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.

The Surrey Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has welcomed the decision by the Government to dismiss an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for Dunsfold Park New Town. The Department for Communities & Local Government has announced that it agrees with the conclusion of the Planning Inspector that Waverley Council was right to reject the scheme for 2,600 new homes at Dunsfold, as the scheme was “environmentally unsustainable” and went against local, regional and national policy. CPRE Surrey Branch Director Andy Smith said: “We are delighted that...