Litter is the most widespread blight of our public spaces and countryside. It is costing councils in excess of half a billion pounds annually to clear it up. Bill Bryson is heading CPRE's new national campaign to fight litter and fly-tipping. 
Hands off the Green Belt
The story so far
In March 2006, the South East England Regional Assembly published its draft 20-year Regional Plan, or ‘Spatial Strategy’, which includes provision for building 28,900 houses per annum.
After a period of consultation this was reviewed at an ‘Examination in Public’ from November 2006 to March 2007. In August 2007 the Government-appointed Panel of Inspectors issued their 460-page report on the draft Plan. This included a recommendation for an additional 10% increase in house building with a new total of 32,000. The Government response to this document was expected by the end of 2007. It is now suggested that it will only be published at the end of July 2008, just before the Parliamentary summer recess. It is anticipated that the Government would like to see a further increase in the housing target. The 12-week consultation on this document will therefore take place partly during the holiday period. Few significant changes are anticipated from this process unless public pressure intensifies.
The key issue
The key issue in the Panel report is the proposal for a higher rate of house building. Surrey is expected to absorb 20% more housing than allowed for
in the draft South East Plan and to sacrifice important parts of the Metropolitan Green Belt to accommodate this extra wave of building. The ‘London Fringe’ Sub-Region, which covers two thirds of the county, has been transformed by the Panel recommendations from an area of growth constraint into a priority location for development. Whereas in the draft SE Plan, Guildford, Redhill and Woking were classified as ‘transport hubs’, now they are to become major centres of housing increase and further economic expansion. Moreover, this proposal is made without any real commitment to meet the need for additional infra-structure support. The implication is that unless Surrey agrees to more housing it will not be given the funding it requires for its essential infra-structure including road and rail, hospitals, schools, and water and waste treatment.
Metropolitan Green Belt
The Government and specifically the Treasury are dictating an economic strategy that calls for three million new houses to be built across Britain in the next 20 years regardless of the consequences. To achieve this, it is apparent that well proven policies and planning processes based on local democracy are being put at risk by legislative change and local government reform. CPRE is particularly concerned by the threat to the Metropolitan Green Belt that has protected open space and the countryside for over 50 years. This most successful land use policy was not established purely for the benefit of the residents of Surrey, or for the other Home Counties, but also for London inhabitants. The general public has a high regard for the Green Belt and the role it has played in preventing ribbon development and urban sprawl. There is a good understanding that planning policies of this kind are necessary in a heavily populated section of the country overshadowed by London. It is ironic that the Government is poised to undermine the heritage of the Metropolitan Green Belt whilst claiming that it still supports national Planning Policy Guidance 2 with its emphasis on open space, countryside protection and urban renaissance. The CPRE message – ‘Hands off the Green Belt!’ – needs to be expressed loud and clear. The future quality of life in London, Surrey and the Home Counties depends on defending the Metropolitan Green Belt now.
Plan of action
The delay in the issue of the Government response to the Panel report on the Examination in Public of the draft South East Plan has given more time for public protest to be heard at grass roots level in Surrey. In Guildford, for example, where a 31% increase in housing is demanded, local residents’ associations have launched a letter-writing campaign to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with copies going to their local MP,
to the Leader of the Council, to the Editor of the Surrey Advertiser, and to the Government Office for the South East. Local people have begun to realise that there is a significant danger that the town’s character will be wrecked by over-development and the surrounding countryside irretrievably damaged in the process. The other regional hubs at Redhill and Woking may wish to consider a similar campaign approach. Details of Guildford’s resistance to the destruction of local character are available on the website, www.egra.org.uk.
The London Mayoral and other local elections in May offer a golden opportunity for CPRE supporters and other voters to raise with candidates the issue of protecting the Metropolitan Green Belt. Formal consultations have become so technical and remote that the public and local societies often feel excluded, so these elections offer a unique chance to get the Green Belt message across at public meetings and in face to face interviews with candidates.
During the summer CPRE Surrey will feature on its recently updated website details of how supporters might like to respond by letter to the consultation regarding the Government commentary on the Panel Report on the draft SE Plan. It is hoped also to be able to make available a range of flyers, posters and car stickers to help increase the visibility of this campaign.
If you would like to volunteer to help, please make contact with CPRE Surrey either by phone, e-mail or letter. If you are in sympathy with our views but feel unable to undertake active campaigning, you may wish to consider making a donation to help towards the costs involved. The strength of CPRE Surrey’s voice depends on the size of its membership and the generosity of its supporters. If you are not already a member, please do join. We look forward to hearing from you.
Useful addresses:
The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP
Secretary of State for Communities
& Local Government
Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU
hazel.blears@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Colin Byrne
Regional Director
Government Office for the South East
Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4GA
colin.byrne@gose.gsi.gov.uk
Surrey Voice - April 2008
The latest issue of Surrey Voice - CPRE Surrey's newletter, April 2008 - reports on a range of issues affecting Surrey and its countryside, from quarrying, litter and fly-tipping, and planning issues, to incineration, urban trees and above all, theats to our Green Belt.
The stories from the newsletter can be found under "News". If you would prefer a paper copy, please call the CPRE Surrey Branch on 01372 362720, email us at cpre.surrey@btconnect.com or write to us at:
CPRE Surrey Branch,
Room 1, The Institute,
67 High Street,
Leatherhead,
Surrey KT22 8AH.
