Bill Bryson, author and President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [1], will today (Wednesday) address delegates at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on the value of Our Local Environment.

He will then participate in a Q&A from the conference floor with Peter Ainsworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Eric Pickles MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

It will be Bryson’s first visit to a Conservative conference and his first invitation to set out the views of CPRE at a political party conference. He will be taking the opportunity to launch a new CPRE pamphlet on Communities and the countryside.  This contains a speech by Conservative leader David Cameron which is being published as part of CPRE’s work to develop an attractive and influential vision for the countryside in 2026 – CPRE’s centenary year. [2]

Commenting on the occasion, Bryson said:

‘CPRE has been a leading voice in the countryside debate for 80 years. We’re non-party political but I’m honoured to represent CPRE, and share this platform on a critical debate. It goes to the heart of our work – how people should be able to influence the local environmental decisions that affect their lives.

‘Of course global environmental issues – especially climate change – matter hugely. But people’s concern about the environment usually starts at a local level. It starts with the decisions affecting their street, their village, their local piece of countryside or Green Belt.  If we want people to care about the global, we need to start local.’

Bryson’s contribution to the conference follows David Cameron’s speech at CPRE’s 2008 lecture debating the future of the countryside.  Cameron’s speech – reproduced in the pamphlet being published today – focused on how civil society and strong social values can help rural communities. Bryson will refer to this issue during his platform address.

‘We were delighted that David Cameron recognised the intrinsic worth of beauty, tranquillity and other more intangible elements of environmental quality. A thriving economy is important, but people are less happy if their quality of life is affected by imposed or poorly planned development. Communities must be at the centre of decisions that will impact on their lives and a strong and inclusive planning system is crucial to achieving this.

Bill Bryson concluded:

‘But don’t only take my word for it. I’m a spokesperson for the thousands of people and communities that tell CPRE what they want and need from government. Our politicians must listen to what communities want and respond to those needs with positive action, not just words.’

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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: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. CPRE is publishing 20:26 Vision: Communities and the countryside on Wednesday 1 October.  This contains the speech given by the Rt Hon David Cameron MP to CPRE’s 2008 Annual Lecture and explores the relationship between social value – the theme of his speech – and CPRE’s traditional focus on landscape. His speech formed part of CPRE’s continuing debate on its own vision for the countryside in 2026.

Members of the public can download 20:26 Vision: Communities and the countryside and contribute to CPRE’s online debate from www.cpre.org.uk