Norfolk
REVIEW OF THE YEAR: CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
2007 turned out to be our most active year yet. As well as increasing our campaigning activities we repeated a number of our established events and added some new ones.
We have had a number of successes on the campaigning front. Not least was the battle to halt the Sheringham Tesco which was led by our Policy Coordinator Dr Ian Shepherd. This resulted in Sheringham Council voting 17 to 0 to reject the Tesco application.
Press activity on the cumulative impact of wind farms in Norfolk, both approved and in the planning system, stimulated a healthy debate with the public and with local politicians. I believe we are winning the argument and getting our message across. We are committed to renewable energy but this must not be at the expense of the natural environment, our beautiful countryside and wildlife habitats.
In both these cases the battle is ongoing and we must continue to fight hard to protect our countryside from inappropriate development and the many threats it faces.
We established a Litter Campaign, ahead of the National CPRE Campaign launch by Bill Bryson. A new committee is now well established and we should see the results of their work during the coming year.
Our established campaign teams on Light Pollution and Renewable Energy continue to successfully challenge planning authorities to ensure we minimise light pollution and support micro-generation. We are keen to reduce the carbon emissions in our housing stock without resorting to the wholesale destruction of our tranquil and attractive Norfolk countryside by covering it with industrial structures.
Our Planning Committee and our excellent team of Caseworkers continue to monitor planning applications across Norfolk. We have also continued to take part in the Government consultation on the East of England plan. It looks like we have been unsuccessful in convincing them their numbers are wrong so we must now ensure that the 80,000 houses which are planned to be built in the County are at least built in the most appropriate places, avoiding green field sites.
Last year also saw the release of the Government sponsored Barker Report (Commissioned by the Treasury) on the Planning System, which confirmed the view that the Government see planning issues in terms of economics only and have little regard for the environmental impact. CPRE nationally has been leading the fight against the proposals to loosen planning controls and allow building on green field sites.
Our intention last year was to repeat and if possible improve our established events, whilst introducing new ones. In this respect the year was a resounding success.
Due to the involvement of a new sponsor, the Targetfollow Group, we were able to improve the profile of the CPRE Norfolk Awards, which was held at a new venue, The Assembly House, Norwich, in November. I am sure all who attended will agree that it was superb evening with some outstanding projects and schemes recognised. It was particularly heartening to see the increased involvement of Norfolk schools amongst the winners. I must thank the Chairman of the judging panel, Martin Walton and his fellow judges Nancy Legg and Jeremy Stacey for all their efforts in putting together such a worthy group of winners. I must also thank the Targetfollow Group for their generous donation and sponsorship of our Awards.
Our annual Planning Conference held in Swaffham in June in conjunction with the Norfolk Association of Parish Councils was a great success and once again attracted a large number of attendees.
We organised a series of ‘Green Buildings in Norfolk’ Open Days in September, which caught the public imagination and surprised us. The event was oversubscribed and at one point we had to close down the booking system, as we were overwhelmed! We plan to repeat the event this year and hopefully we will make sure we can accommodate more attendees this time. Our thanks must go to all the property owners who took part and all the CPRE volunteers who assisted during the open days.
Funding still remains a challenge for us. With the increased demands on our office to support our campaigns, events, District Committees, volunteers and caseworkers we need to ensure that the office is properly funded. I would like to thank all those donors and trusts who have generously contributed to our funds during the year (see our annual accounts for a list of donors). Without them we would not be able to continue our important work.
I cannot end my report without mentioning two of our stalwart supporters.
We were able to honour Dr Ian Shepherd, CPRE Norfolk Policy Coordinator; with the presentation a CPRE Countryside Medal for his outstanding contribution to CPRE’s work at a District, County, Regional and National level. This is CPRE’s top accolade bestowed on long serving and influential volunteers in the field. Viscount Coke, CPRE Patron, presented the medal to Ian at our Awards ceremony in November. I extend my congratulations to Ian and once again thank him for years of tireless support for CPRE.
Nicolas de Bazille Corbin, Vice President and our longest serving Trustee will celebrate 60 years service on the CPRE Norfolk Executive Committee in 2008. I congratulate Nicolas and thank him for his unceasing support and contribution to CPRE Norfolk.
In 2008 we celebrate 75 years of CPRE Norfolk and we will be holding an event to celebrate this anniversary at Wolterton Hall in September. Although this event will be open to members of the public I do hope a large number of our members, supporters and volunteers will join us. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at this and the other events we have planned during the coming year.
It will be a challenging and exciting year ahead but I have every confidence that CPRE Norfolk is well placed to defend our beautiful Norfolk countryside from the many threats facing it.
Greg Peck
2007 turned out to be our most active year yet. As well as increasing our campaigning activities we repeated a number of our established events and added some new ones.
We have had a number of successes on the campaigning front. Not least was the battle to halt the Sheringham Tesco which was led by our Policy Coordinator Dr Ian Shepherd. This resulted in Sheringham Council voting 17 to 0 to reject the Tesco application.
Press activity on the cumulative impact of wind farms in Norfolk, both approved and in the planning system, stimulated a healthy debate with the public and with local politicians. I believe we are winning the argument and getting our message across. We are committed to renewable energy but this must not be at the expense of the natural environment, our beautiful countryside and wildlife habitats.
In both these cases the battle is ongoing and we must continue to fight hard to protect our countryside from inappropriate development and the many threats it faces.
We established a Litter Campaign, ahead of the National CPRE Campaign launch by Bill Bryson. A new committee is now well established and we should see the results of their work during the coming year.
Our established campaign teams on Light Pollution and Renewable Energy continue to successfully challenge planning authorities to ensure we minimise light pollution and support micro-
Our Planning Committee and our excellent team of Caseworkers continue to monitor planning applications across Norfolk. We have also continued to take part in the Government consultation on the East of England plan. It looks like we have been unsuccessful in convincing them their numbers are wrong so we must now ensure that the 80,000 houses which are planned to be built in the County are at least built in the most appropriate places, avoiding green field sites.
Last year also saw the release of the Government sponsored Barker Report (Commissioned by the Treasury) on the Planning System, which confirmed the view that the Government see planning issues in terms of economics only and have little regard for the environmental impact. CPRE nationally has been leading the fight against the proposals to loosen planning controls and allow building on green field sites.
Our intention last year was to repeat and if possible improve our established events, whilst introducing new ones. In this respect the year was a resounding success.
Due to the involvement of a new sponsor, the Targetfollow Group, we were able to improve the profile of the CPRE Norfolk Awards, which was held at a new venue, The Assembly House, Norwich, in November. I am sure all who attended will agree that it was superb evening with some outstanding projects and schemes recognised. It was particularly heartening to see the increased involvement of Norfolk schools amongst the winners. I must thank the Chairman of the judging panel, Martin Walton and his fellow judges Nancy Legg and Jeremy Stacey for all their efforts in putting together such a worthy group of winners. I must also thank the Targetfollow Group for their generous donation and sponsorship of our Awards.
Our annual Planning Conference held in Swaffham in June in conjunction with the Norfolk Association of Parish Councils was a great success and once again attracted a large number of attendees.
We organised a series of ‘Green Buildings in Norfolk’ Open Days in September, which caught the public imagination and surprised us. The event was oversubscribed and at one point we had to close down the booking system, as we were overwhelmed! We plan to repeat the event this year and hopefully we will make sure we can accommodate more attendees this time. Our thanks must go to all the property owners who took part and all the CPRE volunteers who assisted during the open days.
Funding still remains a challenge for us. With the increased demands on our office to support our campaigns, events, District Committees, volunteers and caseworkers we need to ensure that the office is properly funded. I would like to thank all those donors and trusts who have generously contributed to our funds during the year (see our annual accounts for a list of donors). Without them we would not be able to continue our important work.
I cannot end my report without mentioning two of our stalwart supporters.
We were able to honour Dr Ian Shepherd, CPRE Norfolk Policy Coordinator; with the presentation a CPRE Countryside Medal for his outstanding contribution to CPRE’s work at a District, County, Regional and National level. This is CPRE’s top accolade bestowed on long serving and influential volunteers in the field. Viscount Coke, CPRE Patron, presented the medal to Ian at our Awards ceremony in November. I extend my congratulations to Ian and once again thank him for years of tireless support for CPRE.
Nicolas de Bazille Corbin, Vice President and our longest serving Trustee will celebrate 60 years service on the CPRE Norfolk Executive Committee in 2008. I congratulate Nicolas and thank him for his unceasing support and contribution to CPRE Norfolk.
In 2008 we celebrate 75 years of CPRE Norfolk and we will be holding an event to celebrate this anniversary at Wolterton Hall in September. Although this event will be open to members of the public I do hope a large number of our members, supporters and volunteers will join us. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at this and the other events we have planned during the coming year.
It will be a challenging and exciting year ahead but I have every confidence that CPRE Norfolk is well placed to defend our beautiful Norfolk countryside from the many threats facing it.
Greg Peck
