 12th C. The Liberty of Peterborough proportion of four- and five-bed much later, 1540/41 3. The : Simmons, Cope-Faulkner However, until the mid-19th houses and easy access to pp 19-30 and Stephen Upex The Romans in century, Peakirk was a relatively Peterborough station, which is 50 the East of England Stroud 2008, pp183-87 isolated, small, rural agricultural minutes from Kings Cross. 4. The History of Decoy Tony settlement. This changed with the Cook and R.E. M. Pilcher 1982 5. The Act was passed in 1649, but work coming of the railway between However, its character as a small began in 1653 Peterborough and Spalding in rural village, separate from other 6. Historic Environment Report Rockingham 1848. Borough Fen Decoy, the local villages like Glinton 700 yards Forest Trust, Zone 6: The Soke of oldest remaining duck decoy, a to the west and the urban area of Peterborough Tracey Pardita 7. http://www.northlevelidb.org/about/a- few miles up the road, was kept Werrington about half a mile to brief-history/ profitable by supplying ducks, the south, is something those of us 8. 2.GB Historical GIS / University of widgeon and teal to the London who live here are determined to Portsmouth, Peakirk CP/AP through time | markets by train4. This led to the protect for future generations. Industry Statistics | Occupation data classified into the 24 1881 ‘Orders’, plus opening up of the land for sex, A Vision of Britain through Time. agriculture and commerce, which Sally Jackson meant more people and houses. Extra information taken from the 1. GB Historical GIS / University of Peterborough City Council Peakirk Portsmouth, Nassaborough Hundred through Conservation Area Appraisal Report and In 1831 there were 55 people in time | Census tables with data for the Management Plan 2010.

Peterborough City Council Local Plan update

CPRE Cambridgeshire and the cost of the character of the Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough submitted comments landscape East Northants County Council, to the consultation on 24 North Northamptonshire Joint February. We supported We did, however stress the Planning Unit and Fenland District Peterborough City Council’s importance of the following: Council all agree that there is no following ideas:  working closely with emerging requirement for any cross-  aspiration to become the UK’s neighbourhood plans boundary issues to be considered, Environment Capital although some authorities raise  maintaining the intrinsic individual issues.  wise use of productive farmland character of our villages and  existing settlement hierarchy preventing their coalescence Peterborough City Council is taking study  carefully considering the 2,500 additional dwellings  growth of sustainable rural impact on the landscape of any identified as needed in the enterprise, taking into account proposed renewable energy Cambridge housing market area. the increased use of rural roads schemes Of the 26 parish councils in the by heavy vehicles this might  encouraging improved public Peterborough area, only four generate accessibility to green responded. They supported infrastructure keeping village boundaries and  retention of village shops settlement hierarchies except for  use of conservation area  views out of and into villages Bretton PC, which is inside the appraisals and management  careful siting of any proposed urban envelope. plans to enhance local park and ride scheme distinctiveness  meeting identified housing The Environment Agency  development of landscape-scale needs with a range of house supported cross-border planning, green infrastructure space sizes, types and tenures but has problems with drainage  green wedge policy which seeks policies and climate change to prevent coalescence Additionally, we put forward the policies. between villages and urban idea of a new ‘Garden Village’ areas settlement, as proposed by Lord Developers also submitted Matthew Taylor, to take the comments, with smaller  importance of landscape pressure off existing villages while developers arguing for more character assessments in providing badly needed affordable development in rural areas and deciding the site for future housing. less on brownfield sites. They feel development that the council's current policy on  enhancement of the landscape We also looked at the comments development in the countryside is setting of the Nene Valley made by other respondents. overly restrictive. Larger  drive for community-scale Huntingdonshire District Council, developers are in favour of urban renewable energy, but not at Rutland County Council, extensions. The next consultation will take place this summer. Page 6 Cambridgeshire Voice

Planning news and updates from across the county

Developers want to build in the countryside Developers continue to put in large and small applications for housing developments either outside the village development framework, on open countryside or in the Cambridge green belt, while the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire local plans remain at the (currently suspended) local inquiry stage. They do this because the government’s National Planning Policy Framework states that the local planning authority must look at them favourably unless it can demonstrate a five- year supply of building land, which of course it cannot do until the local plans have been adopted. South Cambridge District Council can refuse applications by invoking The proposed Western Orbital the principle of ‘sustainability’, but doing so is likely to result in the applicant going to appeal and the necessary infrastructure Western Orbital the Planning Inspectorate capacity to support the The Greater Cambridge City Deal is overturning the decision. development. We noted that the consulting on various schemes for applicant claimed that Orwell improving transport in and around Recent housing applications to possessed a range of shops, the city. One such scheme is for a which CPRE has objected services and community facilities. new bus route between the west Orwell: a scheme for 49 houses, at We disputed that there are and south of Cambridge, either Hurdleditch Road. sufficient shops. There are only along or very near the M11, named We argued that a proposal of this two retail outlets – the Village the ‘Western Orbital’. This could size should come forward when Stores and Post Office run from junction 12 (Barton) to the local plan is reviewed. We (incorporating an ATM) and a junction 11 (Trumpington). The noted that the site was put hairdresser’s. ‘orbital’ route would link forward when there was a call for employment sites including West sites and was rejected at the Reach: a proposal for two large Cambridge university site, issues and options stage of the houses. Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and the 2014 plan. Although this scheme was within Biomedical Campus. Despite the Local Plan review the development envelope, we We made the following comments: process being suspended for a few objected on the grounds of We are not opposed to bus priority months, we consider that weight adverse impact on the setting of on the M11. should be given to it. Reach Conservation Area and the We do not want a separate parallel Orwell is classed as a ‘group National Trust nature reserve, as it road, because of the impact on the village’, meaning the maximum will be visible from a public foot environment. scheme permitted within the path and a public byway. Local We are not opposed to additional development framework is eight residents attended a meeting of park and ride sites in the green houses. The proposed quantity of East Cambridgeshire District belt because the benefits of housing (up to 49 dwellings) is far Council’s planning committee in reducing traffic in the city in excess of this number. May to emphasise their concerns, outweigh the potential Although the applicant tries to where they proved persuasive: environmental damage. show that there is an overall need despite the planning officer’s We are concerned that there is no for housing, South Cambridgeshire recommendation, the committee holistic plan covering transport District Council and Cambridge overwhelmingly rejected the issues over a wider area. City Council have published a application. Further information We approve of congestion charging report for the local plan inquiry will be given in the next in Cambridge. inspector in which they justify newsletter in an article on the their original overall figures and village of Reach, planning Advice on planning increase the number of homes by applications within the village and Sometimes CPRE’s function is to just 500. Also, while the applicant how residents united to fight give advice. One such case was stated that the application will them. when a village resident got in meet local housing need, this has touch, concerned that a proposal not been backed up by a housing Reach: a proposal for a large for change of use may consequently needs survey. house. have led to the building of a house. Local plan policy S7 states that We objected on the grounds that it The village was a few miles outside development and redevelopment was outside the development Cambridge, where an application of unallocated land and buildings envelope and in open countryside, had been made for change of use within development frameworks where a large house would be from an agricultural field to use for will be permitted provided there is particularly conspicuous. grazing. The correspondent was Page 7

Planning news and updates from across the county cont. concerned this might lead to a Transport Strategy for East optimistic view of potential growth housing proposal by encouraging Cambridgeshire in employment and thus give rise to nearby house owners to build in We responded to the consultation housing-led growth which would their gardens. We advised the on this lengthy document. not be sustainable. individual that we found it hard to We approve of the strategy Four options are been given for the find any demonstrable harm to objectives and its 18 policies. spatial plan, but there is no final countryside or village rural It is an ambitious programme accompanying sustainability character, and that in any case which we hope will be appraisal. It is understood that this CPRE cannot object on grounds of implemented as soon as funds are is work in progress and will be possible future uses. available. informed by the local plan but this We note the Ely Southern Bypass supporting evidence is essential for Cambridge and South scheme is included. Although we an informed discussion on the Cambridgeshire local plans regret the impact this will have on relative merits of the options. The local plans were submitted to the landscape, we appreciate that Development should be restricted the Planning Inspectorate in March it is now an agreed scheme. to within existing village envelopes 2014 and are being considered There needs to be a step change in and be outside only in exceptional together. The inquiry opened in public transport if the strategy is circumstances in order to protect November 2014 but was suspended to be truly sustainable while at the the countryside, otherwise there is in July 2015 to allow further work same time tackling congestion in a risk that such countryside to be undertaken in response to and around Ely and on the main developments will become the initial issues raised by the routes (e.g. A10 to Cambridge). norm. This should apply to inspectors. Several ‘modifications’ community-led schemes as well, were put out for public East Cambridgeshire Local Plan with such developments beyond the consultation. The headline issue The current plan was only adopted village envelope being allowed only was that the number of houses in 2015. Such is the length of time in exceptional circumstances. required was only increased by the needed to implement an upgraded There appears to be inadequate modest number of 500, plan, the process has now begun consideration of transport issues or significantly fewer than the on the plan for the next 20 years. transport infrastructure. What is inspectors expected. These will be We submitted the following needed is a step change in public located on land between Cherry comments on the preliminary transport if the plan is to be truly Hinton and Cambridge Airport – in draft. sustainable while at the same time the green belt. CPRE submitted 14 CPRE is concerned that the East of tackling congestion. The four comments. The suspended inquiry England forecasting model for jobs spatial options should be tested for will recommence on 7 June. CPRE is being used. We consider that their ability to be served by high- will make representations. this could be based on an overly quality public transport.

Water voles and wind farms

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire has published a report which shows that ditch maintenance by internal drainage boards is critical for water voles as it provides an extensive and stable habitat for them. Among the conclusions was that construction of new wind farms has had no apparent effect on water vole populations.

A water vole survey carried out at five-year intervals over the last 10 years in two drainage districts in the Middle Level of the Fens has shown that water voles are continuing to thrive and maintain good populations.

The Wildlife Trust has found water voles in very encouraging numbers in the Middle Level of the Fens. In 2015, Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers repeated a detailed survey of two drainage districts (Curf Fen and Ransonmoor) between Chatteris and March in the Middle Level catchment. These districts had first been surveyed by the trust in 2005 and then by a student from UEA in 2010. The 2015 results found water voles at least as widespread as in previous years, which is very impressive against a background of national decline. The full report is available via http://tinyurl.com/MiddleLevelVoles Photo by Cliff Carson Page 8 Cambridgeshire Voice

About CPRE We campaign for a beautiful and living countryside. We work to influence how we plan our towns and cities to make them better places to live and work, to ensure the countryside is protected for all to enjoy for now and future generations. Our Patron is Her Majesty the Queen. We have around 60,000 members and a branch in every county. CPRE is a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning. Writer and poet Sir Andrew Motion is our president. CPRE is a Registered Charity (No. 1089685) Please note the opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of individual contributors, or the editor, and do not necessarily represent the views of the branch or the national charity.

This newsletter was produced with support from

CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: who we are President District contacts and specialists Christopher Vane Percy

Branch Officers Cambridge, South Cambs, East Cambs and Fenland Chairman: Michael Monk Tel: 01480 456634 Shirley Fieldhouse Email: [email protected]

Vice-Chairmen: Lawrence Wragg, Huntingdonshire Sean Traverse-Healy Gareth Ridewood

Treasurer: Nick de Chenu Michael Monk

Committee Members: We are happy to help you. Sally Jackson Peterborough To get in touch, please Shirley Fieldhouse contact our office: Sally-Ann Jackson Branch Administrator: Tracey Tel: Hipson Tel: 01480 396698 Volunteer Manager 01480 396698 Email: [email protected] Vacant Email: Press Officer: Alison Sargent Tel: 01799 531033 [email protected] Email: [email protected] General planning issues Michael Monk Write: Sean Traverse-Healy CPRE, The Town Hall, Market Hill, St Ives, Cambs, PE27 5AL