Chairman's View

We jingled, we didn’t mingle and we all had the most wonderful time!

David Knight, CPRE Essex chairman, joined some 500 others for the hugely successful Essex Farmers’ Drive-in Carol Service in Chelmsford Advertised as Jingling without the Mingling and held at Chelmsford City Racecourse on a chilly, grey and wet December afternoon, the brilliantly-organised Essex Farmers’ Drive-in Carol Service was an absolute pleasure. Led by Rev Canon Janet […] Read more >

Planning system should recognise – and compensate – efforts of those fighting for our countryside

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 >

Goldsmith Street in Norwich: the way forward for Essex

David Knight, CPRE Essex chairman, reports from a visit to Norwich, where a new development convinced him things could be done so much better as we address the ever-present issue of housing In recent months, I have viewed endless new housing estates, consisting of faceless four- and five-bedroom detached box-like buildings, plonked in a field, […] Read more >

The digital world of crop production

David Knight, chairman of CPRE Essex, reports from a fascinating day learning about agricultural innovation At this time of year, it is difficult to walk, cycle or motor through the countryside without noticing the varied greens and quickly approaching gold of the cereal crops growing in the fields. However, how much do we all know […] Read more >

Farmers café relaunch can be a win-win for everyone

For some of us, the life of a farmer must seem close to idyllic (even if we acknowledge the amount of hard work it entails). However, there are a worrying number of people in the agricultural world who are prone to loneliness and, sometimes, resultant depression and other mental-health issues. Think about it: a day […] Read more >

Spare a thought for your property

David Knight, chairman of CPRE Essex, urges us to consider the appearance of our homes if we’re considering an extension   New Year’s resolutions abound at this time of year. Could it be to move house, or maybe extend your existing one? Political uncertainty probably favours the latter option. So, if you take that route, spare […] Read more >

We’ve got the power… the future for energy use in this country

Fresh from a UK Power Networks roadshow, David Knight, CPRE Essex chairman, offers his thoughts on how our energy needs are being tackled. Early this month I visited a roadshow hosted by UK Power Networks. This organisation owns and maintain electricity cables and lines across London, the South East and the East of England, “making […] Read more >