Latest News from CPRE Hampshire
June 2011
Still time to nominate for awards
There have been some innovative entries for this year's Countryside Awards scheme, sponsored by Steve's Leaves. One is Bicycle Recycling from Winchester who repair and restore old bicycles for others to use. However, we would like to see more entries in the School's category. The awards are in three categories: rural enterprise, voluntary / community, schools. Nominations are open until 15th July 2011.
Go to the awards page for further details
April 2011
Our Spring/Summer newsletter has recently been posted to members. Featured articles include a report from the Director, the launch of a sustainable transport toolkit, how CPRE is working with parishes on 'localism' and Hampshire's waste. Several articles talk about threats to the countryside and how you can participate in helping us protect it. There are also updates on the activities of our local and county-wide groups.
Download Hampshire Views No. 3 (Spring/Summer 2011) - PDF (2.4Mb)
February 2011
Speaker service
We are expanding our speaker service to community groups and local organisations. Some of our many subjects include: Our 2026 vision - the future of the countryside, the South Downs National Park, the work of CPRE. We can also tailor our talks to fit with the local area and our work relevant to this.
We would be happy to talk to any local group depending on volunteer availability. A contribution towards our travelling costs would be appreciated. If you belong to a group who would like CPRE to visit, please do get in touch with Becky French at branch office.
February 2011
Steve's Leave's Sponsors 2011 Countryside Awards
Launched in 2007, the CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award is one of the best established Awards schemes in the county and over 20 projects have been recognised by an award to date. For 2011 CPRE Hampshire is proud to have the Awards sponsored by Steve's Leaves, pioneering farmers who grow tasty, nutritious baby leaves with nature friendly farming, building special habitats to encourage wildlife. The programme is being run in conjunction with Hampshire Fare & Hampshire Ambassadors.
Go to the awards page for full details and how to submit a scheme for one of this year's awards.
January 2011
"Stop Fareham New Town"
This is the 2011 name of the campaign to stop the development of North Fareham Strategic Development Area. CPRE Hampshire issued a press release in late December, saying how it was shocked by the decision of Fareham council to withdraw the online consultation and disregard comments received to date. A new consultation has been launched on 4th January.
See Press Release :: North Fareham SDA page
December 2010
Our Autumn Update has just been posted to our members. This 4-page bulletin includes reports on successes in our flytipping campaign, a progress report from our Director (Anthony McEwen), news for Parish and Amenity Groups, some information on membership, the 500 Club and legacies, plus the first glimpse at some of the events planned for our 2011 Walks & Talks programme. Relevant sections of this website have been updated with material from bulletin or...
Download the complete Autumn Update 2010 here (PDF: 386K).
November 2010
Postcard Campaign to Stop New Town
Our main focus this month has been the campaign against the North Fareham Strategic Development Area. Despite a vigorous postcard campaign by CPRE and SHUV (South Hampshire's Unheard Voices), Fareham Borough Council approved its local development framework, including this development, which would add a small town of between 6,500-7,500 homes. It will infill the only piece of green countryside between the village of Wickham and Fareham. The campaign will continue until this major development is dropped.
See the North Fareham SDA page to keep abreast of latest developments in this campaign.
November 2010
Parish & Amenity Group News
Following last year's successful event, CPRE Hampshire organised another 'Enhance Your Parish' seminar designed specifically to help parishes and amenity groups with their work. The aim of the event was to share experience and to hear about how current campaigns can help improve your community.
Read more... :: Seminar Flier (PDF)
October 2010
Government Consults on Future of the Countryside
The Government is consulting on its vision for the natural environment, in advance of producing a White Paper early next year. This is said to be a once in a generation opportunity to improve our natural environment which, despite best efforts, has declined over the last 50 years. The focus is on wildlife and biodiversity, but landscape and countryside is included.
Many CPRE members responded to the consultation which closed on 31st October. You can read more at Defra's Natural Environment White Paper page.
September 2010
Planning decisions to be more local
CPRE Hampshire welcomes the coalition government's moves to give more planning decision to local councils. After spending considerable effort over the last few years in reviewing the South East Plan our attention is now moving towards the Local Development Frameworks that councils have been developing. We wait to see how the new planning regime will work in practice. Already there have been some developments we like, and some we don't:
- Good - abandonment of the Hedge End Strategic Development Area (SDA). See press release 21st July.
- Bad - continued efforts to push for 10,000 homes in a 'new town' in the Fareham SDA. See press release 3rd August.
- Good - proposals for 20 new houses on former HMS Mercury site near East Meon. See press release 10th August.
- Bad - the plans for some 570 homes on greenfield land on the outskirts of Petersfield in the South Downs national Park. See press release 3rd August.
Our planning pages spell out in more detail the general issues we face in planning and in housing.
August 2010
CPRE welcomes call to de-clutter the Countryside
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Philip Hammond are writing to councils to ask them to 'cut the clutter'. CPRE Hampshire's anti-clutter campaign has had some success and we welcome this announcement which we hope will increase the momentum to reducing unecessary signage in rural areas.
See also the CPRE National news item on this subject.
June 2010
AGM Celebrates the New South Downs National Park (June 2010)
At this year's AGM held at Itchen Abbas, Christopher Napier, the Chairman of CPRE Hampshire gave a run down of our campaigning work during 2009-10. After the fomal part of the meeting CPRE member, Margaret Paren, who was recently appointed chair of the new South Downs national Park Authority gave a talk on the new park as well as showing slides that show what a gem we have on our doorstep.
See Chairman's annual report 2009-10 and press release reporting on the AGM (13th July).
June 2010
All Change at the Branch Office
This year has been all change at the Branch office. At the start of the year was the move to Bridgett's Farm. Then in May, Pam Mason left after 5 years as administrator for which she was awarded a CPRE Countryside Medal (see press release 20th July.) We now welcome Anthony McEwen as our new Director and Joanne George as our new administrator (see press release 22nd July). Becky French continues as Branch Development Officer.
Read the article about these changes.
May 2010
Hampshire Views - Issue 2
Our new annual printed newsletter went out to members recently. This Spring/Summer 2010 edition includes information on the restructuring of our local groups, affordable housing, airport expansion and the celebration of the South Downs National Park to mention just a few.
You can download Hampshire Views No. 2 here (PDF:1.3Mb). The 2009 inaugural issue (PDF: 1.7Mb) is also available.
January 2010
CPRE Hampshire is moving!
We are pleased to announce that in January 2010, the Branch Office will be moving to new premises on the outskirts of Winchester. Just 5 minutes drive from junction 9 of the M3 motorway, the new office is in a rural location and is much more suited to our needs than the attic accommodation we have worked from for the past 30 years. See contact details for our new office address and phone number.
For earlier news please go to our news archive.
This page last updated 15th June 2011.
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