“Take Action” - Our Regular Campaigns Update - June 2008

Take action on "Stop the Drop" Litter Campaign and

Take action on New Housing and Warehouses in the countryside - the Regional Spatial Strategy Review

 

Take Action on "Stop the Drop" Litter Campaign


Our President, Bill Bryson, has launched a major new campaign to raise awareness about litter and flytipping and its impact on the countryside. This is a major blight on many areas of the West Midlands and a deterrent to visitors and investors.

Take action at our National Website on this vital new campaign.


Take action on New Housing and Warehouses in the countryside - the Regional Spatial Strategy Review


In January the Regional Assembly submitted its Planning Blueprint for the next twenty years which included a massive increase in housing building in the region which threatened many rural communities (over 365,000 net by 2026).

The Government wants them to build between 408,000 and 460,000 houses and Baroness Andrews has written to the Assembly to tell them so.

She has also told them that some important principles, such as promoting urban regeneration could be expendable to achieve that.

Because it will be largely market housing, it will also not mean the proportion of much needed affordable housing will increase.

Not only would this lead to loss of countryside and green belt but many of the houses would be likely to be bolted onto existing market towns, adding to congestion problems and increasing commuting into the major conurbations.

They are also promoting plans for up to six new massive mega-depot warehousing villages (Regional Logistics Sites in the jargon) which would be huge blots on the landscape, probably six storeys high and lit all day And night, which would send lorries across the whole country.


What you can do


The consultation on the RSS has been extended until 8th December 2008. You can find more details at wmra.gov.uk including the proposed housing allocations for the local authority where you live.

You can write to the Regional Assembly expressing concern about the impact of so much housing on the countryside at:

Regional Partnership Centre
Albert House
Quay Place
92 - 93 Edward Street
Birmingham
B1 2RA

You can also write to your local MP asking him or her to put pressure on the Government to rethink its obsession with high housing numbers and build the house we know we need in the areas we need them in.

If you don’t know your MP you can find him/her via

http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/


(Note: Although it has been announced that Regional Assemblies will be wound up, that will not take place until 2010, so they remain in charge of this key process)