The Dorset Review Campaign to Protect Rural England In this issue • 80th Anniversary • Housing White Paper • Dorset Local Food Producers • Open Day at Langham Winery • District Group updates Spring 2017 Branch News Issue 108 CONTENTS CHAIR’S REPORT 80th Anniversary not gone as far as pursuing 2 Chair’s Report their objections to building This year we celebrate our 80th in the AONB through a 3 Open Day at Langham Wine Anniversary, the first meeting was held Judicial Review, several hundred Estate on April 16th 1937. The meeting was houses would have been built in the attended by 400 people and chaired 4–5 The Sherborne and District Kent AONB. But whilst taking all these by Lord Shaftesbury, Lord-Lieutenant of Society aspects into consideration, we must the County. Sir Kingsley Wood, Minister not forget under any circumstances of Health, (the Ministry was at that time 6 Housing White Paper that large tracts of Dorset countryside at least was concerned with housing as is unprotected, and Dorset CPRE must 7–9 Dorset Local Food Producers with health) wrote that the proposal to do all in its power not to forget that form a branch was “singularly opportune,” 10 East Dorset Group reality in our defence of the Dorset since the whole of the county, with the countryside. 11 Millhams Recycling Centre exception of the Portland urban district, had recently under the leadership 12 West Dorset Group of the county council been brought Shaun Spiers, CPRE’s 13 Annual Report & Accounts within the scope of the Town and Chief Executive Country Planning Act. “An important Shaun will be leaving CPRE in May to 14–15 North Dorset Group factor in the preservation of amenity,” join Green Alliance as executive director. continued Sir Kingsley, “is to secure 15 CPRE Awards & Photo Shaun was guest speaker at our Branch Competition that the buildings which are erected AGM held last November and opened are in harmony with their surroundings a discussion on the ‘Urbanisation of 16 Green Space and Health and with each other.” Lord Ilchester Dorset’. On behalf of the branch I would proposed “That a county branch of the like to thank him for all his hard work 17 Poole and Purbeck Group Council for the Preservation of Rural over the past 12 years and wish him 18 Minerals and Waste in Dorset England be established in Dorset.” Unity success in his new job and have written would be strength, and that was why to him expressing our thanks.. 19 Environment Conference 2017 he was asking those attending to pass the resolution. This was seconded by 20–21 A Dorset Farm that values the Looking to the future environment Lord Rockley. The resolution was carried Of course, as an organisation that looks unanimously. to the future and preservation of the 22 Flooding When you are next in Dorchester countryside, CPRE is aware of the need why not visit the Dorset History Centre 23 Litter Campaigns for more housing, especially affordable to view the Dorset CPRE records. housing for local residents. But we must 24 CPRE Recent Publications The documents have been split into also ensure as an organisation that the two batches and have the collection ‘Urbanisation of Dorset’ is not allowed 25 Obituary reference D/PRE. The service is free, but to continue as of late, which in turn will there is a charge for photocopying. 25 Leaving a Legacy only encourage urban sprawl and the increasing infrastructure required to 26–27 Membership Housing White Paper service a growing population. Here of As I write, we are responding the 28 Contacts course we must not forget our farming Housing White Paper consultation. I community. They face a difficult future, recently represented the Dorset CPRE especially in dairy farming, and we Branch at National Office to discuss the must listen carefully to their concerns, ‘One CPRE’ response to the Housing especially given it is they who have been White Paper. The meeting was both responsible for creating the countryside productive and informative and we so enjoy today. However after taking Protecting Dorset concluded that a single, consensus- Campaign to Protect Rural England such aspects into consideration, the based consultation submission from role of Dorset CPRE, whilst accepting The contents of this publication are intended CPRE National Office, its branches and as guidance and general interest. It does not these real challenges, sees its position constitute legal advice and can be no substitute regions would have most impact on as one that does all in its power to for considered advice on specific problems. government thinking as compared to defend what is so wonderful about the Although every effort has been made to ensure a larger number of varied submissions the accuracy of the information printed in this Dorset countryside and that without publication, Campaign to Protect from across the country. However, there it, the tourist economy would collapse Rural England cannot accept is still real concern as to the future of and be of little or no benefit to either liability for errors and omissions. both the Dorset Green Belts and the local residents, the farming community The views expressed in this Dorset AONB. It would seem that in the publication are not necessarily or the businesses that increasingly rely those of CPRE. Housing White Paper, Green belts could so heavily on tourism. be subject to a 5 year review, and given Front Cover image – View of Lankham Bottom Nature Reserve with distant views of the experience of other counties, will Cattistock Village. leave many Green Belts under threat. As RichardChair Nicholls of Trustees to AONB’s, if for example, Kent CPRE had 2 DORSET Campaign to Protect Rural England – Protecting Dorset OPEN DAY AT LANGHAM WINE ESTATE We hope you will come and join us for our Open Day for members on Tuesday 13th June. It will be primarily a Dorset Food and Drink Event this year to be held at the Langham Wine Estate, Crawthorne, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7NG (clearly signposted off the A354). The event will include Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour. We are also having a few quality local food producers whose products complement Langham’s excellent wine. Vines at Langham Winery Dedicated to producing world-class sparkling wine, Langham Wine Estate lies just a 10 minute drive from the centre of Dorchester. The 30 acre vineyard is solely planted with the classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier. Everything is grown and made at the single site allowing the owners to take control of the production process from grape to bottle. Please visit their website for more information www.langhamwine.co.uk. Winners of ‘The Most Outstanding English Sparkling Wine’ 2015 and 2016. Wine tasting at Langham Winery Please return the enclosed A4 booking form. Shaun Spiers Langham Winery vineyard Campaign to Protect Rural England – Protecting Dorset DORSET 3 THE SHERBORNE AND DISTRICT SOCIETY Local Plan Review Housing target Sherborne and Lyde Roads are dealt with in advance. Such a scheme needs sensible Many of you will know that the day after The Review sticks with the housing dialogue with South Somerset and a real the Society’s AGM our hard-working need target for the plan period of 775 understanding of the interdependent Secretary John Newman had a heart houses per annum for the whole area: factors in the local economy. Certainly, attack whilst on a visit to London. I the current figure. This is excessive and if any such development ever took place am happy to report that following a needs to be recalculated in accordance in the future it must be against the successful bypass operation he is making with new standardised criteria which will West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland a good recovery and already back in emerge from the Dept. of Communities allocation not for South Somerset. harness with the major contribution to and Local Government. In the interim In Sherborne there is land designated our submission on the Local Plan Review we think 589 is a better figure but still as employment land and the Review (LPR). probably too high. asks whether there is enough. We The consultation period in relation Where the housing is located is vital believe there is and call on the planners to the first phase of the review is now so our generation do not despoil Dorset. to be flexible in its use given the change completed. I know many of you visited in commerce over the last 50 years. one of the roadshows and also attended Finally, on retail development in the AGM when the details of the Review WDDC must not ignore the Sherborne, we call on WDDC, the Town were discussed. I hope some of you development of brownfield Council and Dorset to implement the made your views known to the Councils. sites which should be seen policy that has been in place for many John Newman has produced a detailed years of town centre expansion. The report which was adopted by your ‘‘ as a first priority. land is there (owned by WDDC and Committee and has been submitted as Dorset) to the East of Cheap Street and our contribution to the debate. I have They get no mention, WDDC should is now tarmac car parks. It is ripe for included here some of the executive encourage with policy their development redevelopment, of a suitable type. summary for your information and if particularly that owned by Dorset, anyone wishes to see the full report I am WDDC, HMG and other Governmental’’ Sherborne Hotel Site happy to supply an e-copy on request.