Oxfordshire Voice Autumn 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Autumn 2018 OXFORDSHIRE www.cpreoxon.org.uk VOICE Imposed Growth Cherwell’s Cart Before National Parks for Strategy for Oxfordshire Oxford’s Horses? Oxfordshire? Railroading development Inspector agrees CPRE Oxfordshire support at Oxfordshire’s cost? housing figures greater protection of our AONBs OXFORDSHIRE Chairman’s voice VOICE New as well as accept our regular involvement with their Autumn 2018 old challenges plans is to be played for. dressed up in old Features clothes continue What has also been exercising our 2 Chairman’s Voice to interest and endeavours and patience are the engage. proposals of National Office for a newly- 3 New National Parks minted view of CPRE. The work, under 4 Cattle, crops and farmers... The Oxford to the auspices of the national Board of 5 Cherwell’s cart Cambridge Growth Corridor, or ‘Ox-Cam Trustees, is led by the recently appointed Arc’ as it is now known, continues to 6-7 Imposed Growth Strategy Chief Executive, Crispin Truman, and haunt us, in particular because Highways for Oxfordshire involves employing the Good Agency England have chosen Corridor ‘B’ to to put forward proposals to re-brand the 8 David Gilmour, Chair CPRE include the Oxfordshire section of the organisation. Your Branch Executive Cherwell proposed Expressway. The expectation for Committee finds the documents 9 Need Not Greed: update prospective routes across the County to sent to all Branches and containing 10 Abingdon reservoir be revealed has not been realised, and we decisions already made by the Board are still in doubt as to whether the route unsatisfactory and is playing a leading Obituaries will go west of Oxford, essentially along part in discussions with colleagues 11 Oxford Green Belt Way the line of the A34, but now more likely throughout England in trying to ensure, to include a loop westward, starting north for example, that ‘planning’ continues to Local Plan Round-Up of Abingdon and rejoining the A-road be at the core of CPRE’s activities. 12 Members’ events north of Botley – or – plough through the Green Belt on a new road south of Oxford, We report the recent death of Alun DIRECTORY before joining the M40 and turning Jones, the longest serving Trustee for Views expressed in the Voice are not necessarily those of CPRE Oxfordshire, which welcomes northward. Growth potential was meant Oxfordshire. His maps which guided us independent comment. to govern the work of Highways England, in so many ways and also decorated our Editor: Julia Benning and Oxfordshire’s share of the million invitations to AGMs are legendary. An Cover: Bow Bridge at Waterstock on the houses to be built by 2050 along the Arc extended piece will appear in our next Oxfordshire Way. Photo Rob Bowker is a central consideration. As readers of issue. Articles, letters, comments and suggestions for articles are welcome. Please contact the Branch this publication will know, CPRE roundly Office below. Published November 2018 rejects the whole idea of building an Wenda Reynolds became known to many Expressway but now has to decide what of us during her long life. She has left District Chairmen further representations should be made us a generous legacy. Knowing of her CPRE Oxfordshire Branch to Government in case mitigation is the Peter Collins 01235 763081 predilection for planting trees, we have [email protected] only option. decided that part of the legacy should be Cherwell: David Gilmour, Cherwell Chairman used to do just that. [email protected] Strongly related to the Arc in our Oxford: Contact the Branch Office as below considerations is the ongoing Julia Benning, our Communications South Oxfordshire: Professor Richard Harding development of the Oxfordshire Growth Manager, has become a valuable member 01491 836425 [email protected] Board, which includes representatives of Director Helen Marshall’s wonderful Vale of White Horse: Mark Barnett [email protected] of the County Council, the City Council team and makes us forget that she only West Oxfordshire: Contact the Branch Office and the four District Councils, and its joined us in April. as below Joint Statutory Spacial Plan – JSSP for short. Whilst the Board will not be The Branch Executive Committee BRANCH OFFICE CPRE Oxfordshire, First Floor, 20 High Street, in a position to do much about the welcomes two new District Chairmen. Sir Watlington, Oxfordshire OX49 5PY developing District Plans to 2031, it has David Gilmour is Chairman of the newly (Registered office) been central in accepting a Growth Deal amalgamated North and South Cherwell T: 01491 612079 with Government and working towards Committees, and Mark Barnett has taken E: [email protected] a vision of what happens thereafter in on the Chairmanship of the Vale of White www.cpreoxon.org.uk respect of planning to 2050. CPRE favours Horse Committee. We wish them well and Follow us on Twitter @CPREOxfordshire such joined-up thinking, but only if there look forward to working with them. May is full public engagement – something their fresh enthusiasm never dim! and like us on www.facebook.com/CPREOxfordshire which has been woefully missing up to CPRE Oxfordshire is registered in England as now. CPRE Oxfordshire has the ear of the Peter Collins Charity No.1093081 and Company No. 4443278. Board, but just how far the Board will Chair CPRE Oxfordshire 2 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Autumn 2018 New National Parks for Oxfordshire? In 2000 Government confirmed that AONBs have the same landscape quality and legal protection as National Parks. However, AONBs don’t have their own authorities for planning control and other services. National Park authorities have a legal obligation to produce a 5-year management plan allowing a strategic view regarding development and conservation. It is usual for National Parks to assume some Local Authority responsibilities although it can be agreed that Local Authorities retain responsibilities in some areas, such as elements of planning or rights of way. The management plan ensures that all parties make decisions in line with an agreed and planned strategy. The Chilterns at Rotherfield Greys At a recent CPRE West Oxon public meeting Martin Lane, Director, Nearly 70 years after National • how to connect more people with Cotswolds AONB spoke about its interest Parks and Areas of Outstanding the natural environment from all in acquiring National Park status. CPRE Natural Beauty (AONBs) were first sections of society and improve Oxfordshire sees that there are good established, a review launched by health and wellbeing. environmental, social and economic Environment Secretary Michael reasons for National Park designation. • how those who live and work in Gove in February 2018 will seek to However, we would also like to see much National Parks and AONBs can be ensure designated landscapes are more robust enforcement of existing better supported. fit for the future. The review, led by AONB protections, as well as a better writer Julian Glover, will feedback Expanding on work already underway, understanding and appreciation of to Government in autumn 2019. the review will also take advice from the value of ‘ordinary’ non-designated Natural England on the process of countryside. National Parks and AONBs cover a designating National Parks and AONBs quarter of England’s land and are and extending boundary areas, with a Chilterns home to over 2.3 million people, with view to improving and speeding up the The Chilterns covers 324 square more than 66 per cent living within process. miles, stretching from the River half an hour of a National Park or Thames in South Oxfordshire, through AONB. They also generate over £20 The review poses no threat to the Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, and billion for the rural economy and National Parks or AONB’s, neither up to Hitchin, Hertfordshire in the north. support 75,000 jobs. their protection or geographic scope www.chilternsaonb.org is at risk. Rather, this could be an The review will look at: opportunity for some areas to receive Cotswolds more protection: with both the The Cotswolds is the largest of Britain’s • how National Parks and AONBs Chilterns and the Cotswolds AONBs 46 AONBs and the second largest meet our needs in the 21st century. have made a formal request for protected landscape after the Lake • whether the current 34 AONBs and National Park status. District National Park. Covering 790 10 National Parks could be extended square miles the Cotswolds run from or new areas designated. Natural England manages the decision Bath and Wiltshire in the south, through process regarding designation Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and up to • how to improve individual and requests, which involves public Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the collective governance of National and stakeholder consultation. Any north. Parks and AONBs. proposals made by Natural England www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk • financing of National Parks and for new designations are subject to AONBs and their role in the rural confirmation by the Secretary of State, Julia Benning economy. Defra. Communications Manager Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 3 smaller harvests of second and third Cattle, crops and farmers cut grass quickly followed in June and July. face the challenge of nature For all cattle we have had a Rob Bowker Rob heavy summer, still ongoing, of supplementary feeding to maintain body condition as we tried to make up the short fall in grass growth. Our grazing plan for the milking herd soon hit the buffers in June, a lack of grass, a burning sun and temperatures of over 30 degrees are not the stuff of bovine dreams! The compromise was to be in the shade of their shed during the day with silage to eat and out at night in the grazing paddocks to find a blade or two of grass.