CPRE Sussex - Campaign to Protect Rural England (Sussex) : Welcome


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CPRE SUSSEX

welcome

Our Campaigns

Full article on The Challenge of Change from Branch member Desmond Gunner

Membership

>	CPRE Sussex Members' Events in and around Sussex for 2009
>	The Sussex Review is now available for pdf download


>	CPRE Sussex Aims and Objectives

Tranquillity Maps

South-East Map

Has your MP signed the Early Day Motion on Tranquillity>
> Find out more

Aviation

The Government's Air Transport White Paper of 2003 backed a huge growth in air travel in the coming decades,including Gatwick. We are calling for the Government to rethink the policies in the White Paper to prevent loss of large tracts of our countryside.

>Read about our concerns for Gatwick

Intrusion Maps

> Intrusion Map Sequence 1960 to 2007

CPRE maps show the shocking impact of intrusion on our undisturbed countryside. With increased pressure from development in all forms our peaceful countryside could disappear in only 45 years, within the lifetime of our children. 65% of West Sussex countryside is affected by noise and visual intrusion, 56% in East Sussex

CPRE Sussex Countryside Awards

Mr Peter Field, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex and Charles Hendry MP were amongst the guests at the first ever CPRE Sussex Countryside Awards Ceremony, held at Braylsham Castle on 26th May 2009.

Entries were received from across Sussex in all three categories: New Sussex Landscapes; Field to Table and Sussex Rural Industry.

The entries were considered by a panel of distinguished judges, chaired by landscape historian and geographer Dr Peter Brandon. Lady Caroline Egremont, Mrs Phylidda Stewart-Roberts OBE, CVO, DL and Miss Margaret Moore, Vice President of CPRE Sussex completed the panel.

The judges were extremely impressed by the innovative and sensitive nature of the projects, together with the contribution they make to their local communities.

Gerald Summerfield, Vice Chairman of CPRE Sussex, opened the Ceremony. He commented "our new CPRE Sussex Award Scheme has been a unique opportunity to support and encourage innovative and sensitive development schemes here in Sussex. The judges have been full of praise and the winners can be hugely proud of their contribution to the landscape and their communities."
>Find out more

South East Plan
too many house in the wrong place

CPRE Sussex is shocked that the final South East Plan is forcing 116,000 houses on Sussex , equivalent to a city the size of Brighton and Hove . Yet three quarters of Sussex is not available for major development at all, due to AONBs, the new National park, and other constraints!

The Argus* on 7th May described the Plan as having ‘ridden roughshod over critics of its house building targets'. We agree!

Other parts of the South East region may have reason to be pleased with the result, but CPRE Sussex is appalled at these housing allocations. The only slight improvement from previous proposals is the 1000 reduction in Brighton & Hove, but none of the countryside districts have been changed from previous excessive proposals.

CPRE Sussex will continue to resist these ill-considered and inappropriate housing allocations which are based on flawed housing projections which have been invalidated by the Credit Crunch.

*See The Argus

South Downs National Park Decision

CPRE Sussex has welcomed the great news on 30th March 2009 that the South Downs has been declared a National Park. Working with other groups in the South Downs Campaign, we have fought for this for nearly twenty years, and are delighted it has at last come to fruition almost exactly 60 years since National Parks themselves became possible under the 1949 Act, itself the result of a long CPRE campaign.

The National Park will be established broadly along the lines proposed by the Countryside Agency seven years ago and will bring greater protection and funding to the area. The Western Weald, Ditchling and Lewes have now all been included in the designation.

With the inclusion of the Western Weald, the Park will ensure that this important landscape is properly protected from inappropriate development, overcoming the concern that loss of the designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty could cause adverse effects.

A new National Park Authority will be formed, and is expected to come into power in 2011. With the demands for new housing and large-scale development in the South East, the National Park Authority will need to be a strong guardian of the South Downs . CPRE Sussex will look to work with the new body and the many organisations of the South Downs Campaign to ensure its success.

>See Boundary Map

Gatwick Second Runway Threat Emerges

“Unsustainable” was how CPRE Sussex Director Stuart Meier described the renewed proposal of a second runway at Gatwick on Meridian TV news on Thursday 18th December 2008.

A forty year long agreement by owners BAA prevents the construction of a second runway until at least 2019. However, the impending sale of the airport has led to speculation that the agreement could be breached. CPRE will fight to ensure the agreement stays in place and that unsustainable development is prevented.

On the programme, Stuart Meier also challenged the need for additional runway capacity at a time of falling passenger numbers, and of increasing concern at greenhouse gas emissions.

>Link to Aviation Campaign

Planning News

Downland Farm, Uckfield, Planning Appeal Refused
The Secretary of State has refused the application
>Find out more

Ford Eco-Town Residents voice their concerns
>Find out more

SE Plan EiP
We are currently digesting the Inspectors' report.
>View our submissions

Need help with a planning matter?
>Find out more

Disappointing Glyndebourne "Special Case" Decision Allows Turbine to go ahead
>Find out more

Keep it Local by Buying British Foods

10 good reasons to eat food from British farms.

> Find out more

Stop the Drop

CPRE has launched a major campaign led by their President, the well-known author, Bill Bryson, to target the growing problem of litter in the countryside.
>Find out more

Land Banking

A growing problem in Sussex where land is subdivided into small plots and sold as if it has development potential. If you know of any such activity please report this to Development Control at your local Council and notify CPRE National Office to help maintain their database. Please email to info@cpre.org.uk titled 'Landbanking in Sussex'
> Find out more

Goverment Response to "Starry Night" Petition

As a result of CPRE's Night Blight campaign, a petition was signed asking the Prime Minister to "ensure that all exterior lights are shaded to direct their light downwards, so as to prevent light polution obscuring the beauty of the night sky"

>Government's response