Cornwall

An offer of support from CPRE Cornwall

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is the leading national organisation devoted to the protection of Rural England from inappropriate and unjustifiable development encroaching on beautiful parts of our countryside and within and around our market towns.   There are branches in all English counties with volunteers that work to ensure that the country's beautiful, tranquil and diverse countryside is retained for the benefit of all.

In Cornwall we challenge government plans that seek to impose excessive housing targets on the county and we oppose major planning applications which breach local and national policies or are detrimental to our countryside.  We are not opposed to change, but campaign to see that it is wisely managed and not detrimental to our countryside and towns.  We champion the need for more affordable housing; the retention of village shops, post offices and pubs; and the preservation of the distinctive character of our towns.

CPRE Cornwall is particularly concerned with the proliferation of wind farms across the county that spoil the nature of the rural environment and coastline, and which threatens to destroy the very features that attract people to Cornwall - both to live as residents and visit as holidaymakers.  Despite its reluctance to accept more wind farms, CPRE Cornwall does support more environmentally friendly forms of renewable energy, such as solar power, wave power and tidal power.   Indeed, wave and tidal power can utilise the potential that is afforded by Cornwall's long coastline, and at the same time be more or less invisible. 

CPRE Cornwall is very much opposed to excessive housing development within the county; especially the artificial targets that could be imposed on Cornwall by the Government.  Inappropriate industrialisation is also a concern which we endeavour to oppose.

CPRE Cornwall fully supports the role of the countryside in providing food and recreational opportunities.  Loss of any agricultural land is a situation that the county can ill-afford, especially in times of recession.  The Cornish landscape is also important for tourism and for the health of the nation.  It would be dreadful if Cornwall's character changed from that which we all love and enjoy to that of urbanisation and industrialisation.  Change has to be accepted, but not at any cost.

At the present time, we are entering a period of uncertainty with the county becoming a unitary authority in 2009 and the consequences of the new Planning Bill that Parliament enacted in November 2008.  The planning process will change as a result of these two developments.  In future, most planning decisions will be made centrally by either the regional development authority or the new unitary authority, instead of being made locally by the currently existing District Councils.  Decisions relating to major infrastructure projects, such as airport expansion and large power stations, will be made by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission.  These developments threaten to take local consultation and influence away from local communities, as well as being advantageous to developers.  Furthermore, there is a suggestion that planning applications will not in future be published in local newspapers; making it difficult for most people to be aware of proposals, and as a result reducing the opportunities to object.

In view of the threat to the rural environment of Cornwall and the impending changes to the planning process, we, CPRE Cornwall, are offering our support to anyone raising objections to planning applications in Cornwall, which are contrary to local plan policies; that threaten protected areas of the landscape such as conservation areas or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and that are considered to be an inappropriate development within the countryside or in our towns.  Our support could be in the form of advice or a letter of objection sent to the relevant planning authority.  We will also liaise with all groups and organisations that have been formed to defend the Cornish landscape from unwanted development.  In addition, our website - http://www.cprecornwall.org.uk/ - highlights much of our work and concerns for the county.  The rural environment is important and should be cherished.  Once destroyed, it's gone forever.  We want to help you to keep change acceptable and protect the best asset that Cornwall possesses.

Support can be requested by writing to me at:

The Old Farmhouse, Tregowris, St Keverne, Cornwall TR12 6PT

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or by phoning: (01-326) 281 435

Ted Venn

CPRE Cornwall

31^st December 2008

NOTE:

The above message has been sent to parish and town councils with e-mail addresses, as well as to known groups that are working to protect Cornwall's environment, including opponents of wind farms.  If your council or group hasn't received the message from CPRE Cornwall please get in touch with me and leave a contact e-mail address for your council or group.  My e-mail address is included in the message.   I shall be very pleased to hear from you, not only because CPRE Cornwall wants to help resist inappropriate planning applications, but because we wish to establish a means by which we can communicate quickly with both councils and groups dedicated to the preservation of Cornwall's unique landscape and coastline.

Ted Venn

1^st January 2009

Four more Wind Turbines for Cornwall

The proliferation of wind turbines across Cornwall continues.  Now four wind turbines are planned for Reperry Cross, just south of the A30 at Bodmin, with a likely height of 100 metres (330 feet).  The turbines will be close to Lanivet and only a few miles north of the huge turbine that is proposed for the Eden Project. 

Details of the Reperry Cross turbines can be found on the Bodmin and Lanivet Oppose Turbines (BLOT) website: www.blotcornwall.co.uk  

Apart from ruining the landscape, wind turbines are not at all practicable, as they are costly and inefficient.  The BLOT website states that:

(i)     wind energy is one of the least efficient methods of generating power;

(ii)     ever increasing electricity bills help fund government payouts to turbine companies and landowners;

(iii)    properties near to or overlooked by turbines can expect a drop in value (see The Daily Telegraph article

          dated July 26th, 2008); and

(iv)    noise and the strobe effect from turbines have been found to cause major health problems.

Whilst not against other forms of renewable energy, CPRE Cornwall is concerned that the ever increasing number of wind turbines in Cornwall is damaging the county's most precious commodity - its landscape.  Not only is that a worry, but taxpayers' money is being used to entice energy companies to build more and more turbines, irrespective of the impact on the environment and local communities!  CPRE Cornwall will oppose the Reperry Cross Wind Farm, but it does need the help of all who treasure the Cornish landscape.  So, please be alert to the submission of a formal planning application and act accordingly.

Ted Venn

23^rd December 2008