Star Count attracts thousands as problem of light pollution shines bright
Friday 9 August 2019
Friday, August 9, 2019 A record 2,300 people took part in this year’s Star Count. The count, held over the first three weeks of February, revealed that just 2% of participants experienced the wonders of a truly dark sky full of stars, due to the impact of light pollution caused by street lighting and other […] Read more >
Felling licences are simple and free to obtain, so why are so many trees being axed illegally?
Wednesday 7 August 2019
For this story we are indebted to our friends at the Forestry Commission, who have reported an increase in the number of cases of illegal tree-felling across East Anglia The area of woodland felled without a felling licence increased from 9.48 hectares in 2013-14 to 20.55 hectares in 2017-18. All reports of unlicensed felling are […] Read more >
New homes in Green Belt approved thanks to ‘very special circumstances’
Wednesday 7 August 2019
“Very special circumstances” were cited as a planning inspector granted permission on appeal for almost 40 homes in the Green Belt. Epping Forest District Council had in June last year refused the plans at Stoneshot Farm near Nazeing, but inspector Helen Hockenhull has now overturned that decision. She granted consent to Haycross and Hogg Construction […] Read more >
Permitted development rights and the growth of ‘human warehousing’
Monday 5 August 2019
The conversion of Terminus House, a 1960s office block in Harlow, into 214 flats made national news due to allegations of vulnerable people being placed in unsuitable accommodation and local services coming under pressure. It was claimed that problems had included a high number of calls to police, drug use and dealing and incidents of […] Read more >
Essex CPRE: this year’s AGM is being held in October near Braintree
Saturday 3 August 2019
This year’s Annual General Meeting of CPRE Essex will be held at Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree, on Saturday, October 5. The guest speaker will be Simon Amstutz, manager of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, Vincent Thompson, will also be attending. Tea will provided by Wilkins tea […] Read more >