In evidence to the Audit Committee, the UK Environmental Law Association said the proposals in the National Planning Policy Framework were so flawed that “the system may well stumble and fall before it can find its feet” It’s earnestly hoped they are right. A barrister in a Bristol law firm said "We don't think the way it's phrased at the moment is going to speed up or simplify anything. It will just provide more fodder for argument". She agreed that it would be a financial benefit for lawyers adding "It will lead to more appeals, more inquiries, more legal challenges. The problem lies in the vagueness of the definition of sustainable development".
LOSRA is in the course of preparing a response to the consultation before the closing date on 17th October. A draft will be posted on this Website for comments before submission. In the meantime, please have a look at the email we received today and sign the petition if you agree:
Our English countryside is under threat again. The government is trying to rush through massive changes to the planning system, which would make it much easier to build on green field sites. We've just a few weeks to stop this happening.
Experts are lining up to condemn the government plans. The National Trust warns of "unchecked and damaging development". [1] Friends of the Earth predicts "a building free-for-all that will blight our countryside with bad building". [2]
A massive people-powered petition can make the government think again. It worked to stop England's forests being sold off. [3] It can work again to stop precious countryside being wrecked by bulldozers and concrete.
Please add your name now, then forward this message to all your friends:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-countryside
The English countryside is something we all enjoy. It's far too precious to build on willy-nilly. Once our green fields are gone, they're gone forever.
If we work together, we can stand up for a balanced, careful approach to deciding what to build and where to build it. We can protect local communities' right to have their say, make sure social housing is built where it's needed and protect wildlife and beautiful, tranquil places.
Having to act fast to stop an urgent threat to our countryside feels eerily familiar doesn't it! It's only a few months since half a million of us came together to stop plans to sell off England's forests. It worked that time - now let's come together again to stop this new threat to our beautiful green places.
Take two minutes now to add your name to the petition:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-countryside
Thanks for being involved,
David, Hannah, Johnny, Marie, Cian, Becky and the 38 Degrees team
PS: The government "consultation" ends in October. They say that after that they want to press ahead quickly. So we've got just a few weeks to make this petition huge. Please add your name now, then forward this e-mail to all your friends and ask them to sign too:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-countryside
