A former Russian dissident sets off on a marathon  500-mile, 10 day cycle ride, on 30 August to highlight the threat to the countryside in the South East and East of England on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) {1}.

Dr Marina Voikhanskaya, who celebrates her 72nd birthday this year, lives in Cambridge. She was born and raised in St. Petersburg where she graduated from medical school in 1960. She worked as a psychiatrist until she left Russia and came to England as a political refugee. She took up cycling at the age of 44.

NOTE TO EDITORS
A copy of the Cycle route can be downloaded from CPRE's Web site.

Following Marina's similar cycle ride last year to highlight threats to the Green Belt, she wants this year's 500 journey to draw attention to CPRE's work and the threat to the countryside proposed in the East of England Plan {2} and South East Plan {3}.

She is not alone in her concern for the countryside. Over 2,500 people have signed a petition held on CPRE's website to register their concern about the East of England Plan, and to call for the proposed development to meet the region's needs without wrecking its countryside and quality of life.

A CPRE member, Marina is being sponsored to cycle 50 miles each day, starting in Norwich, Norfolk and finishing at Luton Airport, Bedfordshire. During her ride she will visit Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

She says: 'Having cycled round areas of Green Belt at threat from development last year I saw CPRE's work in action, and the passion that CPRE volunteers have for the countryside.

'I wanted to support CPRE's work again and, living in Cambridgeshire, I was aware of the Government's proposals for development in the East of England and South East.'

To sponsor Marina [4], please donate online www.justgiving.com/MarinaV or call 020 7981 2849 for a donation form.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. The draft East of England Plan is the Regional Spatial Strategy (known as RSS14) which will determine the scale, shape and speed of development in the region to 2021. It was drawn up by the East of England Regional Assembly with strong input from the Government and covers the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. A Panel Report has now been written in response to the Examination-in-Public (EiP) of the draft Plan. At the EiP, which ran from November 2005 to March this year, a Panel of independent planning inspectors examined the proposals set out in the draft Plan in discussion with invited participants. Volunteers and staff from CPRE groups across the East of England were present throughout, participating in discussions on all issues. The Panel Report presents recommendations for how the draft Plan should be modified and has been sent to the Department for Communities and Local Government for consideration. Secretary of State, Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, will publish any proposed revisions to the draft Plan at the end of the year, and the final Plan is expected in 2007. The full report can be downloaded from the website of the East of England Regional Assembly.

3. The South East Plan is the name the South East England Regional Assembly has given to their Regional Spatial Strategy which will replace current planning guidance issued by Government, called Regional Planning Guidance 9 (RPG9). The Plan, which covers Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire but not London, sets out changes needed to improve the quality of life in the region over the next 20 years. The Plan opened for public consultation from 31 March for 12 weeks. The Examination-in-Public will run from November until March 2007. In its current form the South East Plan sets out the region should have 29,000 new homes a year (580,000 homes over the next 20 years).

4. The public can sponsor Dr Marina Voikhanskaya during her cycle challenge or make a donation to CPRE by visiting www.justgiving.com/MarinaV.