Current news
Only one in 25 believes general election will have a positive impact on rural communities
Written by CPRE Sussex
Poll commissioned by CPRE and Hastoe finds dearth of rural affordable housing, and that nearly 70 per cent of public do not think that politicians care about affordable housing in rural areas
The UK public have little faith in Westminster to deliver positive change for people living in rural communities, according to a YouGov survey published today by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and leading rural housing association Hastoe.
Around 100 people who attended a CPRE Sussex public meeting in Polegate on 8 November 2014, discussing plans for damaging new roads west of Polegate that have been introduced without convincing economic evidence or traffic demand data to back them up.
CPRE calls for more focus on shale oil exploitation implications for Sussex
Written by Michael Brown
1 August 2014
CPRE calls for more focus on shale oil exploitation implications for Sussex in its submission on WSCC’s proposed new minerals local policy
CPRE Sussex has made representations to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) on the early stage background documents that will inform WSCC and the South Downs National Park Authority in their development of a new joint minerals local plan for Mid Sussex to replace their current (2003) out-of-date plan.
10 July 2014
Campaigners from the Sussex branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE Sussex) have today aunched their ‘Sussex Countryside Charter’, which calls on MPs and Councillors to ensure better protection for the countryside. The Charter will be launched as part of the CPRE Sussex AGM, which takes place at Plumpton College. With increasing development pressures being forced upon our open countryside, CPRE Sussex has produced the Charter to send a strong message to local and national politicians that the countryside is vital to the health and wellbeing of people in Sussex.
A27 Campaign: demo argues for a "futureproofed transport infrastructure".
Written by CPRE Sussex
26 June 2014
Groups including CPRE Sussex, Campaign for Better Transport, South Downs Society, Eastbourne Friends of the Earth, Combe Haven Defenders, Worthing Downlanders held a demonstration outside the launch of the A27 Action lobbying group meeting in Worthing last Thursday, 26 June.
CPRE Sussex Joins Local Campaigners Against Plans for Damaging New Roads on A27
Written by CPRE SussexMonday 23 June 2014
PHOTOCALL Campaign to Protect Rural England (Sussex) will join a demonstration against damaging road expansion on the A27: Thursday 26 June 4.30-5pm Worthing College, Sanditon Way, Worthing
CPRE (Sussex) will join local groups including Campaign for Better Transport, Sussex Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Earth at a demonstration against damaging road expansion timed to coincide with a parallel meeting of the ‘A27 Action Campaign’- West Sussex County Council, other local authorities, MPs and business leaders lobbying for new roads on Thursday 26 June.
CPRE (Sussex) fears that damaging road proposals could emerge out of a government study [1] including a bypass at Arundel and a dual carriageway between Polegate and Lewes which could destroy cherished countryside and threaten the South Downs National Park.
Georgia Wrighton, Director of CPRE Sussex said “Our CPRE Sussex Countryside Charter calls for positive investment in sustainable transport, prioritising faster and direct access by rail as the responsible way to better connect Sussex. Plans for unnecessarily damaging road expansion on the A27 should be relegated to government archives where they belong.
We need to work smarter, beyond an outdated ‘business as usual’ approach, using the latest technology and sustainable design to better connect Sussex whether that be for relieving congestion at peak hours, for futureproofed transport infrastructure or keeping business moving online.”[2]
Contact: Georgia Wrighton, Director CPRE Sussex 07964894333
Chris Todd, Campaign for Better Transport 07889302229
ENDS
Notes
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-road-network-the-scope-of-6-feasibility-studies
[2] The CPRE Sussex Countryside Charter asks MPs and Councillors to sign up to six commitments to the countryside http://cpresussex.org.uk/campaigns/sussex-countryside-charter
Commitment 5: GETTING AROUND LIGHTLY
Getting around is vital, but it is in all our interests to protect the character and tranquillity of cherished Sussex countryside.
Roads are a vital artery in Sussex life, but in recent times plans for major new roads have posed grave threats to areas of wonderful countryside which once under tarmac are gone forever. We cannot provide for unlimited traffic demands without severely damaging the countryside. Air and noise pollution diminish quality of life and emissions contribute to a more chaotic climate.
We want to see better local rail links, along the coast and linking towns - and to London from coastal towns in need of regeneration. Faster and direct links are vital.
Key commitment
Positive investment in sustainable transport is the responsible way to better connect Sussex, avoiding unnecessarily damaging airport and road expansion.
Monday 23 June 2014
CPRE (Sussex) will join local groups including Campaign for Better Transport, Sussex Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Earth at a demonstration against damaging road expansion timed to coincide with a parallel meeting of the ‘A27 Action Campaign’- West Sussex County Council, other local authorities, MPs and business leaders lobbying for new roads on Thursday 26 June.
CPRE (Sussex) fears that damaging road proposals could emerge out of a government study including a bypass at Arundel and a dual carriageway between Polegate and Lewes which could destroy cherished countryside and threaten the South Downs National Park.
Georgia Wrighton, Director of CPRE Sussex said “Our CPRE Sussex Countryside Charter calls for positive investment in sustainable transport, prioritising faster and direct access by rail as the responsible way to better connect Sussex. Plans for unnecessarily damaging road expansion on the A27 should be relegated to government archives where they belong.
We need to work smarter, beyond an outdated ‘business as usual’ approach, using the latest technology and sustainable design to better connect Sussex whether that be for relieving congestion at peak hours, for futureproofed transport infrastructure or keeping business moving online.”
See the CPRE Sussex Media Release CPRE Sussex Joins Local Campaigners Against Plans for Damaging New Roads on A27
Photo: © Badly Drawn Dad
Former CPRE President Prunella Scales boosts appeal to save Wiltshire chalk stream
Written by William Shaw
Prunella Scales, President of the CPRE from 1997 - 2002, has fronted a video campaign to halt the destruction of a special stretch of the River Wylye, near Warminster. This stretch of the river is a SSSI and SAC, and one of only a handful of chalk streams in the UK. Locals are campaigning to prevent a unique piece of green landscape, Spurt Mead, being built upon.
See the video:
The Stop the development of Spurt Mead Warminster campaign is appealing to people to sign the petition in advance of a planning meeting on June 11.
In December we asked you to complete a short survey about your priorities on several key issues facing Sussex. Amazingly, within a few days almost 200 of you - members and non-members - had completed the survey. Thanks so much for taking part.
The results of the survey? See below.
