Countryside Agency's Vision reveals Government's plans for your
property
27/01/05
The CLA has greeted the publication of the Countryside Agency
vision "The Countryside in and around Towns" with surprise.
It is, says CLA Director North Douglas Chalmers, nothing more
than a fanciful plan proposing idealistic uses for property currently
owned and managed by others.
Mr Chalmers said: "I can see little evidence of the consultation
with the major providers and managers of this land. Indeed organisations
representing the major private land users, such as the CLA and
the NFU, are noticeably absent in a document which makes very strong
claims as to how this land should be used in the future. This seems
yet another indication that even if land itself is not to be nationalised;
the rights of owners to use that land are being eroded so far as
to make no difference."
"Looking forward to a better quality of life is of course
to be commended, but this vision does seems very idealistic, and
continually refers to "unlocking the full potential of the
countryside", giving little credit to those currently responsible
for managing our wonderful landscape. As the Countryside Agency's
own case studies show, private owners and organisations, local
authorities and communities are already doing much good work at
a local level - which is the best place to make these decisions
and to arrange voluntary access.
"The farmers, owners and managers of land on the outskirts
of urban areas all have an economic interest in that land
which needs to be respected. Where access to agricultural land
and waterways is negotiated voluntarily, and effective measures
can deal with problems such as fly-tipping, dogs worrying livestock,
disturbance of angling and impact on wildlife that unmanaged and
unrestricted access can bring, the countryside in and around towns
really can be managed for the benefit of everyone."
* The Countryside Agency's document "The countryside in and
around towns: a vision for connecting town and country in the pursuit
of sustainable development" is available here:
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