Cycling 500 Miles To See Threatened Countryside

23 August 2006

A former Russian dissident sets off on a marathon 500-mile, 10 day cycle ride, on 30 August to highlight the threat to the countryside in the South East and East of England on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [1].

Dr Marina Voikhanskaya, who celebrates her 72nd birthday this year, lives in Cambridge. She was born and raised in St. Petersburg where she graduated from medical school in 1960. She worked as a psychiatrist until she left Russia and came to England as a political refugee. She took up cycling at the age of 44.

Following Marina’s similar cycle ride last year to highlight threats to the Green Belt, she wants this year’s 500 journey to draw attention to CPRE’s work and the threat to the countryside proposed in the East of England Plan [2] and South East Plan [3].

She is not alone in her concern for the countryside. Over 2,500 people have signed a petition held on CPRE’s website to register their concern about the East of England Plan, and to call for the proposed development to meet the region’s needs without wrecking its countryside and quality of life.

A CPRE member, Marina is being sponsored to cycle 50 miles each day, starting in Norwich, Norfolk and finishing at Luton Airport, Bedfordshire. During her ride she will visit Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

She says: ‘Having cycled round areas of Green Belt at threat from development last year I saw CPRE’s work in action, and the passion that CPRE volunteers have for the countryside.

‘I wanted to support CPRE’s work again and, living in Cambridgeshire, I was aware of the Government’s proposals for development in the East of England and South East.’

To sponsor Marina [4], please donate online www.justgiving.com/MarinaV or call 020 7981 2849 for a donation form.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. The draft East of England Plan is the Regional Spatial Strategy (known as RSS14) which will determine the scale, shape and speed of development in the region to 2021. It was drawn up by the East of England Regional Assembly with strong input from the Government and covers the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. A Panel Report has now been written in response to the Examination-in-Public (EiP) of the draft Plan. At the EiP, which ran from November 2005 to March this year, a Panel of independent planning inspectors examined the proposals set out in the draft Plan in discussion with invited participants. Volunteers and staff from CPRE groups across the East of England were present throughout, participating in discussions on all issues. The Panel Report presents recommendations for how the draft Plan should be modified and has been sent to the Department for Communities and Local Government for consideration. Secretary of State, Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, will publish any proposed revisions to the draft Plan at the end of the year, and the final Plan is expected in 2007. The full report can be downloaded from the website of the East of England Regional Assembly at http://www.eera.gov.uk/category.asp?cat=447&id=SXC51F-A77F7F86.

3. The South East Plan is the name the South East England Regional Assembly has given to their Regional Spatial Strategy which will replace current planning guidance issued by Government, called Regional Planning Guidance 9 (RPG9). The Plan, which covers Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire but not London, sets out changes needed to improve the quality of life in the region over the next 20 years. The Plan opened for public consultation from 31 March for 12 weeks. The Examination-in-Public will run from November until March 2007. In its current form the South East Plan sets out the region should have 29,000 new homes a year (580,000 homes over the next 20 years).

4. The public can sponsor Dr Marina Voikhanskaya during her cycle challenge or make a donation to CPRE by visiting www.justgiving.com/MarinaV.

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Route and contact details

Wednesday 30 August
Norfolk

Local issue: 72,000 houses proposed in Norfolk up to 2021 as outlined in the East of England Plan.

Media opportunity at: At steps of The Forum Millennium Plain, Norwich to watch Marina leave on her 500-mile cycle challenge.
Time: 10.00 am

Local contact: David Williams, Press Officer, CPRE Norfolk 01702 710232

Marina cycling from: Norwich, Norfolk to Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk

Thursday 31 August
Suffolk

Local issue: Since 2003 the total number of affordable homes built in Suffolk has fallen. Marina is to visit Elmswell, location of a successful affordable housing scheme, supported by CPRE Suffolk.

Media opportunity at: Elmswell village sign, Crown Mill Green, Elmswell
Time: 9:30 am

Local contact: Paul Simon, Press Officer, CPRE Suffolk 01473 829171

Marina cycling from: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk to Wivenhoe, Essex

Friday 1 September
Essex

Local issue: 10,700 houses to be built in Basildon up to 2021 set out in the East of England Plan. Proposals include 1,300 to be built on land adjacent to Dry Street.

Media opportunity at: Dry Street Memorial Church, Dry Street, Langdon Hills, Basildon
Time: 3:00 pm

Local contact: David Williams, Press Officer, CPRE Essex 01702 710232

Marina cycling from: Wivenhoe, Essex to Stanford-le-Hope, Essex

Saturday 2 September
Kent

Local issue: 120,000 homes for Kent proposed in the South East Plan. Bewl Water has struggled to replenish its levels in recent years and is now being filled through pumping from the River Medway where flows have fallen below recommended levels. If this continues how will Kent be able to supply the water that these extra homes will need in the face of continued climate change?

Media opportunity at: Bewl Water Visitor Centre, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells
Time: 2:00 pm

Local contact: Hilary Newport, Director, CPRE Kent 01303 815180

Marina cycling from: Stanford-le-Hope, Essex to Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Sunday 3 September
Sussex

Local issue: Intrusion into the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) from 4,500 houses proposed in East Grinstead, accompanied by a proposal of a relief road.

Media opportunity at: Junction of Coombe Hill Road and B2110, East Grinstead
Time: 9:30 am

Local contact: Bernard Conn, CPRE Sussex & Coombe Hill Society 01342 301119

Marina cycling from: Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent to Ifield, West Sussex

Monday 4 September
Surrey

Local issue: Additional runway at Gatwick will threaten Charlwood’s community and environment due to extra traffic, noise, air and light pollution destroying the peace and tranquillity of the village and surrounding area.

Media opportunity at: St. Nicholas Church, The Street, Charlwood
Time: 9:30 am

Local contact: Tim Harrold, Chairman, CPRE Surrey 01483 564876

Marina cycling from: Ifield, West Sussex to Farnham, Surrey

Tuesday 5 September
Hampshire

Local issue: CPRE has concerns that the South East Plan has an imbalance between urban economic development and a lack of recognition of the value of the countryside.

Media opportunity at: Watership Down, Kingsclere
Time: 11:30 am

Local contact: Julian Pilcher, Chairman, CPRE North Hampshire 01256 398270

Marina cycling from: Farnham, Surrey to Thatcham, Berkshire

Wednesday 6 September
Berkshire

Local issue: Sandleford Park and Priory forms part of the same ancient monastic estate created by landscape architect ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1780’s. Pressure for further housing development could destroy this outstanding landscape and woodlands.

Media opportunity at: stile into Sandleford Park, opposite St Gabriel’s School, Newtown, Newbury (A339)
Time: 9.00 am

Local contact: Gloria Keene, Secretary, CPRE Berkshire 0118 930 6756

Marina cycling from: Thatcham, Berkshire, via Oxford, to Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Thursday 7 September
Buckinghamshire

Local issue: Countryside at threat to housing proposed in South East Plan.

Media opportunity at: Lines Hill – off A413 and A418 between Weedon and Aston Abbotts, nr Aylesbury
Time: 1:30 pm

Local contact: to 31 August: John Wood, Secretary, CPRE Buckinghamshire 01296 748628. From 1 September: Peter Cleasby, Chairman, 01296 682385

Marina cycling from: Wallingford, Oxfordshire to Leighton Buzzard

Friday 8 September
Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire

Local issue: Proposals for a new runway at Luton Airport goes far beyond even the recommendations in the Government’s Aviation White Paper. Local villages at threat from noise and congestion.

Media opportunity at: Wandon Green Farm, 2km from Luton Airport and location of the end of the proposed second runway
Time: 12:00 pm

Local contact: Kevin FitzGerald, Hon. Director, CPRE Hertfordshire 01438 717587

Marina cycling from: Leighton Buzzard to Luton Airport

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