21 April, 2009
Well ok, not actually Save The Countryside, but our fellow campaigners on the south side of Bristol certainly are. The Dundry-based group DRAG also known as Save Our Green Spaces has created a video of professional quality. The camera sweeps across glorious downland pasture to the strains of Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and then to the harsh reality of the latest estate being built on what was previously Green Belt. Its quite long at nine minutes, but worth staying to the end. Enjoy!
4 April, 2009
Brown Sign on Tewkesbury Road
It seems someone in the Council supports our cause more than we know! How else can we explain these mystery brown signs? They look like the genuine article, produced perhaps in the genuine brown sign work shop – yet the wording is distinctly unofficial. Look out for them as you head out on the Tewkesbury Road just after Sainsbury’s – they are on the right hand side, so actually quite easy to miss. There are three or four others – see if you can spot them. If anyone sees anything similar please send details to info@savethecountryside.org.uk
PS. Remember to put 24th April in your diary – come to the Municipal Offices at 6pm and hear the Shadow Ministers, and also 17th May for the 2nd annual protest walk from Swindon Village to Elmstone Hardwicke starting at 2pm.
PPS. Check out the Science Festival program – on Friday 6th June there is a a debate on “The Value of Land“. Interested? Read on:
Our health and wellbeing, our native plants and animals and our economy all depend on how we choose to use our land. With increasing population pressures and a recession in full swing, how do we balance the needs of housing, agriculture, transport and business without losing our restful green spaces? Urban planner Mark Tewdwr-Jones and Tom Oliver from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England debate the value of land.
Any follower of this website should turn up and pack this debate out with the Save The Countryside agenda.
4 October, 2008
MPs and Campaigners Rally at Swindon Village 27th Sept 2008
There were cheers and claps from the Seasons Business and Leisure Complex, in Quat Goose Lane, as politicians called for townspeople to lobby against Government proposals to build 8,100 homes around Cheltenham, including 5,000 on the edge of Swindon Village, as part of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy.
The meeting was led by protest group Save the Countryside, with speeches from Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood and Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson, who gave advice on action to take.
There were calls for revolt as residents heard the Government had failed to take into account space already within the town, flooding concerns following last year’s crisis, or the need for new infrastructure including roads and schools to support the area of new housing.
Concerns were also voiced about the short amount of time taken by Government inspectors to assess Cheltenham for housing
Helen Wells, chairman of Save the Countryside, told the crowds: “We’re here to make the maximum impact for our cause.
“The Government wants to massively increase the size of our beautiful town by 26 per cent and we’re not having it.
“Let’s all be clear, it’s our last chance to save our beautiful countryside.
“We have nationwide support and have come a long way since our inception seven months ago. It’s up to us to make our mark.”
Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson added: “We are all concerned about this issue.
“We have experienced problems with flooding and further development is only going to make this worse.
“The Government is not listening to us and it’s important to campaign and fight this.
“Once thousands of houses are built in the wrong place it’s too late and we’ll have to live with our mistakes.”
Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood called for public protests in London against the plans.
He said: “We cannot be bullied with accusations of being nimbys.
“We need a test that makes sure space in urban areas is used first and this should be part of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy.
“That will help us to defend the countryside.
“Laurence and I also need to get together with MPs in the south west and go to London with bus loads of people behind us to make the Government listen.
“If we turn up the political heat, then just maybe we might become a success story.”
Mike Griffiths travelled from Elmstone Hardwick for the meeting.
He said: “This is not just a campaign by people from Swindon Village, but by the people of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
“Residents from both towns have joined together to present a stronger case against these plans.”
The public have until October 24 to make their views known on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy through a consultation process.
■ Have your say by emailing rssconsult@gosw.gsi.gov.uk.
4 October, 2008
Gloucestershire County Council, whose web site still features a special section on flooding, is making it clear that it plans to object strongly to the Regional Spatial Strategy, with the main criticisms being around lack of consideration for flood risk and instrastructure planning.
Cabinet member for Environment, Councillor Julie Girling said: “The whole thing is not very well thought-out – in the Government’s terms it ‘lacks soundness’. “We intend to make our views very clear on this. I’d like to reassure councillors and members of the public that we’ll be reflecting their views in doing so.”
The council is objecting over increased flood fears thousands of new homes would pose to the county and the lack of a flood-risk assessment in the RSS. It also says there is a lack of planning for new infrastructure – roads, schools, medical services – to support the area of new housing.
These are fears shared by us in North West Cheltenham, where the loss of vast tracts of pasture land to housing will mean the replacement of acres of natural water-absorbing meadows. Have a look at these photos to see what we mean. The run-off will surge into the Swilgate which flows north to join the Avon and Severn at Tewkesbury. The result will surely mean more flooding – Councillor Girling is right – this is not well thought-out at all.
