Surrey’s countryside is under threat from new waves of housebuilding, airport expansion and mineral extraction – despite the Government’s assurances about safeguarding the Green Belt. This was the message for members of CPRE Surrey at their annual meeting on 27 April held at the Abraham Dixon Hall in Leatherhead. Speakers at the meeting highlighted the dangers to the Surrey countryside from growing development pressures and from the Government’s policy of promoting economic growth even at the expense of the environment. Members from all over the county attended the meeting...

A threat by the owner of Dunsfold Park near Cranleigh to increase flights to and from Dunsfold aerodrome has provoked a strong response from the Surrey Branch of CPRE. A letter from Surrey branch director Andy Smith, published on April 15 in the Surrey Advertiser, reflects CPRE’s anger at developer Jim McAllister’s attempts to force Waverley Council and the local community to accept an expansion of aviation at Dunsfold as an alternative to his already-defeated “Eco-town” scheme. Presenting the community with a choice between a large-scale and unsustainable housing development on one hand and increased flights on the other is, says CPRE, an “entirely false and spurious” choice.

CPRE Surrey has responded to the County Council’s draft Transport Plan. In its submission, the Branch expresses concern that insufficient attention is given in the Plan to the transport needs of the rural parts of the county. The Branch also questions the draft Plan’s failure to address traffic-related environmental impacts other than air pollution, such as noise and vibration and visual intrusion.

Another significant policy development since the General Election is the new Government’s decision to reverse Labour’s aggressively expansionist aviation policy.

A planning inquiry into the planned expansion of aircraft movements at Farnborough Airport closed at the end of June after a four-week hearing. The Planning Inspector’s recommendations will be submitted to the Government by September.