Just before Christmas the Government finally fully u-turned on their promise to ban fracking in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Companies will not be allowed to drill from the surface in National Parks to frack, but will still be allowed to frack under and around them. The Government has dropped ludicrous plans to allow fracking directly through drinking water aquifers, but it will be allowed in the areas supplying drinking water aquifers.
Letter: there is an intrinsic link between the economy and the environment.
Written by CPRE SussexLetter published by the West Sussex County Times, 7 January 2016:
Sir
There must be much more representation for biodiversity at Westminster and at every decision level below that to ensure sustainability.
A group opposed to possible Gatwick Airport expansion has said if it goes ahead, it will cause “misery” to commuters on the Brighton to London railway line.
This comes as Brighton and Hove City Council expressed its support for an expansion at Gatwick.
Mid Sussex draft District Plan: yet more madcap ideas, consultation and delay
Written by Michael BrownMid Sussex update (January 2016)
The most significant story is the painfully rumbling saga of the District Council’s flailing attempts to pin down a draft of its new long term District Plan (it will run until 2031) that is fit to present to the Planning Inspectorate for public examination. We report separately below on the latest position, and on the representations that CPRE Sussex has made to the Council on the most recent changes that it has proposed to its draft plan. We remain deeply unhappy with key aspects of that draft Plan. It is too important and will be too longlasting for it to be wrong.
Mid Sussex update (January 2016)
The most significant story is the painfully rumbling saga of the District Council’s flailing attempts to pin down a draft of its new long term District Plan (it will run until 2031) that is fit to present to the Planning Inspectorate for public examination. We report separately below on the latest position, and on the representations that CPRE Sussex has made to the Council on the most recent changes that it has proposed to its draft plan. We remain deeply unhappy with key aspects of that draft Plan. It is too important and will be too longlasting for it to be wrong.
23 Dec 2015
Chichester MP Andrew Tyrie threw his weight behind the Chichester Deserves Better campaign against options being considered by Highways England to create a new bypass through Fishbourne West Broyle, Lavant, Goodwood, Strettingon and Boxgrove. This would result in a dual carriageway running along the boundary of the South Downs National Park.
Anger as ministers open door to fracking under South Downs
Written by CPRE Sussex
Countryside Campaigners in Sussex have reacted angrily to today’s government decision to allow deep fracking under the county’s best loved beauty spots. This afternoon (Dec 16) MPs voted 298 to 261 in favour of allowing drilling at depths of more than 1,200m under sensitive areas like The South Downs National Park and Ashdown Forest.
Andrea Leadsom MP, Minister of State, Department of Energy & Climate Change replied on behalf of Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, to letter from David Johnson, Chair, CPRE Sussex. Download the letter below.
This is CPRE Sussex's response to the Wealden District Council's Local Plan Draft. Download the full letter below:
Dear Sir or Madam,
CPRE Sussex response to Wealden Local Plan - Issues, Options and Recommendations Consultation
This letter is the formal response of the Campaign to Protect Rural England Sussex Branch (CPRE Sussex) to the Wealden District Council (WDC) public consultation on the first stage of preparation for a new Wealden Local Plan, entitled “Issues, Options and Recommendations” (hereafter referred to as the consultation draft.) CPRE Sussex works to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of the Sussex Countryside by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. We encourage appropriate and sustainable land use, farming, woodland and biodiversity policies and practice to improve the well-being of rural communities. It is our position that local planning authorities should seek to ensure that the negative impacts of development on the countryside, both direct and indirect, are kept to a minimum and that development is sustainable in accordance with national planning policy.
