CPRE Herefordshire Annual Report October 2012
CPRE Herefordshire Annual Report October 2012
CPRE Herefordshire Annual Report October 2012
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tranquillity in beautiful landscapes is<br />
beneficial to human health and well-being,<br />
which is one reason why millions of people<br />
visit the countryside every year. The quality<br />
of this experience is threatened by poorly<br />
conceived and located development of<br />
whatever kind. It is clear that onshore wind<br />
development, unless appropriately sited, can<br />
have a significant detrimental impact on the<br />
quality of the landscape.*<br />
<strong>CPRE</strong> believes that the Government must set<br />
a clear framework which helps local<br />
communities reconcile the potentially<br />
conflicting environmental benefits of<br />
landscape protection and climate change<br />
mitigation. If this is done, unacceptable<br />
damage both to the landscape and to public<br />
support for the country’s renewable energy<br />
targets can be avoided. With open and<br />
transparent dialogue, which effectively<br />
involves local communities, we can choose<br />
the right mix of renewable energy<br />
technologies to help tackle climate change as<br />
well as protecting our precious landscapes. To<br />
enable local communities and the planning<br />
system to protect the environment from<br />
damaging development and climate change,<br />
we call on the Government to:<br />
• Provide more clarity about the total<br />
number of onshore wind turbines it<br />
expects to see built and where these might<br />
be located;<br />
• Develop a strategic plan-led approach that<br />
recognises landscape capacity, including<br />
cumulative impacts of onshore wind<br />
turbines;<br />
• Ensure local planning authorities seek to<br />
protect landscape character through their<br />
local plans and in planning decisions;<br />
• Instruct the Planning Inspectorate to give<br />
significant weight when making decisions<br />
on development proposals to any local<br />
plans which have attempted to identify<br />
appropriate and inappropriate areas for<br />
onshore wind development; and<br />
• Require the onshore wind industry to take<br />
legal and financial responsibility for<br />
decommissioning onshore wind turbines<br />
and restoring the landscape once they<br />
stop working or when they reach the end<br />
of their useful life.<br />
Finally, one to aim for!<br />
A consultation on new Government guidance<br />
for local authorities includes proposals for<br />
use of 40 mph zones on minor rural roads,<br />
particularly in scenic areas. <strong>Herefordshire</strong> has<br />
the highest road casualty rate out of all<br />
neighbouring English authorities.<br />
Speeding traffic blights many villages and has<br />
led to numerous collisions and fatalities. Fatal<br />
car crashes occur most frequently on rural<br />
roads and speeding traffic has a significant<br />
impact on people’s quality of life. H<strong>CPRE</strong> will<br />
campaign to protect the character and<br />
tranquillity of the countryside from traffic.<br />
* Generating light on landscape impacts: How to<br />
accommodate onshore wind while protecting the<br />
countryside. <strong>CPRE</strong> April <strong>2012</strong>a<br />
Become a<br />
volunteer!<br />
You can help support <strong>CPRE</strong>’s work<br />
in your local community by<br />
volunteering at one of our district,<br />
branch or regional groups. As a<br />
<strong>CPRE</strong> volunteer, you could...<br />
Respond to planning applications...<br />
If you know about the planning process,<br />
you could help assess local planning<br />
applications. If you don’t know how, we’d be<br />
happy to teach you.<br />
Produce publicity...<br />
You could write news releases or organise<br />
photo opportunities, create newsletters,<br />
websites and campaign materials for your<br />
local group.<br />
Lobby...<br />
We need volunteers who are willing to speak<br />
to councillors, MPs and local authority<br />
officers about <strong>CPRE</strong>’s campaigns on behalf<br />
of your local group.<br />
Raise funds...<br />
Help fundraising efforts in your local area or<br />
use your skills to develop the fundraising<br />
potential of your local group.<br />
Help at local events...<br />
Local groups are always in need of people<br />
who can give a few hours at stalls at local<br />
shows and events or use their co-ordination<br />
skills to set up an event for us.<br />
Distribute leaflets...<br />
Deliver campaign leaflets to local homes<br />
Help in the office...<br />
Provide assistance with our filing, mailings,<br />
accounts or letter writing at your local<br />
branch.<br />
If you would like to volunteer,<br />
email us at<br />
contactus@cpreherefordshire.org.uk<br />
or call Bob Widdowson on<br />
01544 230 050<br />
or David Phelps on<br />
01432 279 185<br />
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