DRAFT QUEEN’S SPEECH RAISES BOTH HOPES AND FEARS FOR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

14 May 2008

Reacting to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of Commons today (Wednesday) on the Government's Draft Legislative Programme, Ben Stafford, CPRE’s Head of Campaigns, said:

"This Draft Legislative Programme contains some positive proposals, particularly on protecting heritage and the marine and coastal environment.

"However, other measures give cause for concern, particularly aspects of the Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration Bill, which may centralise power rather than devolve it."

Commenting on other aspects of the statement, Ben Stafford said:

MARINE AND COASTAL ACCESS BILL

"CPRE welcomes the long-overdue announcement that a Marine and Coastal Access Bill will be brought forward, and the comprehensive nature of the Government’s proposals, but questions remain about relationships between coastal and marine planning.

"One of the greatest assets of coastal England is the view of the sea from the land, and it is regrettable that seascapes are not included in the benefits the Government sees the Bill bringing.

"We welcome the provision for a coastal access corridor to be created around the English coastline. We support the Government’s plans for thorough local consultation and believe this is vital to ensure that the corridor is tailored to reconcile landscape, wildlife, leisure and business interests."

DELAYS TO THE PLANNING BILL

"The Government should reconsider plans to erode planning safeguards on land, as it strengthens the planning regime at sea.

"CPRE is encouraged by the delay we have seen in the progress of the Planning Bill. We hope this is a sign that Government is thinking again about the objections we and others have raised. These profoundly undemocratic proposals don’t have the support of the public, and have received only lukewarm support in Parliament."

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC REGENERATION BILL

"This Bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing – giving local communities more power in some areas and then setting up powerful and unelected bodies to call the shots in others.

"The Bill aims to give people more of a say on how their rural services are provided, but could give them less influence over future development within their region.

"We are disappointed the Government is pursuing this approach. Regional Development Agencies are unelected, and their primary role is to promote economic growth. By giving these bodies regional planning powers, the Government risks creating a democratic deficit in our planning system, and undermining its own sustainable development goals."

HERITAGE PROTECTION BILL

"This long-awaited Bill would radically transform the way our historic environment is recognised and protected. CPRE will be calling for the new system to maintain at least the current level of protection for the historic environment. Critically, the new system will only work if it is properly resourced.

"We will be seeking safeguards to ensure that new arrangements maintain and do not erode Conservation Area status as a result of merging conservation area consent with planning consent."

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