Photographs courtesy of Matthew Gilder
The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.
CPRE Avonside comprises the four districts which cover the old county of Avon.
Policy and Campaigns for 2012
National Planning Policy
CPRE has been campaigning vigorously nationally against the Government’s proposals for a simplified planning system (The National Planning Policy Framework, or NPPF) because it offers little protection for the countryside (and urban green spaces) against indiscriminate development. For full details of the campaign click here:
The Avonside Branch has produced its own response to the Government’s consultation on the draft Framework:
Avonside response to the NPPF consultation, October 2011
Housing in the Avonside Area
Until the 2010 General Election there were targets for housing provision set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), a 20 year plan for the South West 2006-2026. However the RSS was never ratified and the Government revoked RSSs nationally. The local spatial plans, or Development Frameworks of the local authorities in the Avonside area, which were supposed to reflect the RSS proposals, are all currently being produced at a time when a new national and local planning system is being introduced.
Bristol’s Core Strategy was examined by a Planning Inspector who accepted Bristol’s proposal for housing numbers which are much lower than in the RSS but would not allow the deletion of references to possible cross-boundary urban extensions in the Green Belt as a contingency measure if target numbers cannot otherwise be met.
This Core Strategy was adopted by the Council in summer 2011. It is not yet clear how the new planning regime will work, and although the top down targets of the RSS have been rejected, we are concerned about a proposed presumption in favour of development, which could result in similar levels of building on greenfield sites.
In December 2011 South Gloucestershire submitted changes to its Core Strategy which propose an increase in housing numbers from the 21,500 in the original version to 26,400. To accommodate this number of new dwellings they wish to remove areas of land on the North Bristol fringe from the Green Belt. We are submitting a response to this during the consultation period.
We strongly opposed the RSS levels of housing growth and continue to argue for housing provision according to evidenced local need across the Avonside area.
For details of what we said about the RSS click here »
Stop the Drop Anti Litter and Fly Tipping »
Tranquillity »
Climate Change »
Rail Transport »
Green Belt »
Local Food and Agricultural Land »
For details of campaigns we are running within the geographical area of each of our District groups, click on the link to that District.
Village of the year
The results of the 2011 competition have now been published. Details can be found on our Village of the Year 2011 page.
Winners of the 2010 competition can be found on our Village of the Year 2010 page
Volunteering
The Branch and District Groups are run entirely by volunteers. Please visit http://www.cpre.org.uk/support/volunteer to see the ways in which you could help us.
The Branch is currently in urgent need of a Secretary. This need not be an onerous role. For further information please email info@cpreavonside.org.uk