CLA demands more balanced approach to sustainable development after ‘disappointing’ Natural England report and manifesto

The CLA is calling for a more balanced approach to sustainable development in the countryside after the publication on Monday, 19 May 2008 of a Natural England report on and manifesto for the natural environment.

The rural economy experts identified gaps in the thinking of the Government agency in its Manifesto for the Natural Environment, and State of the Natural Environment report.

The Country Land and Business Association argues that:

The report ignores the more recent changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the move away from production-driven subsidies to environment payments,
Natural England refers throughout the report to "intensive agriculture" but at no point has it acknowledged that food security is a huge challenge facing the world,
The planning system has a big role to play in delivering a balanced approach to the three pillars of sustainable development - economic development, the community and the environment,
The future of the countryside and the economic success of rural areas are inextricably linked – a relationship largely ignored by Natural England,
Only economically viable woodland businesses and markets will be able to deliver the environmental benefits Natural England wants - and revive the woodland butterfly population.

CLA Deputy President William Worsley said: "The report and manifesto are disappointing. They do not recognise the significant contribution many land managers have made to reverse these trends or any obligation on Natural England to work more closely with land managers in future.

"Natural England has also only focused on the environmental pillar of sustainable development and continues to ignore economic development and the rural community. This creates a highly unbalanced approach to sustainable development in England.

"Our most valued habitats and landscapes have resulted from the benign practices and monetary resources of successive land managers who have conserved the landscape and the environment. The variety and distinctiveness of England's countryside depends on the positive decisions of thousands of individuals."

However, the CLA welcomed Natural England's recognition that populations of farmland birds and the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) have improved because of "environmentally friendly farming".

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Oliver Wilson, Director of Communications, CLA (Country Land and Business Association), 020 7460 7936 or 07702 928828, ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk,

Phillippa Coates, Press Officer, 020 7460 7934, phillippa.coates@cla.org.uk

Out of hours duty phone: 020 7201 9511.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The CLA – the rural economy experts - has a 36,000-strong membership.

2. For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk

Media Contacts

Ollie Wilson
Director of Communications

T: 020 7460 7936
F: 020 7460 7962
ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk

Lisa O'Brien
National Press Officer

T: 020 7460 7934
lisa.obrien@cla.org.uk

Out of hours: 020 7201 9511

Join the CLA today

Anyone who owns rural land or runs a rural business will benefit from joining the CLA.

Click here to find out how

The CLA Game Fair 2012

20 - 22 July 2012 Belvoir Castle. Grantham, Leicestershire.

CLA Member Ticket Box Office

Visit The CLA Game Fair website

Tax issues are high on the agenda for everyone either from a personal or business point of view. It is vital to be aware of your tax liabilities and ensure that not only are you properly prepared for those relevant now but are also ahead of the game by planning for the future.

More articles and documents

The great walls of Yorkshire - the only contest of its kind
[News Archive]
[24 February 2004]

GN08-03b: Transitional arrangements for agri-environment schemes
[Guidance notes]
[24 March 2003]

Strategic Direction Refresh 2008-13
[Consultation response archive]
[12 March 2008]

Country Land and Business Association Limited. Registered Office: 16 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PQ. Registered in England and Wales: 6131587. VAT Number: GB 238 7714 35

© 2012 Country Land and Business Association Limited (CLA). All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the copyright holder except as expressly permitted by law.

Disclaimer

No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action in reliance on or as a result of the material included in or omitted in this website can be or is accepted by the author(s), the CLA or its officers or trustees or employees or any other persons.

The Advisory Services are made available to members on the basis that members' rights to compensation and the liability (if any) of CLA and its officers and/or its staff advisers, are restricted in the following ways. In the event of any advice given by any CLA staff adviser being given negligently or otherwise being incorrect no liability whatsoever is accepted by the CLA or its officers or by its staff advisers concerned

(a) towards any person who is not the current CLA member to whom the advice was directly given,

(b) to any person in the respect of consequential loss or loss of profits, or

(c) to any person for any sum exceeding £50,000 in respect of any one enquiry (whether made or responded to orally or in writing and whether dealt with at one time or over a period of time).

Any person making use of the Advisory Services accepts such restrictions. Members should refer to appropriate professional advisers in private practice before taking any particular course of action potentially or actually involving any substantial amounts of money.

Please note that whilst the advisers are able to advise on a wide range of subjects relating to land ownership, they cannot act in place of a member's own solicitor, accountant, surveyor and tax specialist by, for example, drafting documents or corresponding on their behalf and may be precluded, by the rules of their own professions, from advising one CLA member against another CLA member in the case of conflict.

Solicitors Indemnity Fund . Solicitors in the CLA Legal Team are not covered by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund in relation to professional negligence in relation to any advice given by them.

Please note that from time to time telephone calls maybe recorded for training purposes.