CPRE believes passionately about the countryside. We want to protect it, enhance it, and assert its importance in an increasingly urbanised society.

Latest News

2010

May 13th: New Coalition Government publishes its agreed policy on the environment.

On 11th May, the new Coalition Government published a document setting out agreements reached between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on a range of issues. It reads: "These are the issues that needed to be resolved between us in order for us to work together as a strong and stable government. It will be followed in due course by a final Coalition Agreement, covering the full range of policy and including foreign, defence and domestic policy issues not covered in this document."

For CPRE Oxfordshire, issue no. 11, on the environment, is of particular importance. It reads:

"The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to fulfil our joint ambitions for a low carbon and eco-friendly economy, including:

• The establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters.
• The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs.
• Measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.
• The creation of a green investment bank.
• The provision of home energy improvement paid for by the savings from lower energy bills.
• Retention of energy performance certificates while scrapping HIPs.
• Measures to encourage marine energy.
• The establishment of an emissions performance standard that will prevent coal-fired power stations being built unless they are equipped with sufficient CCS to
  meet the emissions performance standard.
• The establishment of a high-speed rail network.
• The cancellation of the third runway at Heathrow.
• The refusal of additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted.
• The replacement of the Air Passenger Duty with a per flight duty.
• The provision of a floor price for carbon, as well as efforts to persuade the EU to move towards full auctioning of ETS permits.
• Measures to make the import or possession of illegal timber a criminal offence.
• Measures to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitats
  and restore biodiversity.
• Mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
• Continuation of the present Government’s proposals for public sector investment in CCS technology for four coal-fired power stations; and a specific commitment
  to reduce central government carbon emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months.
• We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the Climate Change Committee.

Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction. Conservatives, by contrast, are committed to allowing the replacement of existing nuclear power stations provided they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects (under a new national planning statement) and provided also that they receive no public subsidy."

• See: Conservative Liberal Coalition Agreement Negotiations document here.

March 15th: CPRE Oxfordshire issues its 'Manifesto for the Countryside 2010'.

The Oxfordshire countryside faces many challenges, but the coming election gives politicians the chance to shape the way we care for and use it now and in the future. Last year, CPRE launched a vision for the countryside in 2026, our centenary year. We are optimistic that our countryside can be a better place than it is now, but that will depend on the decisions made between now and then.

The CPRE Oxfordshire 'Manifesto for the Countryside 2010' calls for:

1. Action on strengthening the Planning system
2. Action on protecting and enhancing the Environment
3. Action on tackling Litter and Fly-tipping

CPRE Oxfordshire has written to all the MPs in Oxfordshire asking what they plan to do in these three key areas. We will be publishing their responses below.

• See: CPRE Oxfordshire Election Manifesto letter to MPs here.
• See: CPRE National Office Election Manifesto here

MPs tell CPRE Oxfordshire what their parties will do for the countryside.

• See: Tony Baldry MP's response here.
• See: John Howell MP's response here.
• See: David Cameron MPs response here.

May 11 2009: CPRE publishes '2026 - A Vision for the Countryside'.

The CPRE has set out an inspiring and optimistic vision for the future of the English countryside, our greatest national asset in 2026 – A Vision for the Countryside, describing the countryside CPRE wants to see in 2026, the charity’s centenary year. 

To mark the launch of the publication, Shaun Spiers, Chief Executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "The Vision – produced after wide consultation – pictures a countryside in 2026 that is used and valued by everyone, helping create a healthier, less stressed nation where people are in tune with the environment and aware of their impact on it. A beautiful and living countryside, accessible to all, has always been valuable; in tough economic times, and with people facing growing stresses in their lives, it should be priceless.

The British countryside is a great resource for the whole country, essential to our wellbeing and our sense of identity. Looking ahead to our centenary year, we want the countryside to be protected – and we want to improve it! CPRE doesn’t often admit it, but, although most of the countryside is lovely, and often breathtakingly so, parts of it are not as beautiful or useful or accessible as they should be. We want to make it better – and with your help we think we can."

On 16 May 2008 CPRE Oxon held a half-day discussion on the subject of ‘The Future of Oxfordshire's Countryside?’, as part of the CPRE's consultation on the publication. The summary of the discussion is available here.

• See: CPRE National Office Press Release (11 May).
• For a copy of '2026 - A Vision for the Countryside' see here.

September 2008: CPRE requests feedback on second draft of Vision 20:26.

The second draft of the Vision has been issued by CPRE National Office and branches and regional groups are invited to attend a special meeting to discuss the vision at the St. Bride Institute, Fleet Street, London (near Blackfriars tube and railway station) on Thursday 6 November, 11.00am – 4.00pm.

Please contact Julia Lafferty for further information, email: julial@cpre.org.uk. You can also send comments on the 20:26 Vision to Dustin Benton, email: dustinb@cpre.org.uk.

• See: CPRE’s Vision 20:26 Second Draft.
• See: CPRE's Vision 20:26 The Process.

16 May 2008: What Future for Oxfordshire’s Countryside?

On May 16 almost 50 people, including politicians, farmers, conservationists, CPRE members, representatives from county AONBs, the Environment Agency and Natural England, met for a half-day discussion at Oxford Castle on the subject of ‘The Future of Oxfordshire's Countryside?’, as part of CPRE's Vision 20:26 – CPRE’s vision for the countryside in 2026, its centenary year.

A summary of the discussion will be sent to CPRE National Office to inform the final publication, due to be published in late 2008.

• For a copy of the CPRE Oxon Vision 20:26 presentation, see here.
• For a copy of the CPRE Oxon Vision 20:26 programme, see here.
• For a summary of the Vision 20:26 meeting, see here.

20:26 Vision - What future for the countryside?

A discussion pamphlet, ‘Vision 20:26 – What future for our countryside?’ has been produced by CPRE following a debate on land use CPRE held at its 80th anniversary conference in 2007. It sets out some provocative proposals about a possible future vision for the countryside.

The pamphlet is intended to provoke debate and doesn't represent current CPRE policy. But it does point to crucial questions facing the countryside over the next twenty years, namely: the future of food and farming, life in our cities, towns and villages, planning, lifestyle and leisure and climate change and the countryside.

To get a copy of ‘20:26 Vision - What future for the countryside’ or to join the debate visit the CPRE website: www.cpre.org.uk/debates