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Home , River Cam, The Fens, Wisbech

The countryside and charity Campaign to Protect Rural VOICE Winter 2021

A Very Challenging Year the Chairman reports

It is very difficult to know exactly where to start when looking Contents back over the past year which has certainly been a very Peterborough Update...... 4 challenging one for all of us. As I looked out at grey skies and a The Guided Busway ...... 5 snow-dressed landscape with the temperature at -2°C, with the New Trustee...... 5 news dominated by the Covid-19 lockdown, I decided we all Swavesey Community needed cheering up. So let’s start with some good news. Orchard ...... 6 Spring bulbs are coming up, our snowdrops are Press & Publicity in Lockdown ...... 6 out and swaying in the wind, daffodil shoots are Championing a Greener Future...... 7 poking through and this week in a sheltered spot in Office Administration Changeover....8 , I noticed a row of daffodils in full bloom. The other evening there was a vixen calling across local residents’ group, Without Incineration, the local fields, trying to attract a mate. Buds are WisWIN (https://wiswin.org.uk/ and swelling on local birch trees and some roses have (https://www.facebook.com/groups/wiswin/). They been flowering into January. So Spring is on its way have received support from the local MP, Stephen and with that scheduled to arrive with our doses of Barclay, Wisbech Town Council and vaccine, we will soon have a lot more to Council. We continue to provide advice be thankful for. and assistance where we can. A petition During the past year we have had requesting Parliament to tax incinerators some notable planning successes too. can be found at The ‘Agritech Park,’ rejected by https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament- South Cambs District Council, went to tax-incineration-like-landfill. appeal and we presented our case. The In mid-2019 we were faced with two appeal was soundly rejected by the related planning applications to create a Secretary of State in a comprehensive major extension to the development at Decision Letter issued in early April 2020. This just Alconbury , which would be well beyond the missed our last Spring Newsletter. Interestingly, the boundaries of the old airfield onto farm land at Decision Letter presents many arguments which Grange Farm and which would halve the size of the apply equally to other South Cambs issues such as Country Park which Urban & Civic had previously the proposed South East guided busway. undertaken to provide at Alconbury. We objected Our next major success came in June 2020. The strongly because these applications undermine proposed waste incinerator at , which completely the reasons why the branch had had been refused by the County Council, went to previously supported development at Alconbury. appeal. We had strongly opposed this and we These applications remain undetermined and provided the Inspector with significant evidence whatever the difficulties they have run into, we hope supporting our objections during the Inquiry. This that the right decision will be made. was also rejected by the Secretary of State. Refusal Nationally, we submitted a CPRE Cambridgeshire came as a great relief to the residents of Waterbeach & Peterborough response to the Planning White and was in no small way due to the ceaseless Paper and its zoning approach to planning which campaigning efforts of the local CBWIN group, would completely undermine any proper local https://www.cbwin.co.uk/ who drew on our consideration of detailed planning issues. If you assistance and that of Friends of the would like a copy of that response, please contact Earth. our office. Meanwhile, Wisbech residents continue to resist The national Working Group on the Oxford- the plans by MVV Environment Ltd (MVV) to build a Cambridge Arc has continued to meet regularly and waste incinerator on land on the Algores Way continued on next page Industrial Estate. Residents have established the CAMBRIDGESHIREVOICE to seek ways of Brexit-related issues encouraging opposition to The Web Site leaving them without the transition of the arc, Although we have yet to make any changes to its sufficient resources to which actually extends underlying format, we have been working hard to process the application from Felixstowe to publish more current news and useful information for AONB designation of Southampton, into a single during the pandemic. One success, with the help the valley. Meanwhile, the urban space, criss-crossed of research and text from our sterling volunteer GOVT has been by roads, including a dual Lizzie Bannister, has been to update and publish concentrating on carriageway A10, and other a lot more information about local food and refurbishment of the Ouse infrastructure. It would be beverage suppliers Valley Way - one of the transformed from fully https://www.cprecambs.org.uk/campaigns/farming best long distance walks productive farm land, in a in the county. -and-food/local-foods/item/2110-local-foods. If variety of beautiful In the north-west of you have any details of local suppliers who would landscapes, into “housing the county we have be assisted by our publicity, do let us know. and employment space” become aware of the for an initial 1 million homes. work of Langdyke I say ‘initial’ deliberately because as we all know, Countryside Trust who take their inspiration for once started, ‘development’ never ceases. The protecting and enhancing the countryside from the Working Group has now established its own website work of the inspirational 19th Century poet of the to promote its challenge to the concept of the Arc natural world, . See our website for more (https://www.challengethearc.co.uk/.) information https://www.cprecambs.org.uk/news. Meanwhile the publication of Route ‘E’ as the Many of the threats to our countryside continue preferred route of East-West Railway across the to appear driven by the pressures arising from the unspoiled countryside of and Ox-Cam Arc. However, they are not limited to the North-East has caused howls of Arc. A proposal by London Luton Airport to protest in both counties. We are working with our implement a holding stack above north-west colleagues in CPRE Bedfordshire to champion the , with a route south into the airport, case for a route which follows the A428/A421 corridor will severely affect the tranquillity of this part of the and provides local metro services as well as long county. distance ones. Meanwhile, the Cambridge Green Belt, designed A campaign group, Cambridge Approaches, is to enhance the setting of the City, continues to be championing re-consideration of the route. attacked and nibbled away. We have objected to (https://cambridgeapproaches.org/) and is petitioning two proposed developments at Worts Causeway the DoT (https://www.change.org/p/secretary-of- promoted by Greater Cambridge Planning. We have state-for-transport-northern-rail-route-should-be- strongly objected to proposals for excessive evaluated-equally-alongside-ewr-s-current- development of 7,600 houses in North East proposals-d7bd2f1f-7675-41de-b072-161074cfdeef). Cambridge. These in turn have led to proposals to The extensive visual scar across the countryside move the existing Cambridge Waste Water Treatment which is the re-routed A14 with its 12 parallel lanes of plant into the Green Belt north of the A14. traffic between Brampton and the junction to the A proposal to build a busway from Cambridge to north of Buckden has been completed. However, Waterbeach, which parallels the existing railway, the proposal to turn the A14 between Cambridge and appears to require the demolition of several village Brampton into a “smart” motorway has been homes. The south-east busway, from Cambridge to abandoned. Meanwhile, the embankments built Babraham, would open up plots of land all across across the Great Ouse Valley have already been that part of the Green Belt to development and would subject to partial collapse resulting in prolonged be in direct contravention of reasons given for the closures for remediation work. Secretary of State’s refusal of the development of We have continued to support the Great Ouse Valley the Hinxton Agritech Park. We have pointed out, that Trust (GOVT), originally formed to establish an Area of if East-West Railway followed the A428/A421 corridor Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the valley and approached Cambridge from the north, trains between and would be perfectly aligned to continue south from https://www.greatousevalleytrust.org.uk/ and Cambridge along a re-opened Colne Valley line to https://www.facebook.com/GreatOuseValleyTrust/. Haverhill, Sudbury and on to . Natural England’s resources remain decimated due to cuts and assignment of staff to work on continued on next page

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Although the South Cambs Local Plan recently much of the UK food supply as the become passed examination, preparation of a new Greater frequently and, eventually, permanently flooded. Cambridge Local Plan started almost immediately. More frequent flooding will affect all low-lying areas Examinations of Local Plans for Peterborough and for in the Cam and Great Ouse catchments, including were completed. Cambridge. Following the East Cambs Local Plan Climate change is an Further development around being found ‘unsound’, partly due to issue which seems to Cambridge will necessarily take East Cambs’ use of Community Land scarce grade 2 and 3a land out of Trust branding to facilitate large have escaped the notice production. This land is already market-led developments on rural of the ‘development’ needed for food production in a exception sites and partly due to the bandwagon that country which imports around 60% of Peterborough Inspector refusing to continues to threaten its food supply. It is therefore an allow Peterborough to continue to our communities increasingly valuable national asset accept a portion of East Cambs which must be protected and whose housing obligations, East Cambs withdrew from the protection is already documented in the National Local Plan process. As expected this has led to a Planning Policy Framework. rash of speculative applications for development. Amongst all this doom and gloom, there is some In East Cambs and across the border in , a light in the tunnel. A new campaign, Friends of the speculative application to build the largest solar park , made up of members of Cambridge in the country on productive farmland is causing Labour Environment Forum, CPRE Cambs., Federation concern and anger amongst the communities of Cambridge Residents Associations (FeCRA), concerned. The company involved, Sunnica, has put CamFOE, and Cambridge Schools Eco Council, this forward as a potential National Infrastructure recently arranged and promoted a Zoom project and we have now learned is trying to bully presentation by ex-punk musician and campaigning objecting land-owners into parting with their land by trout fisherman Feargal Sharkey who is fronting serving them with compulsory purchase orders. efforts to protect our streams nationally. The Interestingly this area is crossed by the route of the Cam is fed by several such streams which are in a old Cambridge-Mildenhall railway, which is one of the dire state due to over-abstraction of water. Over potential routes of the Metro being promoted by the 500 interested people signed up for this event and Combined Authority. over 300 connections were recorded as attending. It Climate change is an issue which is really encouraging to see such seems to have escaped the notice of high levels of interest in just one of the ‘development’ bandwagon that our threatened rivers. continues to threaten our Do you have any thoughts about communities in the Cam and Great the post-Covid recovery? Will people Ouse catchments. The Great Ouse is who have learned to work efficiently a tidal river, as far upstream as and even enjoyably at home really Brownshill Staunch between Earith want to return to the office? Many and St Ives. This winter and last business owners I know are winter there were repeated preparing to dispose of much of their warnings for Lode which employment space permanently. extends across to Waterbeach and Perhaps, if building control was under the A14 to Bar Hill. There are returned to the conversion process, now regular flood alerts for instead of the current free-for-all of Cottenham Lode and some, as in the ‘permitted development’, these last few weeks, are accompanied by structures could be re-purposed as flooding: high quality dwelling and community https://floodassist.co.uk/flood- facilities. warnings/flood-area- If you can help us in tackling these issues, please info/cambridgeshire/052wafctld/cottenham-lode-in- get in touch. Whether you have relevant expertise, cambridgeshire can collect data, research issues, bring issues to our Anticipated of at least 1.1 metres by attention, recruit new members or raise funds we 2100 (IPCC 2019) and possibly up to 4.7 metres need you to help sustain a vibrant, working (Surging Seas) in and hence the Rivers countryside. Great Ouse and Cam, is likely to lead to the loss of

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Peterborough Update Sally Jackson reports

2020 was a difficult year in which to get new projects off the ground, but despite the problems there were many fresh ideas.

Our priorities this year have centred on our role in Project and during the autumn, for the the climate emergency. We need, and support, some Future organisation, bringing together interested development, in the right places, but we also need to parties to understand and promote the future of the protect and enhance our countryside and support Fens. the important role it will play in reducing carbon If you are interested in helping with these emissions for the whole country. exciting projects, please do contact us. In February, a group of CPRE members from the We supported two major planning applications north of the county set up a group to look at better this year in Peterborough. cross-boundary working with CPRE branches in The first was the planning application to develop and . The problems of the Embankment, 90 acres of previously landfill site in close cooperation are made worse by regional as the middle of Peterborough, into a new university well as county boundaries and we looked at ways to with 12,500 students by 2030. There is also to be a challenge this problem. new stadium for Peterborough United (Posh) After several brainstorming meetings the idea of adjacent to the university. This was a major part of a Great Fenland Basin group seemed to work best, the regeneration plans for the city centre and will so we set about trying to make it happen. We provide a real thriving core to future development. applied to National CPRE for funding and worked The second was the Solar Farm in , with other organisations such as the Lincolnshire again on a landfill site, which promised Wildlife Trust, the Langdyke Trust and the Welland environmentally friendly electricity generation without River Trust to produce some joined-up thinking. We using valuable farmland. This would also result in a identified a consultant who could promote our net biodiversity gain. involvement in decisions being made about our area Peterborough is central to the basin. Evolution of and were keen to get started, but lack of funding for the City over the next few years could make it an the post meant we had to turn to Plan B. important role model of how to balance development We have very few members in and around with the important role the countryside will play in Peterborough, but those of us who live here have tackling the climate change emergency. Any help is now become involved in the Parish Nature Recovery always welcome - contact me at Plans promoted by the John Clare Countryside [email protected] or 07710607077.

4 CAMBRIDGESHIREVOICE The Guided Busway

The controversial Cambridgeshire Guided Busway has attracted both brickbats and bouquets since its launch in 2011. The longest guided section was once the railway track from St Ives to Cambridge, leading to a passionate but ultimately doomed bid for it to be re-opened as a light railway.

Nine years on, buses now whizz along two guided (dogs on leads please!). Used regularly by horse sections making up 16 miles of concrete track, as riders, it leads onto local bridle paths. well as traditional roads, linking Huntingdon to For the more 'sure footed' amongst us, the , with key stops such as the Science busway also provides access to open Park and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. countryside, the river and the RSPB bird Love it or loathe it, the project still splits opinion reserve at Fen Drayton Lakes. I am a regular on a host of issues, from value for money and safety user of both the transport links it provides, through to its effect on relieving road congestion. It plus the cycle path (I'm in year six of trying has also sparked more than one legal row between through choice to manage without a car). its owners Cambridgeshire County Council and the During this pandemic it has been fantastic to see constructors over alleged defects. how the busway has grown in popularity, and to One of the stops along the guided route is the hear and see individuals and families discover it village of Swavesey, where volunteer Pat Cole lives. for the first time. It is proof that people are drawn Pat views the busway and its parallel to natural open spaces and all doubtless benefit pedestrian/cycle path as a positive gateway to significantly from this for their mental and physical enjoying the countryside and local . wellbeing. I would love to see this replicated in Here she tells us why: other parts of the country.” You may have heard of the 'famous' busway �The RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes has a request stop “whether through the reinstate trains versus bus on the busway. For opening times visit the website debate; the spiralling cost; the legal wrangle with at https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and- the County Council and the engineers. It is famous events/reserves-a-z/fen-drayton-lakes/ for so many things. �Fen Drayton nature reserve has featured in the However, during this pandemic it has proved its Guardian newspaper’s 10 Most Tranquil Places in worth many times over. In addition to being (in the UK. The accolade was based on CPRE research 'normal' times), a fantastic public transport link, it that found essential elements of tranquillity for also offers a safe, wheelchair and pushchair most people are ‘natural landscapes’, ‘birdsong’ friendly walk way, cycle path, dog exercise space and ‘peace and quiet.’ New Branch Trustee

We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth Bannister (Lizzie), who has been writing for the Branch and National Office and blogging for CPRE since 2014, has agreed to take on the role of a Branch Trustee. Lizzie lives in Wimblington, works at a food-testing laboratory in , holds a BSc in Conservation and Environment, an MSc in Conservation Management, has studied Mental Health and Social Care as well as Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, rides horses and is passionate about protecting and enhancing the countryside and making the world a better place to live. Recently, Lizzie put in a huge effort researching material and contacts to update the Local Foods section on the Branch web site and is an excellent role model for the younger generation seeking to take positive action to protect the environment and the countryside. We are sure she will keep us in step with modern environmental thinking and concerns.

5 CAMBRIDGESHIREVOICE Villagers Will Enjoy Fruits of Their Labour

Peasgood’s Nonsuch, Warwickshire Drooper, Humbug Stripy and Merryweather. What’s in a name?

Well quite a lot when it comes to the assortment of orchard at harvest time when we can, with the apple, plum, pear and damson types in the UK. These help of presses, convert some fruit into juice and heritage varieties are just some of the forty fruit allow villagers to taste a wide range of fruit trees that residents in Swavesey have planted to somewhat different to those available in create a Community Orchard. The plan is to use the supermarkets. orchard on Church Green, as well as other ” biodiversity boosting initiatives, The volunteers also planted to bring people together and hundreds of daffodil bulbs that get schools and children’s gave a dazzling display, and the groups involved with nature. site has enjoyed a wide variety With help from Orchard East of flowering plants, grasses, and the Heritage Lottery Fund, butterflies, and other insects back in November 2019 over one not seen for many years. A hundred Swavesey residents, significant find was the including families with children, Pyramidal orchid. joined forces to plant and stake Now the project really needs the fruit trees in a traditional funds to improve safe access style. Orchard Chairman, Glyn to the orchard, and develop a Jones, explains: managed pond and wetland on an existing flood area. This is Most of the trees have being aided by Helen Parish of “survived an exceedingly Ecology Link and will include difficult first year, although hibernation areas for mammals two of the pear trees, flooded in the winter, and reptiles, plus aquatic and wetland plant species. succumbed to the ensuing drought despite a big If you would like to help, donate or sponsor the watering operation. We expect most of the trees group’s work, please contact Glyn Jones, Chairman to start fully yielding in three to four years’ time. Swavesey Community Orchard email [email protected] Our future plan is to have community days in the (Tel : 07977 907622).

Press and Publicity in Lockdown Ali Sargent, Press Officer reports

Tempting the media away from Covid 19 has been a particular challenge in 2020.

Predictably, a poll commissioned by CPRE National Cambridge Local Plan. We said “Climate change, Office and the Women’s Institute, which showed that climate change, climate change” should be the in lockdown we appreciated our green spaces more priority for Cambridgeshire as planners started to than ever, attracted some interest. Similarly, a press consult over future development in the county. We release celebrating our green spaces as our “Natural also championed farmland with a view to protecting Health Service” was well received. future food supply and the Cambridge Green Belt, Covid also gave us a new argument to oppose the first (and smallest) outside London. the OxCam Arc project. We argued the Chairman Alan James has given a number of unprecedented impact of the pandemic on working broadcast interviews on most of these issues – plus practices had fundamentally changed the rules of an interview on the Agritech Park at Hinxton. Here’s engagement. Just before the full horrors of the hoping for a more varied media diet in 2021. pandemic hit, we circulated our views on the Greater

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Action Group Calls for Greener Future Lizzie Bannister reports

Local campaigners have laid down a challenge to mayoral candidates in the upcoming countywide elections, urging them to put the environment centre stage of future plans.

Fenland and West Friends of the Earth is part planting that can alleviate future climate change of a local coalition campaigning to get the next metro impacts and improve wellbeing for all. We’ve mayor to prioritise the climate and ecological already had problems with flooding, threatening emergencies, at the same time as responding to the farmland productivity and causing wildlife decline COVID-19 pandemic. here from Huntingdonshire to across the Fens. On 6 May, voters will be asked to elect a On top of that we have the lowest area of nature Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined reserves and tree cover in the country. We must Authority Mayor for the next four years. Three do something about it; we’ve got an amazing candidates have so far declared themselves in the opportunity to make a society that’s fairer, an race: Nik Johnson (Labour), Aidan Van de Weyer economy that works for everyone, as well as (Liberal Democrats), and the current mayor James providing over 10,000 new jobs locally if a real Palmer (Conservative). green recovery is implemented. The group aims to talk online with all the For example, our Climate Action Plan asks the candidates, calling for the mayor to adopt a Climate mayor to double public transport use; cycling, and Action Plan to change everyone’s lives for the better walking within the next 10 years to cut emissions and commit to using the office to make their region and ensure everyone can breathe clean air, as well as climate and nature friendly as possible. as becoming a zero-waste region by 2030, without Lizzie Bannister is a member of Fenland and West relying on landfill or incineration. Norfolk Friends of the Earth group and our new ” Trustee, says: If anyone is interested in meeting the candidates to discuss their concerns about the climate and nature We are at a crossroads and we can take the right crisis, contact [email protected] for the “direction for people and nature. The old normal dates and links to the online meetings. (Please note was bad for people and bad for the planet, so it’s that it is best to attend the preparation meetings time to set a new path – by for example, investing beforehand as well as the actual meetings). in renewables, sustainable place-making and tree Read more here about Friends of the Earth’s Climate Action Plan.

7 CAMBRIDGESHIREVOICE Welcome to Our New Office Administrator

With effect from Monday 8th February, we welcome Administrator for Cambridgeshire Scouts. Tracey is Jo McGowan who has joined us as Office ensuring that handover to Jo is as smooth as Administrator, replacing our highly valued colleague possible despite the prolonged closure of the office. and friend Tracey Hipson. Due to the effects of the We wish both Jo and Tracey well in their new pandemic, this has been a prolonged process. roles and we must say a huge thank you to Tracey Jo went to school and college in Godalming, who has been absolutely central to the smooth , is well qualified and has held a number of running of the Branch and the Regional office since secretarial, PA and Office Manager positions at large September 2002. It is impossible to express how and small companies and organisations. Jo will be grateful we all are for her unswerving loyalty and continuing her current part-time employment as hard work over the years.

About CPRE We campaign for a beautiful and living countryside. Branch Administrator:...... Jo McGowan We work to influence how we plan our towns and Tel: 01480 396698 cities to make them better places to live and work, Email: [email protected] to ensure the countryside is protected for all to enjoy for now and future generations. Press Officer:...... Alison Sargent Tel: 07776 255193 Our Patron is Her Majesty the Queen. Email: [email protected] We have around 60,000 members and a branch in every county. CPRE is a powerful combination of District Contacts and Specialists effective local action and strong national Cambridge, South Cambs ...... Jane Williams campaigning. Our President is Emma Bridgewater. East Cambs and Fenland ...... Alan James CPRE is a Registered Charity (No. 1089685) Huntingdonshire ...... Gareth Ridewood Please note the opinions expressed in this Peterborough ...... Sally-Ann Jackson newsletter are those of individual contributors, or the editor, and do not necessarily represent the Membership Champion ...... Wendy Oldfield views of the branch or the national charity. General planning issues ...... Branch office CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Branch President...... Christopher Vane Percy *** Branch Officers CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are Chairman...... Alan James happy to help you. To get in touch, please contact Vice-Chairman...... Lawrence Wragg our office: Treasurer...... Nick de Chenu Tel: 01480 396698, email: [email protected] Committee Members...... Simon Blackley Website: https://www.cprecambs.org.uk Jane Williams Or write: Wendy Oldfield CPRE, The Town Hall, Market Hill, St Ives, Cambs PE27 5AL Lizzie Bannister