CPRE [1] today welcomed the Conservative Party’s agenda for farming, ‘A New Age of Agriculture’ [2], but cautioned against excessive deregulation that could risk a return to destructive practices which in the past have damaged the countryside.

Ian Woodhurst, CPRE’s farming campaigner, said:

‘There is a great deal that CPRE agrees with in this policy document. The proposals to use the planning system to better protect land for sustainable food production, introduce a powerful supermarket ombudsman and to increase supplies of local food [3] are all particularly welcome.’

Ian Woodhurst continued:

‘The Conservatives rightly say that conserving the natural environment and producing food must happen together. But they will need to be very careful to prevent deregulation damaging the countryside. Considerable amounts of public money have been spent over the years undoing the damage caused when farmers were encouraged to put production before the environment.’

Ian Woodhurst concluded:

‘CPRE wants a thriving, prosperous farming sector. As our vision for the countryside [4] sets out, the need to produce high quality food must go hand in hand with keeping the countryside beautiful, and alive with the sights and sounds people value.’

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

2. ‘A New Age of Agriculture’ sets out the Conservative Party’s agenda for British farming.

3. The Mapping Local Food Webs project is a national initiative to engage the skills and knowledge of local people to research the spread of local food networks from consumer to producer and their impact on the local community, economy and the countryside. In total the project will cover twenty two towns and cities across England. It aims to achieve better understanding of the challenges facing local food networks, to build links within communities between residents, shopkeepers, food producers and policy makers, and to create opportunities to influence local, regional and national policy and planning decisions. The project forms part of the Making Local Food Work programme, funded by the Big Lottery from 2007-2012.

4. CPRE launched 2026 - A Vision for the Countryside in May, setting out a positive and optimistic vision for the future of the beautiful English countryside in 2026, the charity’s centenary year. The Vision’s key issues include: affordable, high quality housing; urban regeneration; Green Belts; better planning; green energy; local food and farming; quality of life; light pollution and valuing the countryside as a national asset. For further information go to:
> Campaigns: 2026 - A Vision for the Countryside