Spring 2021 Fieldwork © Alamy

Pressure builds on the Green Belt Inside this issue

ebruary saw planning and plans for 257,944 homes to be built Transforming rural environmental organisations, on land removed from the Green Belt bus services p5 Fgovernment officials and MPs – a 475% increase on the numbers attend a virtual roundtable event from 2013. Meanwhile, our survey of Celebrating rural to launch CPRE’s new report, over 2,000 people found that 46% churchyards p6 Countryside Next Door: State of reported visiting green spaces more the Green Belt 2021. Our latest since the start of lockdown – up Two-minute litter picks look at the threats facing the open significantly from 35% in April 2020, clean up Somerset p7 land around our cities found that and suggesting that people have housing pressures have more than increasingly been looking to local Standing up for a West quadrupled since 2013, despite a countryside for their mental health Yorkshire Green Belt p8 soaring public appreciation of the and wellbeing. green space it offers. Commenting on the findings, CPRE The campaign to While our new polling reveals that chief executive Crispin Truman said: save Stonehenge p11 67% of adults think protecting and ‘Local countryside and green space enhancing local green spaces should has been a lifeline through lockdown. Improving housing be a higher priority after lockdown, The government can and must act design p13 local plans for housing on the to stop the loss of Green Belt and Green Belt mean that countryside ensure greater access to nature and The impact of litter accessible to over 30 million people green space is at the heart of our in lockdown p14 is increasingly being targeted for planning system – by making the best development. Our research revealed use of brownfield sites.’ Continued on p2 CONTACTS COVER STORY

Fieldwork Pressure builds Volume 18, Issue 1 on the Green Belt

Editor Continued from p1 Oliver Hilliam [email protected] Fieldwork is the newsletter The brownfield alternative brownfield land on their registers to of the CPRE The countryside CPRE continues to highlight the previously accommodate such numbers. London and charity, published in April, developed sites that provide a sustainable Bristol will face the largest pressure on August and November. alternative to building on the Green Belt, their Green Belts, having to find space CPRE is the countryside and could supply enough land for over for 177,907 and 5,948 homes respectively charity that campaigns to 1.3 million homes. One such site, York once all of their current brownfield land promote, enhance and Central, next to the city’s railway station, has been developed. protect the countryside for has recently been approved for a everyone’s benefit, wherever regeneration scheme that is set to provide The need for proactive planning they live. up to 2,500 new homes (40% of which While the government’s recent urban

ISSN 1744-8905 (Print) will be affordable) on 100 acres of land, focus is welcome, there needs to be ISSN 1744-8913 (Online) creating around 6,500 new jobs. In more proactive identification of brownfield, contrast, a York Green Belt site of the and the government needs to allow time same size that would have had a negative for this. Otherwise, Green Belts will impact on Askham Bog Nature Reserve continue to be lost to unaffordable (and was spared from development housing while swathes of derelict land last year following a CPRE-supported lies wasted and underused. The threat campaign) would only have provided 500 to Green Belt land has increased car-dependent homes. considerably since regional plans were CPRE The countryside charity The proposed affordability of the York abolished in 2009, and since the adoption 5-11 Lavington Street Central site also highlights that only of the NPPF in 2012. The consequences of London SE1 0NZ T 020 7981 2800 one in ten of the homes built on Green these policies needs to be addressed if F 020 7981 2899 Belt between 2015/16 and 2019/20 are we are to prevent the further loss of the [email protected] considered to be affordable. On this land that is crucial for people’s health www.cpre.org.uk trajectory, we risk losing ever more and wellbeing, for the wildlife that calls @CPRE Green Belt while having no impact on it home and for mitigating the impacts of

Campaign to Protect Rural the affordability crisis. Furthermore, the climate emergency. England is a company limited by since we last reported in October 2019, guarantee, registered in England, the average density of newly created The Strategic Environmental number 4302973. Registered charity number 1089685. residential addresses within the Green Assessments process must continue All the articles and features Belt land has remained at just 14 dwellings to identify less harmful alternative sites within this publication are per hectare (dph). This is an incredibly copyright of the CPRE and may land-hungry rate and half the 31dph To enable the Green Belt to continue not be reprinted or distributed without the prior written consent average of developments outside of to fulfil its function, while allowing for of the publishers. the Green Belt. the provision of new homes, CPRE recommends the government reintroduces The proposed uplift in housing the use of strategic city regional planning targets for cities and urban centres into planning law through the upcoming will massively increase the pressure Planning Bill. The Strategic Environmental on some Green Belts Assessments process must also be maintained, so that it can continue to In December 2020, the government identify more sustainable and less harmful announced a change in approach to alternative sites. Most importantly, the calculating housing need in England, government must introduce a clear announcing a ‘cities and urban centres ‘brownfield first’ policy in the Planning uplift’ whereby 20 of England’s largest Bill, to ensure that suitable previously urban areas will have their housing targets developed land can be prioritised for increased by 35%. This proposed uplift redevelopment through a more proactive will massively increase the pressure on approach to identifying brownfield sites. the Green Belts that surround six of Find out more: Read our full State of the these cities which don’t have enough Green Belt report at cpre.org.uk/resources

2 Fieldwork Spring 2021 SUCCESSES IN THIS ISSUE

Featured Break through contents How volunteers are making a difference Pressure builds on the Green Belt p1 ‘Ox-Cam Expressway’ cancelled p3 A vision for better planning p4 A fair deal for the countryside p4 Valuing local landscapes p5 Transforming rural bus services p5 Celebrating our churchyards p6 © Richard Gravett Cleaning up Somerset p7 Devon rail reopening p7 Helping Nature recover p8 Starting a community Eastbourne becomes ‘Treebourne’ campaign p8 Supporting community renewables p9 CPRE Sussex has been taking an active trees, and recruit the volunteers needed role in a project that helped volunteers to plant them. Anyone interested in helping Saving Gloucestershire’s plant over 6,000 trees at community out should visit treebourne.org and stone stiles p10 events held just before Christmas. While click ‘get involved’. The defence of Stonehenge lockdown meant that planting paused for Meanwhile, CPRE Sussex’s Plant your World Heritage Site p11 a while, the ‘Treebourne’ project still aims Postcode project has helped Hove Junior Better rural broadband p11 to double the town’s urban canopy and School plant an evergreen hedge around Reusing redundant bring nature back into the streets. the playground. The school is by a busy retail space p12 After Eastbourne Borough Council road and hopes the hedge will help screen declared a climate emergency last year, air pollution as well as attract wildlife. Improving and enforcing design standards p13 CPRE Sussex became part of the Elsewhere, the project has recently Eastbourne ECO Action Network – a planted a community orchard for the Defending Devon’s volunteer-run organisation created to help Sylvan Hall estate in Brighton, providing air quality p14 the council achieve carbon neutrality by a fruitful green space to enjoy. Keep a Litter in lockdown p14 2030. Treebourne organisers continue to look out for the latest projects and other A snapshot of search for sites, raise the money to buy campaign news at cpresussex.org.uk rural England p16

‘Ox-Cam Expressway’ cancelled

CPRE celebrated the March decision in order to protect the countryside of the to scrap the Oxford to Cambridge Great Ouse Valley. ‘expressway’ road following campaigning Paul Miner, CPRE’s head of land use and from CPRE groups along the route. planning, said the road was ‘in complete CPRE Oxfordshire director, Helen contradiction to the government’s Marshall, welcomed the decision, but will commitment to protect our rural heritage be monitoring any other unsustainable and tackle the climate and ecological proposals – with ‘targeted, localised emergencies.’ Instead of risking large road improvements’ still on the cards. areas of farmland, he said ‘we want to Meanwhile, CPRE Bedfordshire urged a see the levelling-up of the midlands and rethink of plans to build a million homes the north prioritised’ to make use of their in the ‘Ox-Cam Arc’ and called for a less vast areas of brownfield land in urgent damaging route for East West Rail need of regeneration.

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 3 OTHER NEWS CAMPAIGN NEWS

Archbishops ‘Coming Home’ CPRE was one of the organisations who News round-up endorsed a February Keeping you on top of the latest relevant issues report from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Coming Home called for A vision for better planning a number of reforms to planning and housing he government should rethink of affordable and social homes. Meanwhile, policies in order to tackle major elements of its controversial the creation of new ‘highly protected the housing crisis, many Tplanning proposals and work with areas’ should protect vulnerable species of which chime strongly stakeholders to deliver a planning system and habitats, alongside strategically with CPRE’s campaigns that puts people, climate and nature at planned Nature Recovery Areas. and the work of our local its heart. That was the call from a CPRE- The vision also calls for the appointment groups to help parishes led coalition of 18 housing, planning, of design ambassadors at local authority identify land for affordable transport, environmental, heritage and level, to champion attractive and homes. CPRE’s head of public health organisations when sustainable building while ensuring all land use planning Paul launching our alternative joint vision new homes are built to zero carbon Miner also spoke at a for planning in January. standards as soon as possible. Informed launch event organized The vision is part of our response to by our 2020 Housing Design Audit with by the Diocese of the government’s Planning White Paper Place Alliance, CPRE recently responded Gloucestershire. proposals that would erode local to a consultation on design-related In their joint foreword democracy and put countryside at risk. changes to the National Planning Policy to the report, the In contrast, our joint vision is founded Framework (NPPF). We recommended Archbishops said: ‘This on local democracy – calling for local amendments that would ensure major new report by the independent communities to have a legally guaranteed developments are only built where there Commission on Housing, say on specific planning projects and be are existing sustainable transport options. Church and Community actively involved in the wider planning of We also called for changes to prioritise lays out a positive vision their areas. It proposes improvements to the maintenance and retention of existing for good housing … to be the Community Infrastructure Levy and trees and hedgerows, while creating more sustainable, safe, stable, other processes designed to ensure that opportunities to incorporate new planting sociable and satisfying. all developments provide the right amount in urban environments. We both firmly believe the Church of England has a major role to play in A fair deal for the countryside realising this vision. This means putting our land ebruary saw the launch of a new remains that rural communities should and other resources to CPRE research report showing how prosper, benefiting from the full range of good use … including new Frural communities are being left government policies designed to level up housing developments behind when it comes to government opportunity and take the country forward’. that align with our five spending – facing a triple threat of higher But rural communities remain poorly served core values.’ The report costs, greater need and lower funding by government’s mechanisms for allocating recommends that the than many other areas in the country. public funds – known as the ‘green book’ Church of England carries Jointly commissioned with the Rural process. For instance, rural areas’ funding out a review to examine Services Network, Britain’s Leading Edge deficit delivers 36% fewer affordable how their land can be (a coalition of rural councils) and the homes per capita than elsewhere. used to deliver more housing association English Rural, the Together with our partners, we’re truly affordable housing. report argues that inadequate investment calling on the government to make sure To maximise this potential, in essential public services is deepening tackling rural disadvantage is a priority the commission is rural disadvantage. Per person, within its decision-making – with all creating an interactive government capital spending is 44% growth investment open to public scrutiny map to identify all church higher in towns and cities than for the at local authority level. To ensure this land within dioceses, rural areas which, combined, are home happens, we want a cabinet minister to alongside guidance to to more people than Greater London. lead a cross-government taskforce with help churches respond Rural minister Lord Gardiner stated in the power to ‘rural proof’ budgets, to local housing need. November that the government’s ‘vision spending reviews and policies.

4 Fieldwork Spring 2021 OTHER NEWS

Refreshing the Countryside Code Before Christmas, CPRE were consulted on Natural England’s ‘refresh’ of the Countryside Code planned for April. Our submission highlighted the need for a revised code to promote Green Belts, Country Parks, Community Forests and undesignated local

© Dee Haas countryside, to help take the pressure of ‘honeypot’ locations in National Parks and AONBs. We’d also like to see Valuing local landscapes links to reliable sources of information on wheelchair ith 296 hectares of countryside the NPPF, and should be protected as accessibility, tips on how south of the village of Cliddesden an essential part of the North Hampshire to prepare for a trip to Wproposed for a ‘garden village’ of Downs – a recommendation they’ve made the countryside (including at least 2,500 dwellings, CPRE Hampshire to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. things like bringing a volunteers have been helping local CPRE Hampshire volunteers also joined bag to take your rubbish people assess the protection this parish councillors from Hursley and home in), and prompts landscape merits in the context of the Oliver’s Battery to visit the proposed site for opportunities to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). of a controversial 5,000-house new town enhance the countryside. Their assessment took account of a known as ‘Royaldown’. They again found Fundamentally, we number of factors, including the quality of the site was worthy of Valued Landscape recommended that the views, sense of tranquillity, and the status thanks to the accessibility and code should attempt to potential for the enjoyment of local people attractiveness of its distinctive undulating strengthen the message from footpaths and permissive rights of farmland – evidence that will form part of that the countryside is way. The volunteers concluded that the the CPRE response to Winchester City a crucial wildlife habitat area is a Valued Landscape as defined by Council’s local plan consultation. and source of ecosystem services, so that visitors begin to associate their Transforming rural bus services home countryside with concerns they already ur groundbreaking new transport alternative to car use that will help address have about global research report, Every village, the climate emergency. The impact of the environmental issues. OEvery hour, has set out how we coronavirus pandemic now means that CPRE’s chief executive can build a bus service to truly meet the emergency funding should be invested into Crispin Truman used needs of rural England. rural bus services to stop the remaining his January Countryman Named after the pioneering public network from collapsing completely. column to suggest the transport target of North Hesse in While we welcomed the government’s code could benefit from Germany, the report uses modelling by long overdue announcement of a the jobs the government Transport for Quality of Life to support National Bus Strategy, it is not clear promised to create in their CPRE’s calls for the government to how much of its £3bn funding will be plan for a green industrial recognise a universal basic right to public available to rural areas – but it will not revolution. He proposed transport. We argue this should be backed come close to providing the long-term these roles could include with statutory duties for local transport support that is needed. CPRE continues to ‘visible advocates for a authorities to provide Swiss-style legal call on the government to redirect funding new Countryside Code, minimum service frequency standards to currently earmarked for environmentally running education and villages and towns. damaging and unnecessary road building. outreach activities while We want to see a transformed rural Such a change could support the rural bus helping young volunteers public transport network that is affordable services that will reduce traffic and air gain experience in or free, to put an end to rural transport pollution, while boosting local economies land management and poverty and to provide an attractive and social mobility. conservation.’

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 5 CURRENT ISSUES REPORTAGE

Promoting Middlesbrough’s regeneration CPRE North Yorkshire letterfrom is urging Middlesbrough Council to reconsider plans for 1,670 homes in a development that thefield would engulf the town’s Words from local campaigners locally valued Mandale Meadow. Campaigners are supporting the numerous residents who have contacted CPRE expressing concerns about the Celebrating our churchyards proposals and their impact on the character obert McIntyre writes on why caring accessible and inclusive can also help and openness of this still for our beautiful churchyards and us achieve a more holistic state of health agricultural landscape. Rcemeteries is not just beneficial for and wellbeing. Many of our churchyards The Green Wedge is one our wildlife, but great for people too. are located in rural communities, which of the few remaining Ranging in size from a small garden offer limited opportunities for wider areas of major open to 100 acres, these sacred, and to some social interactions. Poor communications space in Middlesbrough, extent, overlooked spaces are some of and transport infrastructure, along with which has many more the most biodiverse ecosystems found in post office and library closures, add to suitable brownfield sites the UK. But many churchyards are facing rural isolation. Caring for our churchyards for housing. several significant challenges. With ageing gives us an opportunity to challenge The ‘masterplan’ for church congregations and declining this, by encouraging volunteers to build the Stainby development attendances (the average congregation social relationships and a sense of also involves a new major size for a rural church is 22, in some community inclusiveness. road running the meadow parishes it’s less than 10) comes financial – opposed by an online hardship. Consequently, the maintenance petition signed by over of church buildings and the land they 1,600 local people. Citing occupy becomes a significant problem © alh1/flickr Creative Commons © alh1/flickr the mayor’s target for facing many rural communities. Churchyards Middlesbrough to be struggle to generate any new income carbon neutral by 2039, for maintenance; without this, the area CPRE North Yorkshire’s becomes vulnerable to neglect or submission highlights abandonment. Liability is often handed the low-carbon solution over to the local authority, which, according of urban regeneration. to the charity Caring for God’s Acre, is Aysgarth churchyard They argue that recycling ‘frequently without an agreed management land at other sites could plan that is sympathetic to the site’. There is a need to recognise, and provide the homes In response to these challenges, champion the valuable work volunteers needed while bringing many parishes now rely on the generosity are doing to protect churchyards. With biodiversity and attractive of volunteers for their survival. Over the this in mind, CPRE North Yorkshire has green design into the last 20 years, we have seen a number of launched its inaugural North Yorkshire’s urban environment. At the other conservation groups and charities Best Churchyard competition for 2021. very least, campaigners established, including Friends of York But the judges are not seeking the most believe that increased Cemetery and The Beautiful Burial Ground pristine or manicured churchyards; the homeworking, changing Project. All share a collective vision: competition aims to recognise and reward ONS population forecasts to protect, regenerate and share our the North Yorkshire churchyards which are and the need to tackle treasured churchyards. They aim to invite well-managed to provide a peaceful haven the climate emergency local communities in, giving them an for people and wildlife. Entries are constitute the ‘changed opportunity to connect with nature and encouraged from churchyards of all circumstances’ that receive practical guidance in actively denominations by 31st May. render the proposed managing churchyards to benefit wildlife. Find out more about how to take part at road unnecessary. Making churchyards and cemeteries www.cprenorthyorkshire.co.uk

6 Fieldwork Spring 2021 PROJECTS

Devon rail reopening CPRE were delighted to welcome the recent news Good ideas that, for the first time in Learning from each other nearly 50 years, daily rail services are set to resume between Okehampton and Exeter. Trains on the 14-mile stretch should be carrying commuters from December, with services running every two hours, seven days a week. CPRE Devon has been actively supporting the scheme for a number of years, with director Penny Mills previously arguing that reinstating the service ‘would make such a huge difference to so many Cleaning up Somerset people across a large area of Devon and North Cornwall. Both local espite the challenges of lockdown, benefits. Most importantly, it has helped residents, businesses and CPRE Somerset have made a great attract new volunteers – many of whom visitors alike would benefit. Dstart to their #2minute Litterpick are new to CPRE – including four students It would also be good for Project, having already recruited a working towards Duke of Edinburgh the environment by helping small army of over 30 volunteers across Awards. The new volunteers have already to get cars off the road.’ the county who are sprucing up their been a great source of website articles With the line having local patch. and photographs, all of which has helped been in use for Sunday Thanks to investment from CPRE’s increase CPRE Somerset’s media profile. leisure services since national strategic collaboration fund, the The project has also opened up useful 1997, CPRE research has group can kit out anyone who will commit partnerships with like-minded local charities, confirmed it provides to a regular local litter pick with their community campaigns, businesses and the the perfect location to own litter grabber, high-vis vest, bag Somerset Waste Partnership – who have start reversing some and gloves. CPRE Somerset has set up even created a special new Pledge Against Beeching cuts. Our a dedicated Facebook group to help the Preventable Plastic that the volunteers are national 2015 report, volunteers share ideas and experiences encouraged to sign and share. Rural Reconnections, was as part of a connected community, ahead If you live in Somerset and can spare based on the Okehampton of planned in-person events later in 2021. two minutes regularly to help reduce litter to Exeter case study, The group hopes to install five #2minute and pollution in your countryside, or would and examined the wider Litterpick stations in strategic locations simply like to help with the fundraising benefits of opening a around the county, so that passing efforts, CPRE Somerset would love to second main line for members of the public can get involved. hear from you via cpresomerset.org.uk Devon and Cornwall Visitors will be able to borrow the following flooding and equipment for a few minutes if they spot landslips on the main any litter that will otherwise pollute route to the south west. popular places. A number of cafes and In a major boost for the visitor centres have been excited to re-opening campaign, support the campaign and are eager to it concluded that the put out the stations when lockdown ends. line would provide major

CPRE Somerset is currently fundraising © Martin Gumbrell economic and social to make sure the stations can be fitted benefits for the rural areas with essential hand sanitiser units. along the route – including As well as helping keep Somerset litter by improving connections free and promoting outdoor exercise, with the existing public the project has had a number of other Rupert and Roger Emery doing a great job transport network.

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 7

CURRENT ISSUES TOP TIPS AND ADVICE

Helping Nature recover November saw the government’s Natural step by step England agency launch the Nature Recovery Network (NRN) delivery partnership – a Starting a community campaign commitment of the 25-year Environment Plan y name is Lyndsey Ashton, I am Create an online presence aim to provide ‘500,000 a very ordinary person who has 2 After the meeting, my friend Helen hectares of additional Mover the past 12 months had their and I set up a Facebook group, and we wildlife habitat, more life turned upside down, all because of my quickly gained members until we grew to effectively linking existing love and enjoyment of the natural world, fourteen hundred strong, which seemed protected sites and and my natural heritage. The simple yet astonishing considering that the issue we landscapes, as well as wonderful enjoyment of being outside in were campaigning for only affected our urban green and blue the picturesque countryside of our village small village. Everyone seemed to care infrastructure’. CPRE will is something so precious, yet so easily as passionately as I did, and that gave me be joining the national taken for granted by those tasked with the energy to work day and night to make delivery partnership and protecting it. When this happens, the sure that I didn’t let my community down. advising our county and community must step in. local groups on joining Back in January of last year the council Build community spirit partnership as they announced that it intended to, quite literally, 3 Before the pandemic, we held a develop around England. pave paradise. A disproportionally large community protest walk, and a litter The NRN is designed number of new homes, approximately 600 picking walk, both along the Green Belt to improve landscapes’ of them, were proposed for our sleepy in Greetland. Our ‘Community Walks with resilience to climate village, on the beautiful Green Belt that Purpose’ helped to strengthen community change while increasing runs alongside the brook and further into cohesion and to educate residents young biodiversity – the topic the rolling Yorkshire hills that characterise and old in the idea that preservation and of a January joint letter our village. sustainability start at home – with the to the government from I knew that I had to do something to natural world on your door step. Although CPRE and over 30 other save our natural heritage, but I had never we have had to pause our group events, organisations calling for done anything like this before. I didn’t the riverside walk is more popular than a reversal of the decision feel daunted, I didn’t feel doubtful; I felt ever. It has offered a lifeline to residents to approve a bee-killing empowered and determined, and I would during an incredibly hard time, and many pesticide. We joined the like to share with you some of the key people have commented on our Facebook Zoological Society of steps I have taken during my campaign, page how this piece of countryside has London, the RSPB and so that you might feel inspired to do the been of the upmost importance to their the Wildlife Trusts in same. These steps can be applied to any mental and physical wellbeing. arguing that ‘allowing community campaign. farmers to use these Maximise media attention harmful pesticides Hold a public meeting 4 Even though the council and developer seriously undermines the 1 I organised a meeting in the local have not acknowledged the conclusions of UK Government’s own church, and two other local mums helped on independent flood risk assessment on objective to leave the me post flyers in the rain to as many the riverside site (a functioning floodplain), environment in a better homes in Greetland as we could, our it has proved a newsworthy issue on more state than it found it.’ The soggy children in tow. I was worried than one occasion. This allowed me to raise pesticide, Cruiser SB, has that no one would come, but my fear the profile of the campaign on BBC and been found to be lethal that people would feel indifferent to the ITV local news, while The One Show even to bees and birds that cause soon mutated into a dread of contacted us to run a national story on our come into contact with it. speaking in front of a substantially large Green Belt. We also pointed out the crowd, as residents came in droves to While crucial evidence (including our folly of the proposed hear what I had to tell them about the submitted photographs and films of the mitigation measure of using proposed development. So many people flooded site) has been systematically herbicides to destroy came to the meeting at the church hall ignored by decision-makers, the media nearby flowering plants that some were forced to hang over the has helped to get the reality of our to prevent bees being balcony upstairs; the rafters were quite situation into the public eye. It was exposed to the pesticide. literally packed. another mum, Laura, who helped with this,

8 Fieldwork Spring 2021 CURRENT ISSUES

Supporting community renewables CPRE recently became a member of Community Energy England (CEE), the central voice for the community energy sector. We therefore welcomed the Environmental Audit Committee’s February

© Lyndsey Ashton announcement of a new inquiry into community energy. This follows on from our submission last year when we called Greetland Pressure Group showing that a threatened site is a vital floodplain for community energy to be much higher on as she took over correspondence with the Celebrate every victory their agenda, due to press. We seem to have a team of mothers 7 My verbal statements to the Stage 2 the decarbonisation and fighting to protect Mother Earth, and this hearing before Christmas discussed the community benefits it has not been lost on the community. We impact that development would have on can bring. It has been have had support from many wonderful the landscape, using the developer’s estimated that by 2030, men, but women have certainly been the own evidence base. Off the back of those the community energy driving force behind this campaign. statements, the inspector’s January letter sector could power to the council recommended that a 2.2 million homes, saving

Get up to speed on planning large portion of a number of the sites 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 5 I have been heavily occupied with in Greetland should be removed from emissions every year. educating myself on planning practice, the development plan to preserve the In response to the with the help of CPRE West Yorkshire, ‘well-used’ and ‘pleasant rural views’ of inquiry, campaign group and I have fed my research back to the the riverside walk. The inspector also Power for People have community group we named Greetland suggested that other sites should be drawn up a Local Pressure Group – always through social reduced in size to preserve the village’s Electricity Bill which will media, as this is fast and effective. The ‘character and appearance’. We are now allow neighbourhoods knowledge that we gained and shared arguing that the non-developable areas to use the renewable helped to ensure that the community of the site should be removed completely energy they can generate was equipped to write the most effective and remain within the Green Belt. This is a (through solar rooftops, objections we were capable of submitting. huge victory that some suspected would for instance), rather than The objections were strong and they never be possible. having to sell it to utility were vast in number. We have won some very important companies. Commenting battles, and our victories spur us on as we in support of the bill, Make your collective voice heard prepare for the Stage 3 of the consultation CPRE chief executive 6 Communities like ours are waking process. It is not unthinkable that all of the Crispin Truman said: up to the power of numbers, and the Green Belt in our village could be saved. ‘We need to empower need to stand up, be heard and be We have aimed for the stars and landed on local communities to counted. Half of the objections to Stage 2 the moon, but our journey is not over yet. lead the way with a of Calderdale’s Local Plan came solely We are warriors, and so are you. new generation of from objections to sites in our village of renewables. Part of this Greetland; collectively, we submitted Lyndsey Ashton means making it simple around a thousand objections. The hearing Greetland Pressure Group and financially viable for stage of the consultation period had to locally generated energy be postponed by months due to the With the next stage of the Calderdale to be sold directly to local unexpectedly high number of objections. Local Plan hearing due to take place this people. The bill holds the We had put Greetland on the map. The summer, CPRE West Yorkshire are working potential to help provide planning inspector had to create a new closely with a range of community groups a big boost to the small- hearing session specifically for our village. to champion better outcomes in the area. scale, community owned No one else would have done this for us, renewables that best fit we had to mobilise ourselves and we had Follow the latest at with the character of our to work together as a community. cprewestyorkshire.org.uk wonderful countryside’.

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 9 SUPPORTING RURAL COMMUNITIES

Suffolk success Supporting Suffolk Preservation work to enhance Society (SPS), which your parish represents CPRE in the Parishbeat county, welcomed a February decision to refuse an application for 279 homes on a greenfield Save our stone stiles site west of Needham Market. Their objection arish councils could be a big help to walkers, almost 450 stiles have been highlighted the likely a Gloucestershire initiative looking recorded so far. But it’s thought there landscape impact of the Pto locate and record the county’s are at least 100 more stiles yet to be development on this rural unique heritage, with CPRE member Peter mapped. Find out how to get involved at farmland. Furthermore, Wilson leading a Stone Stile Project to cpreglos.org.uk/creating-a-record-of- SPS campaigners argued track down these historic monuments. gloucestershire-stone-stiles/ that a previous application Peter is now seeking help from local for 152 dwellings on the volunteers with a knowledge of their own site had been refused parish’s history, geology or archaeology. due to the unsustainable The aim is to create a comprehensive nature of the location. record of the history of the stiles, building The latest decision by up a countywide database of locations Mid Suffolk District and images before any are ‘lost’ forever. Council was centred on The information received will then be the impact of flooding made available to develop an interactive on an access point, App, to help people discover these while councillors also unique landscape features. recognised that the site Thanks to support from CPRE had not been proposed Gloucestershire, the Cotteswold for development in Naturalists Field Club and other keen either their emerging joint local plan or the neighbourhood plan being developed by the Positive news for a Sussex parish parish council. he village of Ninfield celebrated a Council refused permission for a 70-house Walford win local hero last autumn, after their application behind the High Street. CPRE CPRE Herefordshire and Tcommunity shop was awarded a Sussex welcomed the reprieve for a site Walford Parish Council special Gold Lockdown Award in CPRE that is outside the development boundary welcomed a November Sussex’s annual Countryside Awards. and important for the landscape and decision from the county Ninfield Village Stores in East Sussex farmland birds. Meanwhile, Ninfield Parish council to refuse plans is a small business that has been making Council’s objection argued ‘the proposal for eight homes on a a big difference to its local community would also cause harm to the amenity horticultural nursery, throughout the pandemic. The store’s value of the public footpaths to the south within the Wye Valley proprietor, Chris Moore, quickly adapted and west of the site.’ AONB at Howle Hill. to the situation, providing free deliveries Wealden District Council’s decision Councillors agreed that to those who needed to isolate, and said that while the site’s fields were not such a development keeping the post office running for in agricultural production, they clearly in open countryside essential business. ‘He and his small staff marked ‘the beginning of the countryside. was not sustainable have been instrumental in ensuring that Any residential development on this site and contravened the the extremely vulnerable and self-isolating will inevitably and irrevocably change landscape’s protected can obtain the necessities they require,’ the character and appearance of the status. The parish says the grateful customer who nominated countryside by extending the spread council’s own assessment him for a CPRE Sussex Award. ‘They have of development southwards.’ They also highlighted alternative been delivering personally up to five times remarked on the importance of the sites in the area which a day rather than forcing the elderly to landscape setting of the listed Church to would be better served travel further.’ the south, noting that the development by local infrastructure The award followed more good news would ‘divorce’ it and Church Wood from and public transport. in the village, when Wealden District their countryside setting.

10 Fieldwork Spring 2021 PROFILE OTHER NEWS

The power of punk Ex punk musician and campaigning trout Campaigner fisherman, Feargal Sharkey, joined CPRE Cambridgeshire & Peterborough at an online event on protecting our rivers and water supplies. The activist spoke at the Save the Cam event organised by the Friends of the River Cam in December, highlighting

© Stonehenge Alliance that the rivers tributaries are part of the East of England’s rare system of chalk streams. ‘There are just 225 on the whole planet and about 85% of them are to be found in The defence of Stonehenge World Heritage Site the south east and south of England. [In this area] PRE, as a supporter of the deep, wide cutting and other engineering you are looking at quite Stonehenge Alliance, has been works, within the WHS and its setting, a high percentage of an Ccampaigning for many years of a scale and nature not previously incredibly rare global against government proposals for experienced in this “landscape without ecosystem. And yet the dualling the A303 with a short, c.3km parallel”’. UNESCO’s World Heritage Cam and its tributaries are tunnel past the Stonehenge monument. Committee had earlier advised that the now over-abstracted and The scheme is one of eight planned project should not proceed in its current poisoned by phosphates.’ improvements along the A303/A38/A358 form. Despite these obvious concerns, In a region that is corridor aiming for congestion relief, a transport secretary Grant Shapps approved the driest in Britain, few minutes journey-time reduction and a the scheme in November 2020, adhering CPRE Cambridgeshire boost for the economy of the South West. to the current political emphasis on & Peterborough is None of these aims can be met, since only carbon-generating infrastructure schemes spearheading efforts to three of the road improvements have been despite the problem of climate change. protect the natural water brought forward and, as CPRE has pointed In May 2020, individual members supplies through its Great out in 2019’s End of the Road report, of the Stonehenge Alliance formed a Fenland Basin Project. road building generally induces more limited company, Save Stonehenge World The initiative covers an traffic and rarely leads to economic gains. Heritage Site, in case legal action on area which includes the Indeed, the A303 Stonehenge project the A303 decision would be warranted. Nene, the Great Ouse itself is admitted by Highways England The company subsequently applied for and the Cam and is also to be low to poor value for money. a judicial review in December 2020, on at risk from flooding The scheme, as a nationally significant the grounds that the secretary of state’s from projected sea level infrastructure proposal, underwent decision was unlawful, mainly in respect rises. Campaigners are formal examination by senior planning of the requirements of planning policy concerned that linked inspectors who, in January 2020, strongly and the World Heritage Convention. issues around protecting recommended refusal, largely owing to There is to be a hearing in the High drinking water supplies severely adverse impacts on the 25 sq km Court on 23–25 June. Considered a and arable land, plus flood landscape and archaeology of the World ‘significant’ case, the judicial review has risk from over development, Heritage Site (WHS). Deep cuttings for the been expedited, with an outcome expected will be exacerbated by the four-lane expressway would lead down later this year. The cost of the case has new Greater Cambridge to twin-tunnel portals well within the risen and the CrowdJustice fundraiser Local Plan. Chairman 5.4km-wide WHS. There would be major target has been set at £80,000. Please visit Alan James commented: interchanges on the WHS boundaries. stonehengealliance.org.uk for more details. ‘We must take water The inspectors had found that the management more scheme’s benefits ‘would not outweigh Kate Fielden seriously and treat water the harm arising from the excavation of a CPRE Wiltshire trustee as a precious resource.’

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 11 CURRENT ISSUES ANALYSIS

Rolling out rural broadband CPRE is currently supporting of the efforts In review of the Rural Services Our perspective on environmental issues All Party Parliamentary Group to secure better broadband for rural areas. Reusing redundant retail space The group has written a letter to digital minister he coronavirus pandemic will lead The perils of permitted development Matt Warman, setting out to an increase in redundant retail Emma also warned of the dangers of using concerns regarding the Tspace that, added to existing empty ‘permitted development’ rights to cut local government’s approach spaces above shops, could deliver voices out of decision-making over the to broadband and the 250,000 new homes overall, according conversion of retail spaces. And January impact this will have to analysis from CPRE. saw CPRE join the Town and Country in rural areas. The letter Retail experts have estimated the Planning Association, Civic Voice and 15 expressed dismay at the pandemic could lead to 42 million square other organisations in demanding the government’s Spending metres of shopping space becoming government rethink proposals to allow Review decision to redundant across the UK (as much as high street businesses to be changed to allocate just £1.2bn to 40% of current shop space), equivalent to housing without full planning permission, the issue – less than a 175 Westfield Londons or 284 Bluewater thereby risking lower housing standards. quarter of the £5 billion shopping centres. Assuming new homes February then saw CPRE’s chief funding needed to are built at the current average of 76 executive Crispin Truman join 27 leaders support roll-out to the square metres per hectare, if just half from across the property, retail, leisure, hardest to reach 20% the empty space above shops and hospitality and planning sectors, in signing of premises. redundant retail space came forward for a joint letter to the communities secretary Our recent research housing, it could deliver at least 250,000 Robert Jenrick. The letter made the case on the government’s additional homes. These homes would that town centres must be planned by urban-focused approach have well-connected transport links, local authorities working alongside to public spending and be close to work, leisure and health businesses and the community. It argued highlighted that the facilities, while retaining a proportion of that while the residential sector will play Shared Rural Network important retail and community space a vital role in future town centre recovery, deal to provide 4G phone and reducing pressure on precious the government’s proposed new permitted coverage to 95% of the greenfield land. development rights could threaten UK by 2025 will still Commenting on the figures ahead of the existence of community services, leave 5% of the country November’s Global Counsel retail panel education, healthcare and leisure on our (almost certainly all rural) discussion, CPRE President Emma high streets. without faster mobile Bridgewater said: ‘It’s high time we tapped The letter concluded: ‘Putting ground speeds, at a time when into the fantastic potential of empty floor housing in a random and uncontrolled cities will likely be spaces above shops and ever-increasing manner within high streets does not draw serviced by 5G. We redundant retail space. Today, I’m calling footfall, does not support new businesses, argued that with reliable on the government to provide dedicated reduces the potential for business growth and speedy internet now grants to encourage the regeneration and will undermine the viability of existing an essential service for of empty properties specifically into retail, cultural and commercial activities on many, as demonstrated affordable homes, close to transport the high street and remove convenience in the pandemic, the lack links, amenities and services.’ stores from local neighbourhoods.’

of provision in some Emma argued that this approach © Tony Smith Alamy rural areas will further would help regenerate our struggling widen the gap in high streets while retaining and supporting productivity. The NFU’s shops, facilities and vital local businesses, 2020 Digital Technology pointing out that coronavirus has Survey recently found accelerated an existing trend in more that 93% of rural internet and more people choosing to shop online. users believe that She concluded by calling for local councils broadband is an essential to be given the powers they need to tool for their business, assemble underused land and buildings but only 42% receive to provide high-quality affordable homes sufficient speeds. and community facilities. Altrincham is reviving its centre with a mix of uses

12 Fieldwork Spring 2021 RESPONSE OTHER NEWS

Building Better? The answers January saw the you need government respond Q&A to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s Living with Beauty report, on how to Improving and enforcing design standards promote and increase the use of high-quality design New homes are a major source of Model Design Code (NMDC) consultation for new build homes and Q carbon emissions, but judging by highlighted the fact that the current neighbourhoods. They what is being built in my area, developers housing policy is putting pressure on local accepted the commission’s and councils are not incorporating planning authorities to give permission to recommendation for a obvious energy saving ideas. Ahead of housing development at all costs – a stronger focus on beauty the UK hosting the UN climate conference, reality that is likely to hamper the ability of in national planning policy, what hope is there that our government councils to refuse schemes that do not ‘to ensure the system will enforce low carbon design? meet their local design standards. We helps to foster more The Government’s recent response cited the case of the Sherford urban attractive buildings and A to the Future Homes Standard extension near Plymouth, where the places, while also helping consultation allows local authorities to developers were able to get the design to prevent ugliness’, and set more ambitious targets for energy code for the scheme relaxed on grounds the ‘compelling case for efficiency in new developments than of financial viability. We called on the more certainty about are in the national guidance. CPRE government to remove the 5-year Housing design principles’. These welcomed the fact that local authorities Delivery Test to ensure that viability priorities are reflected in will have continued freedom to insist considerations are no excuse for watered the NPPF changes and on higher standards in their planning down design quality. National Model Design policies, while agreeing that the new Ultimately, CPRE believes there is an Code referred to in the minimum standards will help to solve urgent need to enhance the capability adjacent ‘Q&A’. The the problem of new homes exacerbating of local planning authorities to be the government also intends the climate emergency. effective agents of change that the to establish an interim The government has proposed that new National Model Design Code guidance Office for Place, to homes will be expected to produce 75% is calling for. As a first step in this explore options for lower carbon emissions by 2025 as part direction, we also asked for the immediate establishing a new expert of the legally binding target to reduce implementation of Sir Oliver Letwin’s design body from 2022. greenhouse gas emissions to net zero recommendations to provide local Commenting on the by 2050. The government also committed authorities with the powers and support government’s response, to ensuring that new homes will be needed to enforce design codes that CPRE’s chief executive ‘zero carbon ready’ by 2025 – meaning will otherwise remain aspirational. Crispin Truman said: no refurbishment will be necessary to Furthermore, our response to changes ‘Good design and reach that goal, taking into account the to the National Planning Policy Framework beautiful places go hand decarbonisation of the electricity grid and (NPPF) strongly welcome the first part in hand with a locally the fact that no new home built under the of paragraph 133 and its statement that led, democratic planning Future Homes Standard will be reliant on ‘development that is not well designed system. It is heartening fossil fuels. should be refused, especially where to see the government While local authorities must be able to it fails to reflect local design policies putting good design at set very ambitious targets, Selby Martin of and government guidance on design’. the forefront of how we CPRE Shropshire has raised the importance We believe it raises the level of create new communities. of ensuring that councils have the power expectation for design quality by implying These must be low to enforce their guidance. Selby highlights that not only should poor design be carbon neighbourhoods, that local developers are failing to take rejected, but also mediocre design, connected via affordable account of the Planning & Building Control which constitutes over half of the audited public transport and Guide to Sustainability published by schemes in our Housing Design Audit. bursting with green Shropshire and Telford Councils, which CPRE therefore believes that to secure spaces and nature. Sadly, promotes the opportunity for passive solar the achievement of well-designed places, the evidence tells us gain through careful orientation – an idea the NPPF should make clear that financial that this is not currently that could reduce carbon emissions and viability grounds should not outweigh the case. It’s high time fuel poverty. design quality requirements set out in ministers prioritised CPRE’s recent response to the National local policies and government guidance. people-led planning’.

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 13 OTHER NEWS OUR LATEST POLICIES

Defending Devon’s air quality North Devon District Council stood firm against Campaign plans for a 59-home development, citing concerns over air quality and ribbon development. The February refusal also spotlight noted that the plans did not comply with national design guidance and were contrary to the emerging Litter in lockdown neighbourhood plans of Chivenor and Braunton. ecember saw the launch of new 43% of sites affected by the presence of Despite concerns over the CPRE polling revealing that just discarded alcohol containers. Overall, the council’s lack of a five-year Dover three-quarters of the English Essex survey showed the most common housing land supply, public (78%) agree that the government types of litter were smoking materials councillor Joe Tucker said: should be taking more action to tackle (99% of all sites), packaging of all kinds ‘Leave some open green litter. To accompany the poll, we (90%), drinks containers (67%) and PPE spaces rather than fill them published Litter in lockdown, a study that (38%). This composition was broadly the up with concrete. You’ve looks at trends in litter and waste since same as in previous surveys with the only got to walk around the start of the coronavirus outbreak. notable addition of PPE. Barnstaple and see the The report was launched at an online brownfield sites that event attended by Environment Minister The rise of fly-tipping developers are sitting on.’ Rebecca Pow MP; Isla Lester, 9-year-old Reports of fly-tipping via the media indicates With the centre of anti-litter advocate and CPRE ‘Green Clean’ significant increases during lockdown. Braunton identified as an participant; and Feryal Clark MP, member Reports to Clearwaste, an app to report Air Quality Management of the Environmental Audit Committee. fly tips and deal with illegal dumping of Area, councillor Derrick Compiled between April and October rubbish, rose by 75% while 40% of those Spear noted that air 2020, it used litter surveying, testimony in our CPRE commissioned poll said they pollution ‘kills people or from local authority officers and the CPRE had noticed more taking place. The nature shortens people’s lives. network and a comprehensive review of of this fly-tipping also seems to have Here we are adding media articles to analyse trends in litter changed. Industrial fly-tipping and illegal something to the A361 at and waste during the coronavirus outbreak. waste operations fell dramatically. But this the gateway to northwest was replaced by a big rise in domestic Devon. It will act as a The Essex experience fly-tipping. The City of London Corporation blockage to traffic and Although our research spanned the country, reported a 52% increase in the number of problems in the summer we looked in greatest depth at Essex, fly-tips in Epping Forest in the spring of are getting worse’. CPRE with 10 of the county’s 14 local authorities this year, consisting mainly of furniture, Devon welcomed the providing information about their household items and garden waste. decision as a ‘significant experience of littering in 2020. Lockdown The fine weather combined with people statement that North saw a big increase in demand on Essex’s having extra time on their hands led many Devon Council is not waste and recycling services, with 90% of to start tending neglected gardens and prepared to allow the those councils that responded reporting doing DIY jobs they’d been putting off. area to become a changes in where rubbish bins were developers’ free-for-all’. most heavily used and all rural councils Trustee Steve Crowther observing increased usage. Four in five concluded: ‘recent High councils redeployed staff away from Court and Appeal Court town centres to parks and open spaces. decisions have confirmed The Essex litter survey of over 140 sites that councillors are in September and October included 30 perfectly entitled to parks and open spaces where local continue to refuse authority officers reported a huge rise applications that are in littering once restaurants and cafes unsustainable or don’t started offering takeaway services. comply with their broader Nine out of 10 parks and open spaces planning policies’. were affected by packaging litter, with CPRE Sussex clearing fly-tipped items

14 Fieldwork Spring 2021 A real litter hero A keen young volunteer of Litteraction, CPRE’s online litter picking community, has been given a Houghton Young Hero award in a scheme run by Northumbria Police and Sunderland City Council. Eight-year-old Thomas Hackett and his dad Steve had already been presented with a hamper in return for their efforts, by grateful residents of East Rainton Community Group. Police Community Support Officer, Daniel Hawksby, set up the awards to reward young people CPRE Shropshire team up with local volunteers for their 2019 Green Clean who make an outstanding difference: ‘After hearing The problem was that most ‘local tips’ waste. We, along with other environmental about the work that were closed in the first few months of organisations, want to see a future Thomas has been doing lockdown and many local councils had proof EPR system that can tackle the in East Rainton, giving paused collection of garden waste and dual crises of plastic pollution and the up his spare time to pick bulky household items. As a result, grass climate emergency. At minimum, the EPR up rubbish and fill bags cuttings and other waste ended up being system must be designed to encourage of litter, we thought he dumped in woods, lay-bys and even the a wholescale move away from non- encapsulated everything open countryside. essential packaging, into reusable and we want in a winner. refillable alternatives. It’s been a difficult year Making the polluter pay Producers pay little attention to how for all our communities, The way that waste is disposed of, and their products are disposed of or the but Thomas has used his how that is funded, needs a major review. damage they may cause, so it is little time while out walking to CPRE welcomed the government’s efforts wonder this feeds through to consumer keep East Rainton clean in this area with the announcement in behaviour. Coronavirus has clearly of litter and has shown 2018 that they plan to apply a principle exacerbated the prolific throw-away an amazing community of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ culture in the UK and we need solutions spirit beyond his years.’ (EPR) to the use of resources and the that tackle its root cause. On the back disposal of waste. At present, cash- of our research we reiterated our A brownfield haven strapped councils foot the bill for around recommendation that the government CPRE Isle of Wight has 90% of the costs of dealing with waste commits to a comprehensive Deposit welcomed the proposed and recycling – that includes the costs of Return Scheme, involving glass, plastics development of six bin and recycling collection, litter picking and metal drinks containers of all sizes, homes in the village of and the processing of materials. Meanwhile, by the end of 2023, to reduce littering of Havenstreet. The site – excessive use of materials, and single-use these items. a disused garage and plastics in particular, has soared with no By the same deadline, it must also petrol station – is consequences for the producers of these introduce a full EPR scheme, to ensure listed on the council’s items and all the impact being felt by producers bear the cost of cleaning up brownfield register and councils and the environment. when their items are littered. Using a CPRE campaigners have It is time the polluting producers paid combination of taxes and charges can also commented that the the full costs associated with the products help to incentivise a reduction in single-use proposed two-bedroom they place on the market. EPR should be items and packaging right across the cottage-style houses designed to encourage more sustainable, supply chain. We also need much more are in line with the lower-impact design of packaging anti-litter education, including better local housing needs while raising money to cover the costs promotion of the Countryside Code, online assessment and existing associated with dealing with packaging advertising and engagement with schools. village character.

Spring 2021 Fieldwork 15 THE LAST WORD Matter of fact Support for your case

A snapshot of rural England © Steven Gillis Alamy ongdendale, stretching to realise a sustainable long-term from Mottram in the west to future for Longdendale. The results LThurlstone Moors in the east, provide a fascinating snapshot of the has some magnificent countryside. views of a rural community in 2020. From the reservoirs in the valley bottom, to the wooded slopes A much-loved landscape rising to the wilder peat moorland There were 245 respondents and it provides many benefits to us all many thoughtful contributions. 40% of – drinking water, flood mitigation, people identified themselves as living carbon sequestration and extensive within the valley, with the remainder Woodhead Reservoir from a Longdendale path opportunities for open air recreation comprising regular visitors from the in a dramatic landscape. wider area – indicated by the 38% carbon footprint, something that It is crossed by no less than three of respondents who appreciated respondents thought could be best national trails – the Trans Pennine Longdendale’s proximity to Sheffield, reduced by more low carbon public trail, the Pennine Bridleway and the Manchester or Barnsley. transport (36%) and re-routing HGV Pennine Way. Much of it lies in the Walking was by far the most traffic – a specific suggestion of Peak District National Park’s Dark popular leisure activity with 88% 16% of people. In terms of people’s Peak, with Black Hill to the north naming it as their favourite, followed preferred method of low carbon and Bleaklow to the south. But the by watching wildlife (58%) taking travel, around two thirds of people stretches outside are equally photographs (43%) and cycling and prioritised good quality and beautiful, such as Swallows Wood, mountain biking (30%). The most loved affordable bus and rail services, while Warhill and Harrop Edge, despite aspect of Longdendale are the views 55% want to see segregated cycle being hard pressed by suburbia. and landscape (91%), with its wildlife, ways – perhaps linked to Greater A major new source of pressure public rights of way, and peace and Manchester’s Bee Network of routes. comes from Transport for the North quiet all nominated by around a 68% of people did not want to see and Highways England’s vision third of people. road building allowed in Longdendale for Longdendale: as the lynchpin 64% believed Longdendale could (including a majority of residents), in a Southern Pennines Strategic be enhanced with better wildlife citing traffic and climate concerns. Development Corridor, based on conservation, followed by fewer cars Of those who did, the main reason dualling the A628 corridor with a and lorries (60%), with more trees, given was to reduce the congestion 5.7mile tunnel under the high moors. burying overhead cables, slower and pollution through Mottram, This would connect the M67 in traffic speeds and more frequent Hollingworth and Tintwistle. But that Manchester with the M1 near public transport all scoring in the 40s. support was often caveated by Barnsley. With only a select group the need for any schemes to be of stakeholders engaged in the Climate concerns supported by local people and be development of the idea, this is a People were particularly concerned delivered in conjunction with better vision being progressed behind about the threat of potential public transport and segregated closed doors. developments including major cycle routes. Last summer, CPRE Peak District housing schemes (79%), substantial Given that transport and travel and South Yorkshire set up a survey holiday or leisure developments (64%) were the most frequent concerns of which asked local people how they and quarrying or mining (56%). Other both visitors and residents, CPRE value the countryside of Longdendale, notable concerns included off-road Peak District and South Yorkshire and what changes, if any, people driving on unsurfaced tracks (74%), hope to be able to influence local would like to see to make it even second homes (56%) and the burning measures that reduce the impact of more special. The aim was to hear as of moorlands (46%). journeys on the climate emergency, many disparate voices and views as The latter is just one thing that and on the wildlife, people, landscape possible, to help future collaborations could increase Longdendale’s and tranquillity of Longdendale.

16 Fieldwork Spring 2021