CPRE

The air transport industry is committed to massive expansion in the coming years. This will bring noise, traffic and new development to many parts of the countryside and undermine the Government’s goal of tackling climate change. CPRE believes the Government should develop policies to manage the growth of aviation to protect the environment and to help tackle climate change.

Land is a precious resource, and must be used wisely. Much progress has been made in recent years in making use of previously developed land, or ‘brownfield sites’, for new development. Around three quarters of new homes are now built on brownfield sites. Overall, this is good news for the countryside, and good news for urban areas which have benefited from regeneration. CPRE supports a ‘brownfield first, greenfield last’ strategy as a general principle. However, just because a site is brownfield does not mean it should necessarily be developed.

Climate change is the most urgent and complex environmental issue we face today. The impact of both energy generation and use on the countryside and the climate is growing. There are measures the Government can take before pursuing proposals for a new round of nuclear power stations or other options for energy generation. It’s wrong to focus the entire debate on the supply side alone. CPRE believes overnment should prioritise measures to curb the growth in energy demand, encourage energy efficiency and promote a wide range of renewable technologies.

Traffic and congestion are on the increase, bringing demand for new roads and bypasses. New roads may bring short-term relief, but the cost to the countryside can be unacceptably high. They rarely solve underlying problems, and new schemes should only be considered as a last resort. CPRE believes there are better solutions to our transport problems. The Government should pursue policies that reduce the need to travel, especially by car, and promote attractive alternative transport solutions.

Articles in this issue of Fieldwork, CPRE's quarterly campaigning newsletter: dormice as trapeze artists, why beef and sheep farming matters, mapping out campaigns, setting up shop, counting the cost of planning reforms. CPRE members can choose to receive free copies.

Articles in this issue of Fieldwork: sleuthing around hedgerows, power to the people, bringing sheep into the classroom, looking at the case for rail, a campaign the Wombles would like.

Articles in this issue of Fieldwork: keeping cool at public inquiries, taking on the supermarket giants, looking at the future of rural car clubs, shady dealings on golf courses, will renewable energy transform the countryside? CPRE members can choose to receive free copies.

Articles in this issue of Fieldwork: making a noise about Quiet Lanes, how fish and chips are reducing litter, power to the people: using new legislation, championing the uplands, creative tactics promote local food.