TOM HOLME IS OUR NEW CHAIRMAN

Losing precious Green Belt land to satisfy Government building targets is certain to get a furious response from most CPRE members – and Tom Holme is one of them.  Now he has a chance to do something about it because Tom will be leading CPREssex into the next decade – as Chairman!

“It’s lunacy,” said Tom, “that we have unconstrained greenfield housing development when a million properties in the UK are unoccupied,” says Tom.  That shows he’s not afraid to make his views known on several crucial issues.  We now have someone to take over the reins which have been in the capable hands of Peter Chillingworth for the past few years.  Tom Holme is settling into his new role and has outlined already some new ideas and plans for the Branch.

We can’t ignore the fact that these are difficult times for organisations like ours.  Money is tight and people are cutting back on their commitments but one of the great strengths of the CPRE has been the experience and tenacity of members who volunteer their time and energy on a whole range of countryside causes.  Tom is one of them.  He’s been a CPRE member for the past 30 years and has never wavered in his belief that we need a strong, dedicated organisation to make sure that the unique English landscape is preserved for everyone, whether they live in cities, towns, villages or the smallest hamlet.

“I believe that CPRE has always combined exemplary grass roots support with a well-researched and highly regarded national voice,” he emphasised.  And he had something to say to those who feel that CPRE has NIMBY tendencies (‘not in my backyard’).  “I would like it to be known as a NIABY organisation – not in anyone’s back yard!”

So look out for some eye-catching initiatives in the coming months.  Here’s the current Holme ‘hit list’....

• The need for a fair, accountable and transparent planning system.
• Resist airport expansion when it is justified by dubious projections of ever-increasing passenger numbers.
• Create a truly level playing field for the use of public transport relative to cars and planes.

What can we say to that?  Watch this space!

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

THESE ARE BUSY TIMES FOR CPRESSEX.  IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE COUNTY THAT CONCERN OUR MEMBERS THEN HAVE A LOOK AT THE MINUTES OF THE

2009 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (click here) and the

SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER (click here)

VOLUNTEERS CAN STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS

It probably won't surprise many people to know that the two main issues we have to deal with at CPREssex are planning applications and threats to the green belt.   Most of the e-mails and letters are concerned about these threats and want to know what we, as the county branch of a National organisation, can do about it.

We have no magic solutions nor do we have any great influence over the individuals and authorities who make the decisions.  In many instances, the loss of green belt land and granting of planning permission for a new housing development are one and the same problem.  Look at the situations currently causing such anger at Hawkwell and Thundersley.  We are aware of the plans to build hundreds of homes on these two sites and have local representatives of CPREssex monitoring what is happening.

A recent BBC programme - Country File - highlighted the loss of Green Belt throughout England and came up with some depressing figures.  Thousands of acres are being lost every year and although there are suggestions that new 'areas of greenery' are being created, the fact is that developers will continue to eye those stretches of the countryside on the edges of towns and villages.  From a builder's point-of-view these are prime targets and the desperation and frustration which local people feel when nearby land is sacrificed to housing is natural enough.

Our determination remains the same and we have a lot of volunteers within CPREssex who spend many hours sifting through planning applications and looking for opportunities to challenge the logic and intentions of the developers.  All the time we have to remember that the countryside, especially in the South East, cannot sustain plans to build 250,000 homes over the next 15-20 years.  The figures are almost overwhelming - and they are often being revised upwards.

CPRE is not an organisation that believes high-profile, direct action can achieve its aims.  We do not chain ourselves to railings or have to be removed forcibly by the Police if we object to a new road development.   But we are tenancious; we are prepared to explore a number of avenues to support our principles and make sure the landscape has some form of protection.  In the current climate, success is not easy but that doesn't stop any of us from trying.

What we need is more help to continue the battle!  A few hours a month or support at a district meeting is greatly valued.  So if anyone out there wants to add their voice and time to our efforts then please get in touch.   Tony Middleton, our Campaigns and Development Manager, will be delighted to hear from you.

David Williams