Two countryside medallists for CPRE Hampshire

Sir Nigel Thompson (centre) with Countryside Medallists Christopher Napier (left) and John Cooper (right)

Two campaigning volunteers from the Campaign to Protect Rural England's Hampshire branch have been presented with CPRE Countryside Medals for their outstanding efforts in protecting the countryside of Hampshire. The medals were presented by Sir Nigel Thompson, national chairman of CPRE, to Christopher Napier, chairman of CPRE Hampshire, and John Cooper, CBE.

John Cooper lives in Andover. He was chairman of CPRE Hampshire from 1999-2001. John has been involved with CPRE at a national level and since the mid 1990s he has chaired the Test Valley District Group of CPRE Hampshire. Christopher Napier, resident near Petersfield, has been a trustee of the charity since 2000 and was elected Branch Chairman in 2001. Since then, he has worked tirelessly for both the county branch but also for national CPRE, currently holding the role of vice-chairman of the national trustee board. He has also recently taken over chairmanship of CPRE Hampshire's restructured Planning and Rural Group.

In Christopher's speech at the AGM, he thanked all of CPRE Hampshire's volunteers and two staff for their hard work, commitment and energy, which he said was the secret of the charity's success. He underlined the need for new volunteers if these vital campaigns are to continue.

In the last year, volunteers have campaigned on some high profile and important subjects such as the South East Plan's Examination in Public and the creation of the South Downs National Park. CPRE Hampshire has taken the lead nationwide in reducing rural road clutter through regular discussions at a county level, and in initiating local community landscape statements to help villages produce Village Design Statements. One of the newest campaigns will be to work hard on reducing fly-tipping in Hampshire, working with partner organisations.

CPRE Hampshire volunteers have also supported colleagues in Sussex and the Isle of Wight in opposing proposals for large wind turbines in the western Isle of Wight, as well as joining other voices against light pollution from a proposed laser light scheme in Southampton.

The constitution of CPRE Hampshire requires Christopher Napier to step down as chairman in 2008, and the charity is actively looking for a new chairman. Two new vice-chairmanships have been established, on policy and on campaigning, to give a new level of support to whoever steps into the chairman role next year. For further information on CPRE and its campaigns to protect the countryside, visit www.cprehampshire.org.uk.

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Notes to editors

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Hampshire Branch (CPRE Hampshire) is a registered charity and a branch of the national CPRE charity.

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

For membership information on CPRE, please contact:
Pam Mason, administrator, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 843655
Email:admin@cprehampshire.org.uk

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123   Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney000@aol.com

© Copyright. CPRE Hampshire, 2007. All Rights Reserved.