THE countryside is increasingly at risk from inappropriate development caused by inadequate planning policies, a weakening of local democracy and a focus on short-term economic growth regardless of the environmental consequences.
The government’s localism agenda has been seriously undermined and I am deeply concerned that local views are being ignored to the detriment of valued and irreplaceable countryside. While I recognise the need for economic prosperity, should this be pursued at any cost to the environment? If we don’t stand up for the countryside we will lose it.
I encourage your readers to sign the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s new charter which demands better protection for the countryside, a fair say for local communities in planning for the places where they live and work, and more housing – in the right places, saveourcountryside.org.uk
JULIE-ANNE HOULDEY, Littlemead, Throop Village, Bournemouth
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