Autumn 2017 www.cpreoxon.org.uk voice

Oxford to Cambridge Oxford Green Belt New housing targets Expressway Core Principles undermined for Oxfordshire? A trail of devastation by Council CPRE’s initial thoughts OXFORDSHIRE Chairman’s voice Voice In the face of these could destroy much of the Green the daunting Belt in southern Oxfordshire – if a Autumn 2017 challenges southern route for the Expressway is Features facing CPRE and decided upon, see p. 4 – producing an 2 Chairman’s Voice its Oxfordshire agglomeration of urban development Branch, it is with the size of two Oxfords – no less – and 3 CPRE fundraising lunch determination to steadily creeping towards the City. with Emma Bridgewater engage fully in 4 Oxford to Cambridge confronting the complex web of issues What can we do to increase the impact Expressway before us that I take up my new post. of our work? We need professional 5 Oxfordshire Local Plan My experience as Chairman of the advisers to push home our message in Round-Up Vale District Committee and member the strongest terms, in particular in the 6-7 Green Belt principles of the Branch Executive Committee areas of planning, communications, undermined has made plain to me how fortunate transport and other infrastructure I am to be working with a wholly concerns. As always, we need volunteers 8 New methodology for committed phalanx of volunteers with time to organise local campaigns calculating housing targets across the County. I single out my to combat unreasonable threats to our 9 Oxfordshire Infrastructure predecessor, Brian Wood, whose long- countryside and way of life. We are Strategy term involvement with, and enormous appealing to anyone who can help. Of 10 Farming Column knowledge of, CPRE matters have course we also need funds to strengthen already proved invaluable and am the Director’s team and to enable us 11 Footpaths Column grateful to Vice-Presidents and former to deal with particular demands in the 12 CPRE Members’ Events Chairmen, Bruce Tremayne and Gill shorter term. With your support, we can DIRECTORY Salway, whose balanced understanding make great strides: please help. Views expressed in the Voice are not necessarily of what the Branch requires has pointed those of CPRE Oxfordshire, which welcomes the way. In taking up the new post, what independent comment. are my aims? As Chairman of the Editor: Helena Whall Cover: Ham House and Garden, Bampton. Photo: I want to make special mention of our Branch, my aim is to crystallise Helen Marshall Director, Helen Marshall, who has been decision-making to push forward Articles, letters, comments and suggestions for central to all our activities since her our campaigning ideals. What else? articles are welcome. Please contact the Branch appointment and who has represented I would want to strengthen our hand Office below. Published November 2017 us so well on TV, on radio and with the with CPRE National Office so that the District Chairmen press. She has valiantly fought on our problems Oxfordshire faces are fully CPRE Oxfordshire Branch behalf with Planning Inspectors at all understood and reflected through Peter Collins 01235 763081 [email protected] District ‘Examinations in Public’ of the its policies and actions. This is likely Cherwell North: Chris Hone 01295 265379 various draft Local Plans. The regard in to involve closer links with other Cherwell South: John Broad (acting Chair) which we are now held by local MPs, Branches to make common cause. 01869 324008 [email protected] authorities and the media is in no small I intend to pursue this beyond the Oxford: Rosemary Harris measure due to her contribution and bounds of CPRE and Government, [email protected] that of her team. in particular through organisations : Professor Richard Harding which share our aims, such as Europa 01491 836425 [email protected] Our challenge now is to redouble our Nostra, the leading European non- Vale of White Horse: Vacant David Marsh (Secretary) efforts in respect of the unrelenting governmental heritage organisation [email protected] attacks on the Green Belt and Areas of which I am currently national West Oxfordshire: Justine Garbutt of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Chairman. To do this, I would like to (acting Chair) [email protected] and indeed green fields all over the engage with Oxfordshire members in Branch Office County. New levels of Government order to represent their thoughts and CPRE Oxfordshire, First Floor, 20 High Street, intervention, often from behind closed views. I hope that all our members Watlington, Oxfordshire OX49 5PY (Registered office) doors, are likely soon to be augmented throughout the County will feel they T: 01491 612079 by damaging changes in regulation. can bring their particular ideas, E: [email protected] Can we prevent the imposition of yet concerns – and even praise for www.cpreoxon.org.uk more houses in the wrong places, not something done particularly well – to Follow us on Twitter @CPREOxfordshire meeting the needs of local residents? my notice. I want to hear from you! and like us on Must we accept the proposal for www.facebook.com/CPREOxfordshire 1,000,000 (one million!) new houses Peter Collins, CPRE Oxfordshire is registered in as to be built on green fields between Chairman Charity No.1093081 and Company No. 4443278. Oxford and Cambridge? 100,000 of [email protected]

2 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Autumn 2017 CPRE Vale District Ham Court – a rural Committee seeks new Chair regeneration project! An enormous thanks to Emma Bridgewater, pottery designer, Do you live in the Vale of White Horse businesswoman and national CPRE President, who threw open her and have an interest in the local gardens to CPRE Oxfordshire members at a delightful fundraising lunch landscape and/or planning issues? in September.

If you could spare a few hours a month to lead our local Committee, then we would love to hear from you!

Our CPRE Vale of White Horse District Committee has a small but dedicated team of volunteers who monitor and respond to planning and landscape issues across the area, and provide advice and support to local communities. But we are looking for a new Chair to provide leadership to the Committee!

This is a volunteer role. The Committee meets on a quarterly basis. Time between meetings is up to you but we would ask for a minimum of a few hours per month. You don’t need any previous experience or expertise because we can provide explaining how they had taken on information and training as required, the regeneration of Ham Court in but you must be passionate about Bampton and their exciting plans environmental issues, care about your for the future. It is clearly a massive local countryside and want to make a undertaking, involving extensive difference. renovations to the property and the creation of a wonderful garden, but With your help we can do even more to what really came through was the protect the countryside and increase sense of a whole community being our influence on key decisions re-established. affecting land use in the district. To find out more please contact: Many thanks to all those that E: [email protected] attended. We are currently working T: 01491 612079 on our programme of members’ events for next year – if you have any thoughts on places we should Brian Wood visit or activities you would like us to stood down as organise, we’d love to hear from you! Chairman of E: [email protected] the Branch at The event raised around £2,500 T: 01491 612079 the July AGM. with the funds going towards CPRE All the staff Oxfordshire’s work seeking to influence and volunteers Local Plans, with a view to guiding Take action extend their development appropriately in the Could you support CPRE huge thanks to Brian for his tireless countryside. Oxfordshire’s vital Local Plan work hard work during his time as by making a donation? Chairman. Brian will continue to be Emma, and Matthew Rice (above) www.justgiving.com/cpreoxon the Treasurer for the Branch. were very generous with their time,

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 3 Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and its trail of devastation

OXFORD TO CAMBRIDGE EXPRESSWAY POTENTIAL ROUTES What does seem to be clear though, from what straws in the wind there are, is that the most likely routes are either 11 A43 an upgrading of the A34/A421 North of Oxford or a ten-mile August 2017 CAMBRIDGE A422 www.cpreoxon.org.uk M1 BRACKLEY route through the Green Belt South of Oxford from Abingdon A43 BEDFORD M40 BUCKINGHAM to Thame and on to Aylesbury and Cambridge (which is MILTON BUCKINGHAM KEYNES A421 A421 actually the shortest route, and probably of the two the LEIGHTON M11 BUZZARD C M1 likelier route). See the map produced by CPRE Oxfordshire. AYLESBURY A4421 OXFORD THAME 10

ABINGDON M25 WANTAGE M11 M25 DIDCOT CPRE Oxfordshire is unconvinced of the need for, and is OXFORD M40 GREEN BELT LONDON BICESTER B opposed to, an Expressway/Growth Corridor through the “Oxford/Cambridge Arc”. If extra capacity should be required, 9 AMBROSEDEN A44 A41 the East-West Rail project, which CPRE supports, should UPPER clearly take priority. KIDLINGTON S2 WITNEY BECKLEY M40 Meanwhile, our local authorities are also keeping very quiet. A40 A418 For example, several draft Local Plans have come forward OXFORD A GREEN BELT WHEATLEY during this period but none make more than a passing S1 8 mention of the Expressway, despite the fact that this would CUMNOR S3 7 THAME potentially be the most significant development to hit the GARSINGTON LITTLE MILTON CHINNOR County over the next 10 years. A420 ABINGDON A4074 STADHAMPTON 6 CLIFTON A329 STANFORD IN HAMPDEN DORCHESTER As evidenced by the recent national CPRE report, The end THE VALE S4 WATLINGTON A417 STEVENTON DIDCOT BENSON of the road: Challenging the road-building consensus, new BRIGHTWELL/SOTWELL WANTAGE WALLINGFORD roads consistently fail to provide the promised congestion KEY S.MORETON relief or economic boost. Oxford Sub Option 1 Route S1 A Option A BLEWBURY Oxford Sub Option 2 Route A4074 HENLEY S2 B Option B Oxford Sub Option 3 Route WOODCOTE CPRE therefore believes that the current Road Investment S3 C Option C A34 A329 S4 Oxford Sub Option 4 Strategy should focus explicitly on keeping existing roads in good repair and reducing their environmental impacts, rather This is a tricky article to write as so much than increasing capacity. may have changed between when it is being CPRE Oxfordshire is working with other CPRE Branches and written and when you are reading it. However, National Office to seek to influence the NIC discussions. seemingly unlike our local authorities, we We are also in touch with a growing number of Oxfordshire are keen to give you as much information as residents and groups who share our concerns about the possible! Expressway.

As reported previously (Spring Voice p.5),the National If you’d like to get involved, please do get in touch. Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is looking at proposals to E: [email protected] T: 01491 612079 build an Oxford to Cambridge (O2C) Expressway and is due to issue its report in November, ahead of the Autumn Budget. Take action The intention is to support the new road by building 1 million houses along the route, which works out at an average of See the ‘End of the road’ report on the national CPRE 10,000 houses a mile! website: http://tinyurl.com/cpre-endoftheroad See the CPRE Oxon website for updates: Although our local authorities are busily engaged on www.cpreoxon.org.uk “workstreams” with the NIC and the Highways Agency, Download our map of potential routes: economy with the truth is the order of the day. The NIC itself http://tinyurl.com/o2cmap has refused Freedom of Information requests by saying that Please contact your MP and Council Leader and share it is not in the public’s interest to know the answers to the your concerns about the Expressway. questions the public is asking.

4 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Autumn 2017 Oxfordshire Local Plan round-up

Cherwell Ultimately, we believe the City’s own Vale of White Horse housing need is clearly best addressed The consultation on Cherwell District by the City itself, as to do otherwise is Consultation on the Vale Local Plan Council’s Local Plan Part 1 Partial to create commuting and make for a Part 2: Detailed Policies and Additional Review closed on 10 October. The less vibrant City. Sites closes on 22 November. The Plan outlines proposals for housing Plan proposes 3,420 houses for the in the south of the district to meet its The Council, despite claiming district, bringing the total number of contribution to Oxford’s unmet need. that housing need is the number houses planned (ie those proposed in Parts 1 and 2 of the Plan) to 24,748, one priority, particularly for more almost 2,000 more than the housing Cherwell is proposing an additional affordable homes, intends to address requirement for the full Plan period 4,400 houses for the district by 2031, only a third of it within its own (2011 – 2031) of 22,760. over and above that allocated in the boundaries, pleading lack of capacity adopted part of its Local Plan – 3,900 to accommodate it. The rest is off- It proposes several large sites to deliver houses are proposed in the Oxford loaded onto surrounding authorities the numbers required to meet Oxford’s Green Belt between north Oxford and under the Duty to Cooperate. Kidlington, and between Kidlington unmet need – including 1,200 houses at Dalton Barracks, near Abingdon, and and , plus an See our full response on our website at: additional 400 at Woodstock (see map within the Green Belt, while Kingston http://tinyurl.com/yaa28494 Bagpuize/Fyfield is earmarked for of proposed sites on p.7). 600. It also proposes an additional 1,000 houses at Harwell Campus, In CPRE’s view, Oxford is capable of South Oxfordshire in the North Wessex Downs Area of accommodating all or almost all Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), of its housing need by switching Consultation on South Oxfordshire’s to support the Council’s objective to land earmarked for employment second Preferred Options closed in support the Science Vale Area. We to housing, and building at higher May. The Plan included a housing will be arguing that development at densities. Even if Oxford’s inability target of 23,468, up from 20,800 Dalton Barracks can go ahead without to accommodate its own housing to include Oxford’s unmet need. It the need to release the land from included four strategic sites – 3,000 need was real and had been properly the Green Belt. We will also argue houses at Chalgrove, 3,500 at Culham, quantified (which it hasn’t yet) we that building at the Harwell Campus 2,100 at Berinsfield, with additional believe the Council could and should is unjustified, not consistent with houses at Brookes/Wheatley – the meet it elsewhere than in the Green national policy and harmful to the last three within the Green Belt. In its Belt – building on the Green Belt North Wessex Downs AONB. should be the last resort, not the first. response, CPRE expressed its concern at the Council’s cavalier attitude See our response on our website at: See CPRE’s response on our website at: towards the Green Belt. http://tinyurl.com/yd5khtp2 http://tinyurl.com/y9w4692h The consultation on the pre- West Oxfordshire submission Plan closes on 30 Oxford City November. It appears we have We were well represented at the had some success in restricting May and July hearings into West Our response to the City’s Preferred development within the Green Belt Oxfordshire’s draft Local Plan. We had Options consultation called on Oxford at Brookes/Wheatley and numbers some success, with the Inspector City District Council to deliver more at Berinsfield have reduced. However, asking the Council to work with housing, by making use of land ring- Culham is still very much in the us on Area of Outstanding Natural fenced for employment, prioritising firing line, facing the largest strategic Beauty, landscape and heritage brownfield and increasing densities, allocation in the District. We will be polices. The Council were also forced thereby meaning they would not making a strong case that taking land to commission a landscape impact need to build on the Green Belt or ask from the Green Belt is unjustified. assessment of their proposed sites in neighbouring authorities to do so. the AONB and at Woodstock. We are See our thoughts & advice on how to now awaiting the Inspector’s report. respond at: http://tinyurl.com/yc2ex694 See CPRE’s statements for the hearings at: http://tinyurl.com/yc6nvlxz

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 5 Cherwell Council attacks the core principles on which Green Belts depend

Cherwell District Council John Tenniel seems to have sought ‘There’s more evidence inspiration from Lewis to come yet, please Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland your Majesty,’ said the when it was deciding to accommodate most of its White Rabbit. share of Oxford’s notional unmet housing need in the ‘No, no!’ said the White Green Belt. Queen. ‘Sentence first –

The Green Belt around Oxford was verdict afterwards.’ created specifically to remain undeveloped and to permanently prevent urban sprawl. In this it has the proven support of over three quarters of Oxfordshire residents, City, Town The White Queen in Lewis Carrol’s and Country alike (CPRE Survey, April Alice in Wonderland. 2015). The Government says building on it can only be contemplated if all If Cherwell had Building more houses to the hectare other alternatives have been proved (increasing densities) does not mean to be even more unacceptable (i.e. it considered the evidence, tower blocks but development like should be the last resort, not the first). as the White Rabbit highly desirable Victorian terraces such as those in sought after Jericho. What Wasting no time considering that urged, they would have is more, using land more efficiently evidence, Cherwell District Council found – as indeed they would not only mean pleasant places instead decided over a year ago to live, and the ability to walk to work, that as the Green Belt, by definition, admit – that there are but less expensive houses too, just the immediately adjoins Oxford, the Green kind that are actually needed. Belt areas closest to Oxford are the acceptable sites for the most sustainable areas (for building housing elsewhere… Cherwell has deliberately failed to Oxford’s houses on). In other words, the challenge whether the “unmet need” is Green Belt itself is the justification for sites for the housing elsewhere in real; failed to identify suitable places doing what the Green Belt was created the District which should have taken to satisfy it, to the extent (if any) it to prevent. The White Queen would priority. The Council has suggested actually exists; but it has also failed have been delighted. the following sites: Junction 9 and to follow Government advice and the 10 on the M40, Arncott, Bicester and public’s wishes about protecting the What is more the Council targeted the surrounding area, Upper Heyford Green Belt, instead targeting the most the most sensitive point in the whole and Banbury and the surrounding sensitive area within it. Oxford Green Belt, the ‘Kidlington Gap’, area. They would also have found where any development will threaten that the “unmet Oxford need” these Never mind the White Queen, even the the merger of Kidlington and Oxford houses are intended to satisfy is not a Mad Hatter would have been proud of – another thing the Green Belt was current need at all, but a hypothetical them. created to prevent, as well as being requirement at some point in the future hardly a desirable prospect for up to if Oxford continues to grow unchecked. Michael Tyce now independent Kidlington. Neither is it really “unmet” as Oxford CPRE Trustee has enough land to meet three times If Cherwell had considered the its present housing targets if it used Support our Just Giving Green evidence, as the White Rabbit urged, vacant land for housing, as it should, Belt appeal: they would have found – as indeed and if it built more houses to the http:// tinyurl.com/cpreoxon- they admit – that there are acceptable hectare than it does currently. greenbelt

6 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Autumn 2017 Cherwell Local Development Plan Partial Review: proposed sites for new housing and related development; land to be removed from the Green Belt

Bletchingdon

A4260

Woodstock Shipton-on-Cherwell cherwell District

d G r e e n PR10 f o r B e O x l t h e e l l D i s t T h e r w r i c t n C i River Cherwell Bladon A44

A34

Green Belt

Site boundaries

New housing and related Kidlington use on land removed from Green Belt Begbroke Other land removed from Green Belt

Existing settlements PR8 A4260

PR9 PR7a PR7b Yarnton West Oxfordshire

District A44

PR6c

PR6b PR6a

Cassington Oxford Canal A40

A40

River Thames Vale of White Horse Oxford District A34 Wolvercote District June 2017

Proposed housing figures Kidlington Woodstock PR7a – Land South East of Kidlington 230 PR10 – Land South East of Woodstock 410 North Oxford PR7b – Land at Stratfield Farm 100 (only site outside of Green Belt) PR6a – Land East of Oxford Road 650 Begbroke PR6b – Land West of Oxford Road 530 PR8 – Land East of the A44 1,950 Total 4,400 (3,990 in the Green Gelt) PR6c – Land at Frieze Farm (reserved site for Yarnton replacement Golf Course) PR9 – Land West of Yarnton 530

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 7 “We ♥ Rural Could a new methodology for Oxfordshire” calculating housing targets mean Photos: Helena Whall less housing for Oxfordshire?

The Government has published a Extrapolated over the period of the consultation on plans to change the Strategic Housing Market Assessment way housing targets are calculated. (SHMA), from 2011 to 2031, the The consultation runs until 9 Oxfordshire-wide 100,000 target November, so it will have closed by the would potentially come down to a far time the Voice lands on your doorstep, more realistic 68,300 (although still but you can see the branch response the equivalent of increasing every on our website. settlement by over 20% across the time-period). However, several of our In summary, household growth local authorities have already made it projections would be used as the clear that they intend to stick to the demographic baseline for every current figures. local authority area. CPRE has long argued that there should be a clear The Way Ahead distinction between actual local need In light of this new proposed and the arbitrary figures arrived at methodology, CPRE Oxfordshire is in notional growth strategies. We calling on local authorities to: Local community film-makers at a CPRE therefore welcome this move which Film Production Workshop in Oxford could, at a stroke, return Oxfordshire to a) Call a temporary halt to all Local more sensible and achievable housing Plan proceedings currently CPRE Oxfordshire is supporting six rural underway. communities from across Oxfordshire targets. to produce a series of one-minute films b) Update the 2014 Oxfordshire SHMA, to celebrate the heritage, character and If carried through, this could enable based on the new methodology. landscape of their local area. many of our more controversial c) Ensure any proposed uplift for housing allocations to be removed, economic growth ambitions should Local communities include Save such as those in Green Belt and be subject to full democratic Culham Green Belt, Standlake Online, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. consultation. Responsible Planning in Burford, Rather than fighting off ridiculous d) Take this opportunity to draw a Kidglington Development Watch, Save and inappropriate allocations, we Gavray Meadows and the Society for could all get back to concentrating line under the diverse Local Plans the Protection of Bampton. on creating high quality, high and commit to the production of a density developments and building Joint Spatial Plan which is already The CPRE Rural Community Film sustainable communities. under discussion by the Oxfordshire Project was launched in the summer Growth Board. and film-making will begin this Impacts for Oxfordshire See the CPRE Oxfordshire consultation autumn. The films will be shared on The potential impacts for various response at: www.cpreoxon.org.uk social media, with the aim of involving Oxfordshire a younger audience in rural and Districts are set Housing Targets, New proposed % change Protected community issues. (Keep an eye on our Oxfordshire methodology land (Green out in the table website for the films next spring!). Strategic (per annum) Belt/Areas of below. Housing Market Outstanding We hope to use the process to build up Assessment 2014 Natural expertise within each community so (per annum) Beauty) that they have the capacity to make Cherwell 1,142 762 -33% 15% further films in the future. The Project Oxford City 1,400 (1,200- 746 -47% 29% is being supported by the National 1,600) CPRE and if successful could be rolled South Oxfordshire 775 (725-825) 617 -20% 65% Vale of White out across the branches. 1,028 689 -33% 38% Horse CPRE Oxfordshire gratefully West Oxfordshire 660 (635-685) 601 -9% 37% OXFORDSHIRE acknowledges the support of the 5,005 (p/a) 3,415 (p/a) -32% Tanner Trust for this project. TOTAL

8 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Autumn 2017 Oxfordshire plan for a massive

R. Wendland increase in infrastructure “Growth in Oxfordshire over recent decades has created a deficit in existing infrastructure” Anyone living in Oxfordshire for example, halving the number of the report only identifies problems and would surely recognise and Further and Higher Education colleges, few solutions. CPRE would like to see reducing local GP provision, closing a comprehensive strategy to assess agree with this opening local hospitals, closing police stations, and mitigate the risks that accelerated statement from the Oxfordshire reducing the number of waste recycling growth will pose to the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy (OxIS). sites and bringing the elderly into landscape. purpose-built assisted living centres. Traffic congestion (particularly around This may reduce costs but could have CPRE is pleased to see a coordinated Oxford), air pollution, the electricity huge social and environmental costs.. approach to planning infrastructure in network, waste recycling, waste water, the county. There are, however, serious water supply, telecommunications This document puts a high reliance issues about funding and timing which (including broadband provision) etc, on hard infrastructure, in particular are referred to: “There is an increasing all require substantial improvements roads. As history has shown us, gap between the expected rate of just to service the existing population. adding to and widening roads leads growth up to 2031 and the ability to To better understand the scale of the to increased traffic, and frequently deliver key infrastructure”. The over- infrastructure needed in the county, creates new pinch-points at other reliance on developer contributions the Oxfordshire Growth Board recently places. It encourages new traffic and is obviously inappropriate. Developer commissioned an Infrastructure unnecessary person-movements, contributions are not equal to the Strategy (OxIS) – the stage one report negating the carbon and pollution task of big infrastructure projects, was published in April 2017 (see savings that are made by reducing and the money is generally released link below). The strategy presents an congestion. retrospectively leaving local people overview of possible growth patterns to devoid of infrastructure whilst houses 2040, the infrastructure required, and OxIS significantly downplays the are being built. We need to ensure that estimates likely costs and funding gaps. impact that the proposed Expressway / infrastructure funding is committed and Growth Corridor through the “Oxford/ available in advance of building houses. The report starts with the premise of Cambridge Arc” would have on the an extra 123,000 houses and 267,000 Oxfordshire countryside, whichever CPRE would like to see realistic and people in Oxfordshire by 2039. Growth route is finally chosen (see p.4). It achievable plans for the future of is assumed to continue at the rates also fails to acknowledge the vast Oxfordshire. We would like to see plans envisaged by the local Strategic associated development that would be which are serious about the protection Economic Plan (SEP) and the 2014 required alongside the Expressway. OxIS of our countryside and rural nature of Strategic Housing Market Assessment should be revised to set out clearly the the county. Finally, we would like to see (SHMA) up to 2039. CPRE believe these risks associated with the Expressway a real and open public debate on the projections are exaggerated, not least and associated development, and to level of growth the people of Oxfordshire because the original SHMA is flawed (a prioritise East-West Rail. really want. view supported by a recent Government report on Objectively Assessed Need – It is good to see the Oxfordshire AONBs, Richard Harding, Chair, CPRE South see p.8). river corridors and the Oxford Green Oxfordshire District Committee Belt recognised as an essential part of the local landscape. While the report The further centralisation of services Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy: does identify that the AONBs are and facilities across Oxfordshire is a http://tinyurl.com/oxon-oxis theme running through this report: showing some detrimental impacts,

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 9 Uncertain Harvest: does the loss of small farms matter? See ‘Uncertain harvest: does the loss As part of National CPRE’s of farms matter?’ a CPRE National Farming Foresight series, it Office report: recently published a paper titled http://tinyurl.com/cpre- ‘Uncertain Harvest: does the loss uncertainharvest of small farms matter?’. It was pleasing to see the report begin by noting that the quality of collected and all producers received has seen the closure of many smaller management is of paramount the averaged price. Contrastingly, operations, just as the demand for in Europe where there is a bigger local produce is increasing. The larger importance, regardless of farm percentage of small farms, the co- operations have carried on, which suits size and that smaller farms can be operative model is more widely used. the large retailers very well. just as productive as larger units. Inputs are purchased advantageously and the produce marketed through Interestingly, CPRE’s report only seems There is no doubt that in general, facilities the individual farmers have to mention mechanisation once, smaller units have a harder economic a share in, so that they are rewarded whereas I see it as one of the biggest time, as many factors conspire to for any product innovation and market drivers of change, with vastly increased make life that little bit tougher. Firstly, development. This means that they horsepower available – but much of the farm will generally have smaller have bought and sold better for many, the change has come from regulation. fields, with a higher proportion of many years. If we take the farm tractor as an less productive headlands, so there example, in the early 1970’s, just as will be more turning of equipment The CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) we joined the EU, the fitting of roll bars and work rates and efficiency will be in my opinion usually gets overplayed became mandatory for justified safety reduced. Imagine a square 40-acre as a source of discontent. There is concerns. This rapidly became a safety field, then divide it into quarters never going to be a system that is frame, a safety cab, then a safety resulting in four ten-acre ones – you thought to be universally fair. Cheap cab with noise reduction, moving on will see how the area of field edges press is made out of the amount to a quiet cab with air conditioning, increases by 50% and that there are that some prominent individuals then with extra filtration, improved four times the number of corners. The receive under the current system, seating, cab suspension etc. At each field boundaries will likely be one or conveniently forgetting that they will stage cost escalates, so if your farm a combination of fences, hedgerows have employees and responsibilities output remains static through yields, and ditches, all of which require costly like any others. Adjusting payments land area or prices, this imposed cost maintenance. Another factor at play to scale is fine in theory, if you end up increase becomes unsustainable. here will be environmental legislation, the right side of a cliff edge or CAP. However, relying on old machines which although needed and justified, means that the time to complete tasks will impact more severely on the Farm level assurance schemes, is never reduced, so finding time to farmer with the four smaller fields, although laudable, tend to protect contemplate business options or to especially if surrounded by any sort those who can conform, but mean apply for grants seldom materialises. of watercourse. Regulation prevents markets close for those who can many crop protection products being not. This has also driven increased Once a small farm graduates from a applied within several metres of a specialisation and then scale. hobby or lifestyle activity, to a full watercourse, which will invariably be time, sole source of income activity, detrimental to crop yield. Legislation invariably has unintended the working hours, especially if consequences which legislators either livestock are involved, can become Independently-minded UK farmers seemingly ignore or do not fully horrendous – 7 days a week for 30-40 have traditionally purchased consider. As with the environment, years is not uncommon. No wonder their inputs individually, where food safety is important but it reduces successive generations are rejecting smaller orders or remote locations the number of farmers and smaller the lifestyle of the seemingly attractive have increased their cost. When processors, who often find the cost of small farm for a regular job, working selling, many products were sold to conforming means that it is not worth 39 hours with guaranteed holidays. Government-controlled Marketing continuing their enterprise. Boards, where regardless of amount The cost of compulsory veterinary Angus Dart or location, the produce was attendance at abattoirs, for example, Farming Advisor

10 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Autumn 2017 Blue plaque commemorates RICHARD ASSER the work of D’Arcy Dalton (1930-2017) Photos: Oxford Fieldpaths Society The lifetime work of D’Arcy Dalton (as It is with great sadness that CPRE he was known locally) in defending reports on the passing of Richard Oxfordshire’s rights of way was Asser, long time Committee recognised this year by the award of member of CPRE Banbury District. a Blue Plaque. In August members of Under Richard Asser’s leadership in CPRE Oxfordshire, Oxford Fieldpaths the 1970s, latterly as Chairman, the Society and others who had known CPRE Banbury District Committee him gathered in Great Milton to was able to save much of the witness its unveiling on the house medieval character of Banbury, where he lived until his death in 1981. including the Market Square, although property developers In the years following the First succeeded in destroying the original World War, D’Arcy Dalton became a Banbury Cake Shop. A Pyrrhic figurehead for walkers to look to who victory was the Methodist Chapel, found a footpath obstructed or their where the facade was protected, but right to walk it challenged at a time the developers preserved only the when there was no effective body columns and plinth. to manage rights of way, compared Richard Asser and his wife Jane to the County Council’s professional Jim Parke of the Oxford Fieldpaths Society moved to Tadmarton Manor in north team which exists today. This led to unveiling the plaque. Oxfordshire in 1961, where they him becoming a founder member of lived for over 50 years and brought the Oxford Fieldpaths Society and for footpaths which needed to be up their three children. many years he was its chairman. He registered as Public Rights of Way also became chairman of the CPRE (PRoW). In Oxfordshire, this process He owned a 200-acre farm and Oxfordshire’s Rights of Way started in 1950 and took up most in his “spare time”, he farmed it himself under the guidance of, Committee and it was due to his of his time in the following years, and with the practical help from a passion for protecting rights of way attending many hearings to resolve neighbour whose family had farmed to enable everyone to enjoy the objections made by farmers and for generations. countryside that this too became an landowners to footpaths considered integral part of the work of the Branch. to be PRoWs. A huge debt is owed to Living in the same village for over D’Arcy Dalton for saving many miles of fifty years, he led the campaign, Of his many achievements defending footpaths which would otherwise have with a few others, to raise a huge rights of way, perhaps the most been lost to the walkers and riders who sum of money to buy the village notable followed the 1949 National enjoy using them today. school from the diocese so that Parks and Countryside Act, which the community could use it as a village hall. For the millennium, required county councils to produce Gordon Garraway the church bells were recast and a definitive map showing all those Footpaths Advisor rehung, another initiative which Richard helped bring to fruition. He served as Chairman of Tadmarton Parish Council and the Village Hall Committee for very many years. For St Nicholas Church, Tadmarton, where his ashes are buried, he was a member of the Parochial Church Council and became Churchwarden.

Richard was a source of wisdom, probity and strength in the running of organisations, large and small. He would never give up, however apparently hopeless the cause, and very often his persistence paid off. CPRE Oxfordshire will remember Richard with great affection. Guests at D’Arcy Dalton’s home in Great Milton.

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 11 Out and about in 2017 with CPRE Phil Crockett The first of our events this year in July, recycling) and turned into compressed was an opportunity for CPRE members blocks for building. The heat generated to visit Ardley for a guided tour of the is used to run the plant itself and has new waste processing plant operated the potential to be used to power local by Viridor. Readers may remember that homes and businesses. We were taken CPRE opposed the building of the giant through the whole installation, even incineration facility because of fears allowed a peep (through toughened about its impact on the surrounding glass) into the furnace. countryside and possible traffic problems. This visit, however, was to see Viridor are keen to emphasise that the plant in operation and to hear from they wish to educate the public in the the management the current situation importance of waste reduction and in on waste treatment and disposal in the the economics of recycling. For example, county. There is also an excellent gallery much of the cardboard packaging display for visitors of all ages (including which the more diligent of us have been a dinosaur made from recovered items!). carefully sorting into our recyclables is, in fact, made of such degraded pulp that Ardley takes all the non-recyclable it is more environmentally beneficial to household waste from the whole county feed it into the flames at Ardley than (and some from neighbouring areas too). to use energy in trying to recycle it. An unforgettable sight is the Everest of As for the impact of the plant on the rubbish of all sorts being picked up in locality, while the building is massive it giant grabs and fed into the furnace, all sits low in a disused quarry area and the viewed from a control room so clinically surrounding landscaping, very immature clean it could be NASA. At the end of at the moment, will obviously do a lot to the process the residual ash is separated lessen its impact. from any metal (which goes for Gill Salway Phil Crockett In August, CPRE members visited the us to browse through while we had our Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) at lunch. It was fascinating to see what the University of Reading. We had an CPRE had been involved in in its early excellent volunteer guide who led us days. through the numerous galleries which contained thousands of exhibits from Our final visit of 2017 was to large farm wagons to small items of , where a dozen of us were equipment dating back several centuries. given a most enjoyable guided tour by Many of the items on display were Chris Day, Chairman of the Deddington familiar to us and brought cries of, ‘I saw and District History Society. We started Castle House, Deddington that in my mother’s kitchen!’ or ‘I recall in the impressive Church of St. Peter seeing a machine like that working in and St. Paul where Chris explained that After an excellent lunch at the the fields when I was little!’ or ‘Do you at the time of the Domesday Book, Deddington Arms, we went on a walk remember….?’ Deddington was valued twice as highly through the village with its beautiful as nearby Banbury, hence the remains ironstone buildings which glowed One gallery houses the only permanent of a Norman castle, the large church golden in the afternoon sun. Chris talked exhibition of Ladybird Books in the and the many imposing buildings. knowledgeably and entertainingly of the world, with much original artwork on However, as Banbury grew in importance, architecture and history of the houses display. (The university archive contains Deddington stagnated and failed to and businesses. We agreed that we had some 20,000 Ladybird illustrations.) flourish as a market town, which perhaps had a most informative and happy day These iconic books brought back many was a blessing. Although there are some and we are all the more determined that childhood memories. large housing developments taking place CPRE should continue to try to protect now, the centre of the village around the historic villages like Deddington from Interestingly, many CPRE papers are Market Place is largely unchanged and being overwhelmed by inappropriate and deposited in the museum archives and the outskirts are not full of warehouses insensitive development. lists of these papers were available for and shopping precincts. Judy Crockett

Oxfordshire Voice Branch Office CPRE Online Published biannually by the Oxfordshire Branch CPRE Oxfordshire, First Floor, 20 High Street, Oxfordshire: www.cpreoxon.org.uk of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Watlington, Oxon OX49 5PY Twitter: @CPREOxfordshire Design: Rob Bowker T: 01491 825609 (Registered office) www.facebook.com/CPREOxfordshire Print: Severnprint Ltd with vegetable inks T: 01491 612079 on recycled paper using renewable energy. E: [email protected] National: www.cpre.org.uk