183 • Autumn 2011 the Newsletter of the Enfield Society

TES News No 183 • Autumn 2011 The newsletter of The Enfield Society New planning guidance threatens the Green Belt Threats to the Green Belt come and go but it appears that our widely Will we need to revive these posters cherished policy is now under a more from our campaign of 38 years ago? realistic threat than for a long time. A report by The Times Environment Editor on 1st July warns that vast tracts of countryside may be developed under new planning guidance that could trigger a building boom by weakening environmental standards. He has seen a recent draft of the new Planning Policy Framework, due to be published this month (July). It would tilt the balance in favour of developers. Current guidance, which contains a strong presumption against development, will have to give way to a need to demonstrate that the adverse effects of Green Belt development significantly outweigh CPRE leaflet the benefits. Planning authorities will no longer be able to require housing estates to have good public transport links and walking and cycling links to shops and workplaces. This can be taken into consideration only if resulting traffic congestion and Publicity materials used in the pollution would be so severe “Defend Enfield’s Green Belt Campaign” in 1973- that it outweighs the urgent 1974, in which the Enfield Preservation Society need for new homes. It will played a leading role. become much harder to obtain The coalition’s agreed commitment The Draft National Planning Policy affordable housing in this free for all. to protect green areas of particular Framework has just been published. It is If planning authorities do not identify importance to local communities available on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government at a five year supply of housing sites (what about localism?) seems to have <http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications attractive to developers they will be gone by the board. It looks as though /planningandbuilding/draftframework>, obliged to approve all applications. a campaign that puts in the pale the where comments are invited. This There will be no more need to opposition to the Forestry consultation will close on 17 October 2011. prioritise brown field sites. To crown Commission sell off will be needed if Change of dates for TES this exercise in philistinism, councils we are to have a green and pleasant will lose the power to prevent land much longer. It will need the membership renewal landowners putting up advertising active support of all our members. See the important notice about this billboards in the countryside. Chris Jephcott on the back page. 1 Localism Localism Bill Letter to the editor With fewer recent planning applications I refer to the article on page 10 of the Spring 2011 issue of TES News. This usefully to consider the Conservation Advisory discusses the Localism Bill, but is mistaken in stating that the bill gives some pointers Group devoted a session to a workshop to the way the Big Society works. The two have nothing whatever to do with one looking at the impact of the Localism Bill another. The bill is concerned with the population at large having more say, and the and the associated draft Section 106 Government less, about what should be done; but over and again, the Government Supplementary Planning Document have made it plain that the Big Society is concerned with who actually does it. (further information from Natalie Furthermore, I am mystified by your author's mention of “those of us who are not Broughton on (020) 8379 1451 or sure exactly how the Big Society is supposed to work”. Surely no such persons exist, [email protected]). for although, upon this matter as upon all others, the pronouncements of the In effect the Bill undoes a number of Government are pure sophistry, on this occasion their real meaning is as clear as changes and additions to the planning daylight, and they are fooling none of the people none of the time. process of recent years. As Richard “We want voluntary organisations and charities to play a bigger role”, they say, while Stones explained in the last TES News, at the same time increasing the tax burden on every individual, and (as noticed on the the intention is to devolve more front page of the same issue of TES News) reducing the funding available for the responsibility from the centre to the grass support of such bodies. If anyone really does need an explanation of the Big Society, roots. Gone are Regional Plans, here is one that is simultaneously brief, simple and complete:- introduced in 2004, and the responsibility for nationally significant infrastructure 1. We pay taxes to the Government so they can do things for us. projects, such as additional airport 2. They take the money and tell us to do the things ourselves. runways, is restored again to Parliament Trevor Patten with the abolition of the unelected Infrastructure Planning Commission. Richard Stones replies: I am not sorry to see the back of My comments on the “Big Society” were written some time ago (and even then rather ‘Statements of Community Involvement’, tongue in cheek). I agree with Mr Patten: the aim as it has emerged seems to be to get ‘Annual Monitoring Reports’ and ‘Local neighbourhoods to choose who provides their services, rather than to decide what Development Schemes’ with their often services to have. But this seems to me consistent with the thrust of the Localism Bill impenetrable jargon and I hope that the provisions I described. Both seem designed to by-pass the local authority, as a new ‘Community Planning Statements’ decision-maker and a provider of services, in favour of ad hoc “grass-roots” groups. will be more approachable. But new One key question is whether these measures (even if they are less cynical than Mr ‘Neighbourhood forums’ will have to Patten believes) will do anything to encourage real local autonomy: or will they have a structure that ensures their undermine local government and give Whitehall more control rather than less? continuity, with all the required skills. Defining and agreeing particular ‘Neighbourhoods’ could prove a headache and, as Richard suggests, local authorities could end up doing more, not less work. Decentralisation and Chris Jephcott the Localism Bill: an essential guide The government has published a series of explanatory documents about the localisation bill, including the two shown here: A plain English guide and An essential guide. These and over 30 “Impact assessments” of the bill’s provisions, are available at <http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgov ernment/decentralisation/localismbill/> Consultation on local planning regulations The Department for Communities and Local Government has set views on the Government’s proposals. It does not seek views up a public consultation, on which they seek responses by 7th on the provisions in the Localism Bill, or the National Planning October 2011. They say: Policy Framework, rather it asks for comments on how the regulations have responded to the planning reform pro- “In response to reforms in the Localism Bill, the Government is gramme. …This consultation paper invites your views on the revising the regulations which govern the process by which specific questions set out in the document, and other com- local councils prepare their development plans. This consulta- ments you may wish to make.” tion seeks views on whether the revised regulations are fit for The consultation document, which includes a draft of the purpose….This consultation sets out the background to proposed new regulations, is at <http://www.communities.gov.uk/ amending the regulations on preparing local plans and seeks publications/planningandbuilding/localregulationsconsultation> 2 Sales table Christmas cards Situation vacant I have overseen the Publications and Sales of the Society’s publications for 15 years and think it is now time to hand over to someone with new ideas. This is an important job as profits on our sales over 30 years amount to more than £100,000, which has contributed to the maintenance of the very small membership fee. It is also one of the Trent Park House Whitewebbs House faces of the Society seen by the general public at the Autumn Show, Edmonton Carnival and other events. The job includes commissioning new publications, arranging rotas of volunteers to staff Jubilee Hall meetings and outside events, overseeing the supply of books and other items to retailers, despatching New River Loop Forty Hall decorated for Christmas orders by post to members and booksellers, purchasing copies of In common with many other publishers, the Enfield Society has found that sales of relevant books from other publishers Christmas cards have fallen considerably in the past few years as many people send text for re-sale to members, maintaining or e-mail greetings instead. We therefore have a considerable stock of Christmas cards stock records, banking revenue and and it has been decided not produce a new one this year. So we are offering a pack of one sending an update on publications of each of the four cards shown above, with envelopes, for £1. If you prefer one design, available to the Newsletter Editor. packs of 5 of any of the above are available to members at a reduced price of £1.25. As this person takes the sales items years is described with the development to events, a car is essential. So is a of new technologies and advanced computer, as many orders from educational requirements for engineers, booksellers outside Enfield arrive by technicians and craftsmen. This hardback e-mail. Some knowledge of the is illustrated by photographs and publishing world is useful but not reproductions of historic documents.

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