Trying to Save the Countryside from Vandalism

**Lateralthinking1** · 07-08-11, 03:06

I know it isn't very good etiquette to bump one's own threads. If people aren't interested, fair enough. It might be that most welcome the new proposals to make major changes to planning approval so that it becomes virtually automatic, ie feel that we need more houses - build them anywhere or arguably the proposals do not threaten woodland and the green belt.

Nevertheless, and I promise it is the last time I will draw attention to this, the topic is the focus of the top story in today's Telegraph. Quite extraordinary given all the other significant events. The Government has apparently declared "war" on those notorious anarchists, the members of the National Trust and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, because of their opposition. Maybe Ministers have mistaken all of the blue rinses for post-punk attitude.

Anyhow, here is the item - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/gre...up-smears.html. It is, I guess, balanced reporting. I have already written to my MP and given him a large piece of my mind.

**Norfolk Born** · 07-08-11, 08:27

I'm sure that many people are addressing this issue through group action rather than as individuals. The Felixstowe Society, which has several hundred members (including yours truly) and is in constant contact with similar groups and with relevant bodies, including Civic Voice and the CPRE, has strong views on the proposals and will make them known both on its own account and in conjunction with others.

**eighthobstruction** · 07-08-11, 12:13

Yep, sorry Lat....not to aknowledge....passed that link onto our local countryside/planning concern NODISC, and the secretary put it out on our email platform [thingy].... cheers tim

**aka Calum Da Jazbo** · 07-08-11, 12:23

well i stood at the last county council elections because the local tories are vandalising the middle kingdom, all the people who lived in the country side voted for them and they continue to vandalise the towns .... it is essentially the same issue ''' in league with the developers and land companies and wanting consumers for the supermarkets and heaven forbid that property prices should fall in the countryside villages eh? [which is why there will be ructions in the tory party and no developer estates in Chipping Norton]

**Lateralthinking1** · 08-09-11, 18:09

Update from CPRE and an important request. First, a reminder of what is involved. The Government proposal is to reduce 1300 pages of national planning policy guidance to 52 pages. Effectively, it is the end of measured planning constraints as we have known them. 3,177 people of all political viewpoints have so far written to their MP to campaign against these planning reforms and sent over 2,000 letters to local papers around the country to publicise what the reforms could mean for the countryside. This is part of the campaign that is supported by the National Trust which has over 3 million members.

Respond to the consultation

"We really want to keep up the momentum - the next few weeks and months will be crucial. And we know that many Campaigns Update readers are keen to ensure their views are heard directly by the Government, as well as by MPs, we’ve created a follow-up online action to allow you to respond to the Government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework. The consultation closes on 17 October – we’re currently pulling together our response, and we really need as many people as possible to email in their views. Please do have your say and respond to the consultation now."

Ensure the Government hears your views - http://e-activist.com/ea-action/acti...,O8QAM,1K5BG,1

Find out more about the consultation - http://www.communities.gov.uk/public...,O8QAM,1K5EU,1

**Simon** · 08-09-11, 21:54

Originally posted by aka Calum Da Jazbo View Post

well i stood at the last county council elections because the local tories are vandalising the middle kingdom, all the people who lived in the country side voted for them and they continue to vandalise the towns .... it is essentially the same issue ''' in league with the developers and land companies and wanting consumers for the supermarkets and heaven forbid that property prices should fall in the countryside villages eh? [which is why there will be ructions in the tory party and no developer estates in Chipping Norton]

I know that for you there is only one side, Calum, which is that all conservative and centrist ideology is evil and the only way forward is that of the left that you espouse.

But you'd have more of a chance of gaining converts if you wrote in a way that people could understand. I'm not generally too thick, I don't think, but I can't grasp exactly what you are saying above. Can you give some examples?

I'm interested because as you know I am a "tory" and I live in the countryside and we have a tory MP and a tory district council and a tory county council and as far as I can tell - and I think I would know, as we own a bit of land ourselves - whether anybody was "vandalising" anywhere. But I know that doesn't mean it might not happen elsewhere.

And why on earth would you want to spoil a place like Chipping Norton with developer estates?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=

As regards the general point, Lat - yes, I think you'll find that many of us are doing things in our own way. There is little enough of traditional England left, except the hills, villages, streams and hedgerows. It would indeed be sad if future generations could not enjoy the peace that we have found in the quiet byways.

**Chris Newman** · 08-09-11, 23:12

Simon, as I said on another thread you do not seem to understand irony.

Chris.

**eighthobstruction** · 09-09-11, 05:10

The letter I sent to my MP, and was replied to with bathos....what chance Simon will understand that....<unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect emoticon>

**Mr Pee** · 09-09-11, 09:41

More people in an already overcrowded island will inevitably lead to more demand for housing. The net migration figures for the past year showed a significant uplift, despite the Government's assurances that they would bring them down.

The need to build on what remains of our beatiful countryside is a symptom. There is also a need to address the cause.

**MrGongGong** · 09-09-11, 09:51

Originally posted by Mr Pee View Post

More people in an already overcrowded island will inevitably lead to more demand for housing. The net migration figures for the past year showed a significant uplift, despite the Government's assurances that they would bring them down.

The need to build on what remains of our beatiful countryside is a symptom. There is also a need to address the cause.

what a surprise

one only has to go for a short walk in Scotland to realise that the idea that its an empty wilderness is a bit of a myth, thousands of people used to live there before they were all cleared off to make way for sheep. Which is NOT to say that we should build everywhere, but much of our countryside is as man made a landscape as the towns and cities, the idea that its been that way for thousands of years is daft.

The tory idea that we should loosen planning in favour of development simply means that Tescos et al will be allowed to fill the edges of towns with more boxes.
The Government really has little ability to change migration and we really do need hard working people to pick our vegetables etc etc

**Simon** · 09-09-11, 13:24

Originally posted by Chris Newman View Post

Simon, as I said on another thread you do not seem to understand irony.

Chris.

And as I replied, Chris, I understand it very well and sometimes use it myself.

What you didn't understand was that I was trying - as so often - to persuade our frind Calum to state his points in a way that makes absolutely clear his argument, instead of using slanted innuendo.

Having said that, I'm not holding my breath for his examples, as his post was a vague leftwing jibe without much foundation against rural conservative LAs.

My final question, which I'm sure he will have figured out even if you didn't, was in fact not really a question, but simply a wide-eyed, pseudo-naive rebuttal of the inference in his original post - which, if you think about it, makes my point perfectly.

**Simon** · 09-09-11, 13:28

Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post

The letter I sent to my MP, and was replied to with bathos....what chance Simon will understand that....<unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect emoticon>

Well, I'm very ready to admit that I don't understand this. It's not even proper English!

**Lateralthinking1** · 10-09-11, 23:41

Ministers accused of 'hypocrisy' over relaxation of planning regulations - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...ng-regulations

Apathy over planning law changes could put countryside in danger - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...tryside-danger

Planning policy minister faces strong opposition from Tory heartlands - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...cal-opposition

**Lateralthinking1** · 12-09-11, 03:30

Planning minister's in pact with developers over reforms - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/han...r-reforms.html

Hands Off Our Land: by numbers - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/han...y-numbers.html

Trying to Save the Countryside from Vandalism

Trying to Save the Countryside from Vandalism

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