Environmental mitigation, impact on traffic and approach to consultation among Lower Thames Crossing DCO issues
Friday 27 November 2020
We reported last week that Highways England had withdrawn its application for a Development Consent Order to build the Lower Thames Crossing. Now we have been updated by HE on the issues relating to the Planning Inspectorate and the likely way forward. A message to stakeholders said: “… we’ve now had further dialogue with the […] Read more >
Planning system should recognise – and compensate – efforts of those fighting for our countryside
Thursday 26 November 2020
David Knight, CPRE Essex chairman, calls for donations by land agents to charities when they win planning permission for development proposals. Perhaps such a scheme would make them think twice before making speculative applications… Since becoming chairman of CPRE Essex, one of the things that never fails to impress me is the dedication and professionalism […] Read more >
Lower Thames Crossing: bid for planning consent delayed due to ‘early feedback’
Monday 23 November 2020
Plans to build the Lower Thames Crossing have been delayed with Highways England’s withdrawal of its application for a Development Consent Order. “We’ve withdrawn the Development Consent Order application for the Lower Thames Crossing based on early feedback we’ve had from the Planning Inspectorate,” said a spokesman for HE. “We will take time to collate […] Read more >
Planning White Paper: we write to the county’s MPs
Thursday 19 November 2020
The government’s Planning for the Future White Paper is a potential nightmare for our countryside (see here). CPRE Essex has already made a substantial contribution to the government consultation on the White Paper (see here) and now has written to each of the county’s MPs detailing serious concerns ranging from loss of countryside to threat […] Read more >
Don’t forget the nature: CPRE responds to 10-point environment plan
Wednesday 18 November 2020
CPRE, the countryside charity, says the prime minister’s “green industrial revolution” aimed at tackling climate change and creating jobs in such industries as nuclear energy, has missed the vital role played by nature. Boris Johnson’s 10-point plan was announced yesterday (Tuesday, November 17), with the headline statement being that cars and vans powered wholly by […] Read more >
Snapper Gordon offers us something for the weekend
Friday 13 November 2020
There’s simply no stopping this man… or his cheeky sense of humour! Gordon Ridgewell has been at it with his camera again as he helps us keep the dark days at bay. “They have just been sowing next year’s crop in the field behind our Littlebury bungalow,” says Gordon. “These birds have come from the […] Read more >
Planning White Paper: the national CPRE response
Wednesday 11 November 2020
We have already referred to the government’s Planning for the Future White Paper and CPRE Essex’s response to it (see here). The White Paper could prove potentially devastating for the English countryside and so it’s unsurprising that CPRE branches across the country have been quick to raise their concerns. Here is the national CPRE submission to […] Read more >
Read the CPRE Essex response to consultation on proposed planning changes
Thursday 5 November 2020
Consultation on the second major tranche of proposed changes to the planning regime closed on Thursday, October 29. CPRE Essex raised serious concerns over the proposals, which would see a significant increase in the amount of rural land that would have to be allocated for housing. Further, people would see a drastic reduction in their […] Read more >
Gordon Ridgewell snaps back into action with a curious garden visitor
Wednesday 4 November 2020
Photographs taken by Gordon Ridgewell were among the delights of Our Lovely Essex, the image-led feature we ran to help ease the gloom of lockdown. Although there won’t be Our Lovely Essex II to coincide with the second lockdown, we’re nevertheless thrilled to share this superb shot of a blackbird sent in by Gordon. He […] Read more >
Watch out! Dedham Vale Society lecture focuses on genius watchmaker George Daniels
Monday 2 November 2020
George Daniels was Britain’s greatest watchmaker in 200 years, his career culminating in the invention of an entirely new frictionless movement… much to the annoyance of the giant Swiss watch industry. It’s a fascinating story and you can hear it at the Dedham Vale Society’s Winter Lecture, to be held at the end of this […] Read more >