Press Release (South Hampshire Group): 20th September 2011

CPRE's local planning campaign at full throttle

National policy changes would affect all areas of England

The Campaign to Protect Rural England's local district group members are engaged in a nationally high profile campaign to save our beautiful countryside. The campaign began on 25th July and is now entering its ninth week. 28 days are left (as at 20th Sept) in a countrywide consultation about the Government's proposed amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) with a deadline for responses of 17th October 2011.

The national charity, CPRE is a lead campaigner in the fight to prevent far-reaching changes from reaking havoc on the landscape in years to come. Local CPRE members have contacted their MPs and district councillors in part of a coordinated campaign in this part of Hampshire.

CPRE's Test Valley group chairman, John Cooper, said today:

"The Borough of Test Valley embraces large swathes of attractive countryside both along the river valley and on the low hills alongside. Our two towns, Andover and Romsey are surrounded by a scatter of attractive villages. Managing the growth of these two towns in a sustainable way is the big challenge and the new planning proposals will put this at risk. Andover is already expanding by some 3000 housing units contained in two major areas but we are concerned that earlier applications rejected in the past will be resurrected. Bere Hill Farm to the south-east of the town and Little Park Farm to the west are the obvious examples. Romsey is equally at risk of spreading out to the to the south and south-east."

Mr Cooper continued:

"Apart from the North Wessex Downs 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' (AONB) to the north of Andover and, in the far south of the Borough, areas on the edges of the New Forest National Park - the Borough's countryside is not well protected so that many villages will be at risk of developments far beyond their capacity."

To write to your MP you can use a template letter prepared by CPRE Hampshire at www.cprehampshire.org.uk (RTF format for use with MS Word, Writer etc. - opens in new window) or go to http://bit.ly/p1FbsC for a template that you can personalise and send by email. To sign the petition please visit: https://www.planningforpeople.org.uk/.

Telephone Becky French at the CPRE Hampshire office on 01962 779185 with any questions.

- Ends -

CPRE/H/218 (Test Valley)

Notes to editors

1. More details on the proposed National Planning Policy Framework can be found at: http://bit.ly/pNluxz

2. CPRE Hampshire foresees the consequences of the new Framework as:

A top-down mandate to local authorities to approve development; the presumption has to be "yes", even if approval would override the Local Plan
No more protection of countryside for its intrinsic character and beauty
No more priority for brownfield to be used before greenfields are built on
The much vaunted 'Localism in planning' becomes meaningless - refusal by a local authority to reflect local views would easily be overturned on appeal
Transport grounds would not normally be a basis for refusal.

3. CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquillity 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 all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123 Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney@compege.co.uk

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Anthony McEwen, Director, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 779185 Mobile: 07717 296025
Email:anthony.mcewen@cprehampshire.org.uk