Threat' To Natural Beauty Sites

[Jane Louise]

'Threat' to natural beauty sites

Beauty spots at nine sites throughout England are under threat from building and road developments, the Campaign to Protect Rural England says.

The environmental lobby group said Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty were among locations under threat because rules were ignored.

Describing nine "jewels in the crown", it said proposals involved a football stadium, bypasses and a race track.

It claimed local councils and government were "tearing up the rules".

"The whole basis on which the nation's most beautiful countryside is there to be enjoyed by us all is called into question by a series of damaging proposals," said Tom Oliver, head of rural policy at the CPRE.

Obeying the rules

"Protected landscapes are only protected to the extent that the government and local authorities obey their own rules.

"Time and again, it appears that the government or a local council is tearing up the rules when a significant conflict arises between one of our finest landscapes and another interest," Mr Oliver said.

"We have to ask, 'What is the point of having laws that protect our precious countryside if they are ignored when it really matters?'"

CPRE said its list included the A590 High and Low Newton Bypass, which "got the go-ahead despite running for its entire length through the Lake District National Park."

The other eight were:

Derbyshire: Proposal to renew activity at Backdale Quarry, north of Great Longstone in the Peak District National Park. Inquiry awaited

Devon: Plan to develop Dunkeswell Racing Circuit affecting the Blackdown Hills AONB. Partly approved but full planning decision awaited

Dorset: Plans to bypass a stretch of the A354 north of Weymouth which the CPRE says would damage the South Dorset Ridgeway and the Bincombe Valley in the Dorset AONB. Concerns for Dorset Wildlife Trust's Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve, ancient woodland in the Woodland Trust's Two Mile Coppice, and an area of archaeological interest. Planning application published

Kent: Plans for housing and science park in the Kent Downs AONB. Proposal

Peak District: Plans to upgrade the Mottram-Tintwistle bypass. Public inquiry expected

Lincolnshire: Wind farm at Fen Farm, near Conisholme. CPRE believes it will cause "visual intrusion" into the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB. Approved

Northumberland: Proposed wind farm at Plenmeller near Haltwhistle considered by the CPRE to be a "visual intrusion" to North Pennines AONB. Planning application expected

Sussex: New stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion FC and transport interchange at Falmer, within Sussex Downs AONB, proposed new national park. Permission granted subject to legal challenge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5297164.stm

[PersianPaladin]

They don't need to be creating further roads through these natural beauty spots. Honestly, there are enough as there is.

[Thundery wintry showers]

It's more economical in the short-term to build in scenic areas than on brownfield sites, I think that's why it happens (the Sunderland Academy of Light on greenbelt land being a good example- the council actually voted against it, but Sunderland appealed to John Prescott, who violated his own laws and gave them permission).

Incentives are needed- probably of the carrot-and-stick variety- to get developers to build on brownfield sites. Some of the land that is built on becomes derelict with time; it's most sustainable in the long-term to build and rebuild on the same areas of land, renovating derelict areas, and not eat into our countryside. This "shifting cultivation" type development is wasteful- you end up with devastation to countryside, loss of areas of scenic beauty, and developed areas of dereliction.

[WBSH]

Yes, its a sad fact that a lot of individual issues and needs are seen wrongly in my view more important than our natural landscape. Like down here in the SE they are apparently proposing 500,000 more new "homes" (a lot on greenbelt and AONB I suspect). I know theres a population increase but why exactly the government feel the need to take such drastic and crass measures I do not know. I think much more effort should be done to preserve our natural beauty sites... at one stage parakeets were living in London.

WBSH

[Thundery wintry showers]

WBSH, your points bring us nicely to the North-South divide, which is a good example of this.

There's lots of dereliction in the North, and lots of excess demand for housing in the South East- so I'm guessing a lot of "supply and demand" arguments and short-term profiteering are leading to the conclusion that we need development in the SE. I think it's highly likely that the arguments for it are economic.

It's about time factors other than economics came into consideration when developers make decisions. We need renovation of derelict sites in the North and improvement of job opportunities so that people aren't forced to demand housing in the SE because of all the employment and facilities being there.

[WBSH]

It's about time factors other than economics came into consideration when developers make decisions. We need renovation of derelict sites in the North and improvement of job opportunities so that people aren't forced to demand housing in the SE because of all the employment and facilities being there.

I'm certainly with what you are saying TWS, thinking about what can make people decide to stay north rather than move south would help the imbalance and thus reduce the percieved housing demands here. Also I think urban re-development should be a factor well worth considering everywhere in the country.

WBSH

[tornadomanuk]

Devon: Plan to develop Dunkeswell Racing Circuit affecting the Blackdown Hills AONB. Partly approved but full planning decision awaited.

For anyone who is interested, this area is earmarked to become a huge Formula 3 racing curcuit complete with large shops/restaurant.

Nigel Mansell has bought the area and is planning the transformation.

But the locals reckon the roads around the area will become a race track for 'boyracers'.

[Thundery wintry showers]

There's always the option of things like police speed checks and speed cameras to implement if they're worried about boy racers spoiling it. They may be unpopular with some- but in an area with boy racers they would be useful at rounding them up and stopping them.

As for the destruction to natural beauty and scenery, it really depends- if the locals complain about that, it's a much less addressable objection if they're determined to go ahead with the race track.