General Election: Read the CPRE's Manifesto
Sussex’s beautiful countryside is a world-famous national treasure and makes a huge contribution to the economy and our sense of who we are as individuals and communities, yet is at risk of being side-lined in this election.
The next Parliament will be working hard to address a number of pressing social and environmental challenges and we believe this can be done without undue harm to our finite green-spaces and beautiful landscapes.
Our manifesto for Sussex, linked to the main CPRE manifesto, calls on all politicians to support;
- Full consideration of the natural environment, biodiversity and landscape and scenic beauty in strategic plans and specific development proposals – even for sites without designation or protected status
- Measures to tackle pollution, achieve higher standards in air and water quality, protection of rural tranquillity and dark night skies
- A new vision for sustainable travel in Sussex to reset current roads policy with a smarter travel investment strategy, particularly in relation to the A27
- Airspace modernisation which prioritises the well-being of local people and wildlife. A commitment against further expansion at Gatwick
- More homes which are truly affordable and meet an identified local need. Greater investment in urban regeneration and better use of the existing housing stock, including under-occupied or empty homes
- A significant shift towards a low-carbon economy and away from the extraction of fossil fuels
- Well designed and located housing proposals which have been developed with proper involvement of the local community.
Nationally, CPRE's manifesto calls on all parties in the election to recognise the countryside’s huge contribution to the economy and our sense of who we are as individuals and communities, and to develop policies that will protect and enhance rural areas. This can be downloaded below.
Letter: North of Horsham: plan fails affordable homes target
Written by Roger F SmithLetter published by the West Sussex County Times, 27 April 20
Sir,
North of Horsham: shameful if Council allows a vast tract of beautiful and irreplaceable countryside to be developed without meeting the District’s need for affordable homes
Letter: North of Horsham: Flawed planning application should be refused
Written by Roger F SmithLetter published by the West Sussex County Times, 11 May 2017
Sir,
North of Horsham: Flawed planning application should be refused
UKOG withdraws its application for oil extraction at Markwells Wood within the National Park
Written by CPRE Sussex
UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) has written to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) to withdraw their application to drill for oil at Markwells Wood – due to be heard at committee on 11th May 2017.
Liberty Property Trust: why 800-acre site application is flawed
Written by CPRE Sussex
Developers Liberty Property Trust have submitted an outline planning application to develop 800 acres of countryside north of Horsham; the area was allocated as a strategic site for 2750 houses and a business park by Horsham District Council in its Horsham District Planning Framework (HDPF).
Letter: Where is the government's 25-year plan for the environment?
Written by Stephen HardyLetter to: Rye and Battle Observer
From: Stephen Hardy, MBE, Trustee, CPRE Sussex
Poignantly, the BBC last week showed a picture of the cottages at Birling Gap, just down the coast, which are predicted to collapse into the sea within 25 years.
New methods for hydrocarbon exploration at Broadford Bridge, Billingshurst
Written by CPRE SussexKimmeridge Oil & Gas Limited’s (KOGL) has made an application to the Environment Agency (EA) for a variation to their permit for Broadford Bridge 1, Billinghurst, for hydrocarbon exploration. We have written to the EA as part of the public consultation to raise our concerns. We think these changes require a whole new planning application and so have written to West Sussex County Council to make this point.
The Sussex Express for 31 March featured an article Wildlife Threatened by 300-homes scheme next to Pevensey Levels.
The CPRE has just published new research which identifies that new road schemes generally produce much less in the way of economic benefits and congestion relief than predicted and have a more damaging impact on the environment and landscape.
